2009 Prize Night
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Newcastle Poetry Prize.
OPEN SECTION
Patricia Sykes (winner) – To listen to Patricia read an extract of ‘Cassandra Vegas’, click here.
BR Dionysius (Highly Commended)
Tracy Ryan (Commended)
John Mateer (Commended)
LOCAL AWARD
Andrew Slattery (winner)
NEW MEDIA
Rob and Ben Walker (winners). Read Rob’s acceptance speech here. Watch BIBLIOPHOBIA by Rob and Ben Walker here
Carolyn McKay and Nick Creecy (Runners-Up)
11/30/2009 at 3:22 pm
Dear HWC,
Thank you for hosting a great weekend of poetry events surrounding the 2009 Newcastle Poetry Prize. The awards ceremony on Friday night was a focal point for the celebration of this significant poetry prize and the work of many good Australian poets with the launch of “The Night Road” anthology of shortlisted poems from the competition. I had the pleasure of meeting many fine poets from interstate whose work I had read previously, but had never met in the flesh.
Congratulations to this year’s winner Patricia Sykes whose words, grace and good spirit affected everyone over the weekend. Many thanks to the City of Newcastle, the University of Newcastle and of course Brian, Katharine and the volunteer staff of HWC who made the trip a wondrous occasion through their hard work. It was great to catch up with some old friends – Rob Riel and Judy Johnson and meet other poets like Mark Tredinnick, Rob and Ben Walker, John Stokes and Jean Kent.
For poets who live a long way away from other poets, the trip down to Newcastle was very worthwhile. I applaud the weekend of poetry activities and hope the program can be developed even more next year to include more readings and workshops.
Until then, thank you.
B.R.Dionysius