On Saturday 26th of March 2016, Maclean CWA hosted the inaugural Poets Breakfast as part of the Highland Gathering. The event was a great success. Performance artist and CWA member Jackie Graham did a great job of organising the entertainment and acting as MC. Other CWA volunteers worked hard to provide a delicious cooked breakfast followed by morning tea, each attended by around 45 guests, and to make sure the event ran smoothly. Many thanks to our sponsors Maclean Variety Meats, River Street Bakery and Coles Yamba. The sound of laughter spilled into the street as the poets treated the enraptured audience to hilarious poems and anecdotes, while others brought a tear to the eye as they dealt with war and loss. There was a variety of work performed: the funny and succinct poems of MC Jackie; Oxley Island poet Warwick Murray’s, Robert Burns presentation; president of the Bonny Wingham Scottish Games, Erik Richardson’s moving historic-themed work; the bush poetry of Bill Kearns & Peter Capp, who with Jackie have entertained at some of the big festivals such as the Gympie Country Muster, Woodford Folk Festival and Tamworth; some award-winning poems from the popular Noel Charles; and delightful readings by local Brave Hearts, Killian and Una. All these poets give their time freely to entertain at retirement villages. Between breakfast and morning tea, guests had a fabulous shaded view of the Highland Parade from our recently completed verandah. All in all, CWA members concluded that the event can now become a regular part of the yearly Highland Gathering. As with other Maclean CWA fundraising events, profits will go into the ongoing upkeep and improvement of the CWA rooms so that they can continue to be enjoyed by a wide range of community groups. Linda Wright