Town Crier Clarke wins again

Hear ye, hear ye, let it be known that Central Coast Town Crier Stephen Clarke has won the 2024 National Town Crier Championships held at Parkes.

Clarke was the overall winner, the Champion of Champions, and also won Best Cry of the contest hosted by Parkes Shire Council on Saturday, September 21.

Criers are judged on poise, bearing and confidence, sustained volume and clarity, content of the cry and accuracy in delivery as well as their regalia.

The town criers had to present a cry about Parkes, better known as the Elvis Capital of Australia thanks to its annual Elvis festival, and their hometown cry which for Clarke promotes the Central Coast.

“My regalia is in gold, blue and green which stands for golden beaches flanked by sparkling surf and lush, green hinterland, and represents our colonial era 1788-1810,”  Clarke said.

“Instead of ringing a bell as my attention seeking device I play a fanfare on the bugle. 

“This is very significant because at the top of the Gosford city coat of arms there is a cockerel standing on the bugle.”

This latest win adds to Clarke’s achievements of Australian Champion in 2012 at Moree, 2013 at Alice Springs, 2016 at Redlands in Queensland, 2018 in Victoria’s Warrnambool, 2019 in Echuca and now 2024 from Parkes.

Champion of Champions is the highest honor a crier can achieve in Australia.

In 2005 at the World Championships in Maryborough, Queensland, competing against 65 of the world’s best criers, Clarke came third and on January 26, 2021 Clarke was honoured with the Order of Australia medal.

Town crier competitions are held under the authority of The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers, who are appointed by their local councils.

In 1990, Clarke became the Gosford City Council Town Crier and after council amalgamated with Wyong in 2016, he was formally appointed the inaugural official Central Coast Council Town Crier.

“Sydney Town Crier Graham Keating taught me to cry back in the 1980s when we performed at Old Sydney Town at the Woolshed Bush Dances,” Clarke said.

Keating also won the top spot many times.

The first town crier in Australia was Samuel Potter, who was part of the Second Fleet, arriving in 1790 after being convicted of robbery and receiving stolen goods.

Official jobs include assisting with citizenship ceremonies, leading street parades, greeting VIPs and special visitors to the area as well as compering community and charity events.

At the national competition, each crier’s performance must be about 100-125 words; it must start with three Oyez’s and must finish with either God Bless Australia or God Save the King and must promote their local area.

This Clarke’s Central Coast Cry:

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez,

The Central Coast is a vibrant and sustainable NSW destination dotted with town centres, seaside hamlets and friendly villages.

Every nook and neighbourhood offers unique possibilities in business, lifestyle, culture and education.

Discover superb natural beauty alongside a great sense of freedom and connection to Darkinjung land.

Enjoy our golden beaches, flanked by sparkling surf and lush green hinterland.

From cooking classes to concerts, festivals to farmers markets, find events that add color to your calendar.

We invite you explore the variety of characters who live, work and play in our growing community.

The Central Coast, one hour from Sydney yet a world away.

God Bless Australia.