Poetry In Primary and High School

In the last few weeks of school, I was happy to take poetry workshops at both Randwick Public School for Year 3 and Sydney Girls High for Years 8,9,and 10.

As a writer and poet it is good to be in contact this way with students responding and writing their poems. It's always refreshing to hear students' points of view. At the Primary School, we were trialling part of a new educational program I am developing which is based on poetry. This helped give insight as we move towards an exciting publication.

Poetry Body Sculpture at Sydney Girls High Workshop

Convivial Tasmanian Launch

On the 6th of November fellow editor Rachael Bailey and I were welcomed at the Hobart National Museum and Art Gallery by members of the Tasmanian Writers Centre, for the launch of Women's Work (Pax Press) to an audience of about 60 people. Dr Terry Whitebeach gave an insightful and amazingly detailed launch talk and eight Tasmanian poets read their own work after which much cake and champagne were enjoyed. We scored the social pages of The Mercury newspaper and an early morning interview with  ABC radio, all engineered by the energetic poet, Gina Mercer. We were ably supported by Hobart bookshop's presence on the night with plenty of copies. Not only that, staying at the gorgeous Art Hotel, Rachael shared a breakfast table briefly with Australian legend, cricketer Glen McGrath.

Gina Mercer and Libby Hathorn

Women's Work on Poetica, ABC Radio Sat 9 Nov

We’re delighted to tell you that after much effort (women’s work) to promote the collection far and wide, it has been taken up by ABC Radio National’s much admired poetry program Poetica.

It will air on Saturday 9 Nov at 3pm, and again on Thursday night at 9pm. We’ve learned that some 20 poems will be read by actors and with music specially composed. It should be a great program.

Do tune in!

 Click here to visit Poetica Women's Work webpage

BUY WOMEN'S WORK at good bookshops,
or email us direct at: womenspoetry@gmail.com

Tasmanian Launch of Women's Work Nov 6

Rachael and I are delighted to be visiting Tasmania for the launch of Women's Work organised so competently by Gina Mercer. We are extremely pleased that several of the poets featured in this collection are from Tasmania and will be reading their own work.

Workshop
On the 7th November through the Tasmanian Writers' Centre, I will be giving a workshop to interested writers as a follow up and then exploring a little of lovely Hobart.

Launch Details
Launch of Women's Work: A Collection of Contemporary Australian Women's Poetry with readings from 8 Tasmanian poets. Free cake and champagne.
When:   Wednesday 6 November 6-7.30pm
Where:  Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in the Members' Lounge, Macquarie St entrance, Hobart.

Women's Work Reading at Live Poets @ Don Bank on Wednesday, October 23rd

Exciting to be making my first visit to Don Bank where Rachael & I will talk about the evolution of the poetry collection Women's Work, and several of the poets will be reading their own poems.

Click here for details

Children's Book Week Visits

I spoke with Year 7, 8 and 9 at St Spyridon's, Maroubra early in the week about inspiration and a writer's life as well as the 'story' behind several of my stories. I mentioned my just finished ANZAC novel Eventual Poppy Day as my favourite of the moment, and encouraged students to write poetry as a creative effort leading to prose. A wonderful visit with enthusiastic staff and mature students.

Later in the week at Randwick Primary School, I spoke to a range of willing writers from Year 3 to Year 6; focusing on the ABC Book of Australian Poetry, and had actors transferring the sad Ballad of the Drover (Henry Kendall) into something of a comedy! Great actors.

Afterwards I talked to Year 1 in two groups about one of my first junior picture novels All About Anna. It goes down well as a drama and there was no shortage of willing actors there. A very happy morning!

A Luncheon with Maurie

I feel privileged as always in spending time with an old friend like Maurie Saxby, the person I consider to be the Grand Old Man of Australian Children's Literature. And I don't think he would mind the reference to age, as we were trying to track our friendship which goes back such a long way.

It's always good to exchange news of mutual friends, admire some of the newer writers as well as having a few good laughs.

Sunflowers have become one of our links over the past few weeks so here's my photographic effort, Wise Man with Sunflowers alas not a Van Gogh effort!