Welcome to the latest edition of the Crow Chronicle - our email update for the Stone the Crows Flock.

Firstly - an invitation to everyone who loves poetry to come to the C J Dennis Festival at Toolangi (north east of Melbourne) on the weekend of October 17 and 18, 2015. This will be held at "The Singing Gardens", where C J Dennis lived for the last thirty years of his life. 2015 marks the centenary of the publication of "The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke".

For any further information, please check out the website or phone Jan Williams on 03 5962 9282.

Secondly - each year at Narrandera is held the John O'Brien Festival. Next year this is the weekend before Stone the Crows, being March 18 to 20, 2016. What a great way to enjoy even more poetry as well as the Festival Parade with floats, vintage vehicles and more, plus the busking competition, markets and more. The program for these three days can be found at the Festival website. As well as several motels and hotels, the Narrandera Caravan Park welcomes RV travellers and there are several RV friendly free camp sites (check with the Narrandera Visitor Information Centre for exact locations and availability).

Festival organiser Barbara advises, "We are currently sourcing performers for our 2016 Festival March and perhaps some might see it through your window." So, this could be a warm-up for the gReyVee Awards as they are looking for a modest number of performers, bands and hosts. So here's all the info - Performer Application Form - Bush Poetry Competition - Recital competition and of course the information flyer.

Performance applications close on Friday October 30 and successful applicants will be notified by Friday November 13.

For any queries, please contact Barbara, Chair of the John O'Brien Festival Organising Committee, on 0400 346 043 or by email.

Now Stone the Crows News - Squawkers permits - there is currently a new map of the grounds being prepared, due to some minor changes in layout and entry. When this is completed, our traffic management plan has to be submitted to Council and then sites will be allocated for groups and powered bookings as soon as possible. You should expect to get your Squawkers Permits in November.

At this stage, powered sites are on a waiting list, so if you need one for medical or other essential purposes, please mark your booking form accordingly so we can allocate you a priority. Unpowered sites are still available.

Don't forget group rates are for five or more vehicles and loyalty discounts are for attendance in any two individual years, that can be in 2013 and 2014 OR 2013 and 2015 OR 2014 and 2015.

For those who can't come for the full seven days, we have a four day unpowered rate.

If you would like 2016 flyers to share with your club or friends, please email with your name and address so they can be posted to you.

The 2016 Program As well as Lucky Starr, Rodney Vincent, the Great Pizzarotti show with Jamie Way, John Smith Bush Balladeer, Melanie Hall and Susie Carcary (Mel and Susie on Tour) and Noel Stallard (with his alter-ego the Ghost of Father John O'Brien, we will have an impressive selection of talks, seminars, workshops both Crafty Crows and Daddy Day Care woodwork .... more on the program to come in the very near future.

One special addition we can announce .... a renewal of marriage vows ceremony for grey nomad couples. Our solo attendees are invited to come as witnesses, flower girls or page boys to keep in the spirit of the event.

The Australian Disc Bowls Championships will be held during the Stone the Crows - not after - as the grounds are required for the Clay Target Championships on the Thursday after our Festival.

If you would like to share your knowledge, whether it is in a technical, social, musical or crafty capacity, we would love to hear from you. Just email Chrissy or phone 0408 729 580.

If you're a Facebook follower, we would love to get some reviews about the Festival. We could add all your wonderful exit survey comments but that's not coming directly from our attendees. Feel

Now we are on the six month countdown, expect more regular updates through the Crow Chronicle. If you or someone you know would like to be added to the Chronicle mail out, email subscribe@stonethecrows.com.au with your name and email address. It's obligation free - just a sharing of what our flock enjoy!

Any queries on anything we might have missed, please don't hesitate to ask.

Till next time - take care and travel safely.

Chrissy, Jim and Grant and all the team

PS - have you heard the latest buzz word to describe a volunteer - it's human philanthropy! We will stick to volunteers aka Crow Assistant or Crow Helperss!