Poetry Appreciation Bookclub

For more than a decade, Ron Pretty has facilitated the Poetry Appreciation Bookclub of the SCWC. At our monthly meetings we’ve studied the work of more than 100 poets. One member of the group prepares a short biography of the poet and selects a bunch of poems, which we read and discuss.

In 2020, face-to-face meetings have just recommenced. Constrained by legalities and practicalities, a small group has been meeting at a member’s home but we reckoned we’d try to include other members virtually.

Our August poet was presented by Judi Morrison. The Australian Tony Birch was born in 1957 of Afghani, Barbadian and Aboriginal heritage; grew up around Fitzroy, a working-class Melbourne suburb. He left school at 15yo; won the Melbourne University Chancellor's Medal for the best PhD in Arts at 47yo. In 2015, he became the first recipient of the Dr Bruce McGuinness Indigenous Research Fellowship at Victoria University, Melbourne, where he continues as a senior research fellow.

Birch has published four novels and three short story collections. The White Girl (2020) was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award. He has published one poetry collection, Broken Teeth, (Cordite, 2016).

Here is an introduction to Tony Birch by Jack Latimore 

And a link to a podcast of Tony Birch interviewing Tara June Winch (winner of the 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award for The Yield)

And finally a poem

 Stay tuned for our September poet, the Siberian, Yevgeny Yevtushenko.

Poetry – it’s a treasure hunt.

31 August 2020

Jack Oats (aka Baker)