From the ABC Book of Australian Poetry - Tree Australia Tree

I've been recording my poems on video for a bit of fun. Please enjoy!

Celebration Poetry

At the special poetry luncheon with the Society of Women's Writers NSW, I listened to selected members' poems and then heard an erudite address by award-winning poet Judith Beveridge on the ways in which poetry involves us, mentioning many poets:- Keats to Rilke, Neruda to Les Murray and Michael Longley, among them. I loved the way Judith talked of the way in which poets, real poets write firstly for themselves, and of the "high seriousness" of real poetry and its resistance to often degraded language of mass media - and its eventual 'soul-making' function.

Poem-A-Day with the State Library

Had a great meeting at the State Library re: a poem-a-day for the National Year of Reading 2012, http://www.love2read.org.au/ , based on my book The ABC Book of Australian Poetry: a treasury of poems for young people.

The Beginning of a Beautiful Relationship

Attended the launch of Poets’Corner at the Sebel Pier One which came out of Australian Poetry’s Poems-On-Pillows concept. Bought a few of the pillow slips too as they are a great gift idea. There were special readings by Emily Ballou and Tricia Dearborn and singer/poet Sally Seltmann launched it.

Two great poetry readings

SH Ervin Gallery

This week I enjoyed Poets in the Pub at Glebe and DiVerse at the SH Ervin Gallery. Roberta Lowing had organised for us to hear the work of Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees from the Sydney Peace Foundation at Harold Park Pub. Rob Kennedy has organised a group of poets to respond to the artworks of Lawrence Daws at the beautiful art gallery. All in all a feast of poetry. 

Byron Bay Writers’ Festival – Books and Poetry

The Royalties & Friends 

The Royalties, a collegiate group of women writers spoke at the festival on our interest and intentions with e-book publishing. The event was well attended – a tent full of interested book lovers. Dangerously Poetic  the local poetry group had a small tent of their own where I was invited to do a poetry reading, which was unexpected and pleasing. Brushes with fame include the star of the show Louis De Bernieres (Red Dog);  and Byron Bay itself starred as a glorious place to have such a festival, July being a great month for this Sydney-sider to travel north.  

Glittering Launch of New Library

Glittering Launch

Year 1 thankyou notes

South Coogee Primary School did their library proud this week with a super launch of the new library to the whole school, teachers and parents. There was no champagne but I was given a host of coloured balloons to cut free and fly to mark the occasion. I had the pleasure of giving the poetry competition winners (7 of them) a book prize each, and then entering the library door 'The portal to many worlds' which was suitably decorated with glittering papers. Inside I  was taken on a tour by librarians and spoke to keen and eager young writers, one of whom had already been published by Penguin! Year 1 was quick off the mat to mark the occasion with illustrations and thank-you’s, two of which I share with you above.

South Coogee students