Poetry Reading for Rhizomic

Last night enjoyed a new venue for a poetry reading of my Rooming House Cycle to a small but enthusiastic audience. Please note Rhizomic meets every third Wednesday of each month and there is an open mike opportunity. Looking forward to the launch of Rhyll McMaster's new poetry collection Late Night Shopping, 10th April at Sapphos Glebe. http://rhyllmcmaster.wordpress.com/

Poetry Masterclasses for NSW High Schools; Connected Classroom

I have run 3 Poetry Masterclasses for 8 state high school groups across NSW with the help of Teacher Librarian and wizard technician Joachim Cohen at the Bondi Teachers' Centre with the enthusiastic eye of Gavin Patterson, School Education Director. Using my compilation The ABC Book of Australian Poetry which has the river as its theme, some 65 students and 8 teachers took a trip down the river with me from waterfalls to the sea, using the Hathorn Technique of Poetry Writing.

The students responded to poetry models, specially chosen visuals, music and the joy of words demonstrated in quality chosen poems, with poems of their own. A certificate of accomplishment is being awarded to all students, then poems will appear on a blog (to be announced). I hope and trust a new relationship to the wonders of poetry established for life.

Poetry Party

My first official workshop as National Ambassador for Reading 2012 was at NSW State Library in March using the ABC Book Of Australian Poetry.

Students from 3 schools attended and we were delighted that the State Librarian Dr Alex Byrne, and Frances Sims - Director of Public Library and Community Learning Services paid us a visit and watched poetry writing in the making. In the afternoon, two remote schools responded by video conferencing to more poetry writing; a great Poetry Party Day.