Robyn Sykes is an award-winning poet and published writer with a passion for entertaining. Her poetry is published in journals and anthologies nationally, internationally and online.
Since winning the Australian Championship (2012) and Golden Damper (2013) the versatile performer has enthralled audiences and given workshops in Norfolk Island, King Island, New Zealand, WA, Qld, Vic, Tas, ACT, NSW and more.
Her interest in the performing arts was kick-started in 1969 when as an 11-year-old she won the NSW Arts Council’s Best Junior Actress (Under 17) in New South Wales.
After graduating from and working at Sydney University, in 1983 Robyn moved with her BSc (Hons) to her husband’s family farm near Binalong, where she spent the next 30 years writing, observing and learning. She raised four sons, had short stories, articles and poetry published, edited the Yass Tribune and memorised poems.
The Binalong Bard has featured at many festivals, charity concerts, community fund-raisers and more.
As President of Binalong Arts Group Inc, Robyn coordinated the hugely successful NSW Bush Poetry Championships in Binalong in 2014 and 2016. She was part of the team behind the Johnny Gilbert 150th anniversary re-enactment in 2015, which drew 2000 people to Binalong (pop 250).
Robyn is a regular performer at Burrowa House Boorowa, Binalong Arts Group’s bimonthly Brush with Poetry and at Wombat Pub Poets (now held in Young). She entertains community groups eg Rotary, Lions, View Club, CanAssist and Probus.
Voices of the Fire, Robyn’s first book and CD, was a finalist in Australian Bush Laureate Awards 2014 for Album of the Year (Voices of the Fire), Published Poem of the Year (Lovely Lies) and Single of the Year (Old Bill’s Regret). A new book and CD Thoughts, Rorts and Farming Sorts has been well received.
Robyn’s mantelpiece bears the evidence of numerous awards in written poetry competitions, including the prestigious Bryan Kelleher and two Henry Lawsons (NSW and Victoria).
Robyn’s recent career highlights – poetry
