SBM26: Poetry, personal service and piano

Australian Poetry Hall of Fame

Where Australian poetry comes alive

Guyra, NSW

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Step inside Guyra’s historic Arcadia Theatre and you’ll find something a little different from your usual regional attraction. Since 2020, the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame has been bringing together poetry, performance, art and Australian literary history under one roof.

Housed in the 1929 theatre, the Hall of Fame celebrates Australia’s rich spoken and written traditions, from traditional bush poetry through to contemporary verse and performance poetry. Visitors can explore exhibitions, original portraits and curated collections, while workshops and educational programs offer opportunities to get involved rather than simply look at displays.

And there’s plenty happening beyond the exhibitions. The venue hosts live poetry, music, storytelling and theatrical performances, alongside an on-site plant-based café and curated vintage and secondhand book offerings. It can also be hired for private functions and performances.

At the heart of it all is founder and director James Arthur Warren, known professionally as Thundercloud Repairian. A poet, portrait artist and educator, James is also an active performer, bringing his own experience of the creative world to the Hall of Fame. When he’s not competing on the national performance circuit, he can be found hosting shows, leading workshops or welcoming visitors to Guyra.

The result is a cultural space that feels very much alive — where Australian poetry and storytelling aren’t simply preserved, but performed, shared and experienced.

Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control

A family business with a personal touch

 Bingara, NSW

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When Kim and Glen started Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control, they wanted to create more than a business that simply turned up, did the job and moved on. As a small family-owned and operated business, they’ve built their service around personal relationships, honest advice and taking pride in their work.

Based in Bingara, Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control provides a range of cleaning, carpet cleaning and pest control services to the local community and surrounding areas. Between them, Kim and Glen bring more than 20 years of industry experience to the business.

Being small is something the couple sees as a strength. Customers deal directly with Kim and Glen, rather than being passed between different staff, and they take the time to get to know the people and properties they work with.

They also understand that working in someone’s home or on their property comes with a responsibility that goes beyond simply completing the job. Particular care is taken around homes, properties and animals while work is being carried out.

For Kim and Glen, good service is about the little things – being approachable, doing what they say they will do, treating people and their property with respect, and taking pride in the finished result.

There’s also room for a bit of fun along the way. As Kim puts it, they work hard, have a laugh and enjoy being part of their local community.

It’s that combination of experience and personal service that Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control hopes will keep customers coming back – and recommending a local family business they know they can rely on.

Andante Place Piano Studio Tenterfield

Learning music, one note — and one game — at a time

Tenterfield, NSW

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For Judith Watts, music has been part of life since she began piano lessons at nine years old. Now, she’s sharing that lifelong passion with students of all ages through Andante Place Piano Studio in Tenterfield.

Judith returned to her hometown in 1998 to raise her family and began teaching full-time in 2019. Her studio occupies a quaint space beside her home — a former car shed given a new purpose as a place for music, learning and creativity.

Lessons cover piano, theory and musicianship, including AMEB and St Cecilia School of Music programs. Judith welcomes students aged four and over, including neurodivergent learners, people with disability and those who may benefit from additional mental health support. Adults are welcome too, whether they’re picking up the piano again or starting from scratch.

One of Judith’s favourite parts of teaching is making learning enjoyable. Lessons typically run for 45 minutes, with the final 15 minutes often devoted to a game such as Snap or UNO. It’s a chance to relax, have a laugh and build confidence while giving students a break from their musical work.

Judith’s musical life extends well beyond the studio. She plays keyboards with the Stanthorpe RSL Swing Band, occasionally performs with its concert band and leads Interlude, a singing group for adults who want to develop their voices and enjoy the social side of making music.

For Judith, music is about more than mastering an instrument. It’s also about connection, confidence and the joy of learning together.