The Central Coast has another busking champion, after Belle Norman took out the primary-aged category at the Australian National Busking Championships 2023 (ANBC) held on November 25 in Cooma.
Winners from the various categories in the Central Coast heat of the competition travelled to Cooma to compete, with Rotarians from Erina showing their support for the five heat winners: Owen Smith (open category), Hayden Phillips (secondary age), Belle Norman (primary age), Lucy and Josh Beveridge (best band) and VACEO (wild card).
The judges were Australian Idol judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson, Gympie Muster organiser Oz Bayldon and rising young star performer Taylor Moss, who were all looking for how buskers personified ANBC’s message about celebrating the rich diversity of Australian music and street performance culture.
Young Belle Norman took home $600 in prizes and a big trophy for winning the primary-age category, with VACEO coming third in the open category and Hayden Phillips, Lucy and Josh Beveridge and Owen Smith all highly commended.
Belle’s mother said the young performer was excited to be a part of the competition.
“To win is just the best,” she said.
“She will be adding the prize money to that she received at The Entrance, to save up to be able to attend the Country Music Academy; she’s hooked on performing now.”
The Australian National Busking Championships is an Australia-wide network of busking festivals, with this year’s heats held in Queensland, the ACT, Victoria and NSW.
This year the festival was expanded to host two performance shows throughout the day at the central park and the Snowy-Hydro Discovery Centre, where the primary-aged winner from last year, the Central Coast’s Lil G (Gemma Egan), took top billing.
If you would like to assist in next year’s Central Coast Heat of the Australian National Busking Championships, being held in September 2024 at The Entrance, or want to find out more about Rotary, you are welcome to attend any meeting of the club.
For details email admin@rotarytheentrance.org.au