News
National Folk Festival Award
Poetry Reciter of the Year, Chris McGinty, wins the National Folk Festival's 'Reciter of the Year' Award with Denis Kevans' lament about the destruction of Australia's heritage and environment, "Hey Banjo...".
Congratulations Chris! - with thanks to Jason Roweth the presiding judge.
Read the article in The Canberra Times.
Radical Sydney, Radical History Article
Rowan Cahill and Terry Irving added an article about Denis to their blog (August, 2015)
Denis Kevins Bushland Garden
Dear Friends,
I write to pass on the good news that the 'Denis Kevans Bushland Gardens' sign has been erected in Wentworth Falls at the corner of Armstrong St and Valley Rd by the Blue Mountains City Council.
A warm thank you for your support, to those who made submissions and lobbied Council, as well as to the Council itself and Geographical Names Board.
A offical naming ceremony will be conducted at a later date, still to be determined.
Regards,
Sophia (3rd April 2009)
Denis' poem Gailan's Grief
Denis' poem Gailan' Grief is t o be published in ZineWest 2007. For copies or further information email Sue Crawford.
Denis discussed on Irish radio
On Monday 12th February 2007, Steve Menarry was interviewed about Denis on Radio Telefís Éireann (a public broadcaster owned by the Irish people.). The interview was part of a regular program called Flux which is broadcast on Radio 1. I couldn't find a download but here is a link to the program.
Poet wins award
Blue Mountains bush poet Gregory North has won the inaugural Gippsland Wattle Bush Poetry Award.
His poem 'gundungurra Man' won the $1,000 top prize from a field of 152 entries. One of the judges, Ross Noble, of the Gippsland Bush Poets, called it the best poem he had ever read.
Greg said that he was ecstatic over the win since it is only the second written competition he has entered. "I was very happy with the poem and it has been received well by audiences when I've performed it, but I'm delighted that it won such a big written competition. To be chosen among some of the country's best Bush Poets like David Campbell, Arthur Green, Kym Eitel and Joyce Alchin is a great thrill."
The poem took nearly a year to complete and was inspired by Aboriginal axe grinding grooves that Greg came across in the Blue Mountains National Park near his home.
"These grooves in the sandstone are slowly being lost to the elements. Seeing them caused me to reflect on the life of the Gundungurra tribe who have lived here for tens of thousands of years."
Greg credits Denis Kevans as a major influence on the poem. Denis, late of Wentworth Falls, was known as Australia's Poet Lorikeet and his poems and songs are well loved in the Blue Mountains and across Australia. 'Ah Brother, have you any sacred sites?' is a Denis Kevans masterpiece and I borrowed from Denis' style in constructing my poem. "'Gundungurra Man' is a tribute to Denis' work and encouragement. I think he would be proud." said Greg.
As a busy performance poet Greg is in demand at festivals, competitions and corporate functions entertaining audiences with his quirky humour and bent for accents. Greg's winning poem can be found at his website.
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[Click picture to view newspaper article.] |
[Published in the Wednesday 29th November 2006 edition of the Blue Mountains Gazette.]
Denis features in new Irish book
A prominent Irish Republican, Danny Morrison, is currently editing a book for the anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike. The book will feature one or more of Denis Kevans’ poems on Irish hunger strikes. Danny writes of Denis’ work: “Great stuff you have sent. The Kevans’ work is brilliant; reminds me of Yvegeny Yevtushenko. I will get back to you in detail but many, many thanks. The internationalist quality of Kevans' material and the historical resonances within his work are so impressive that I am bowled over.”
Denis Kevans’ Poets Breakfast
This is always a favourite and this year will be dedicated to local ‘poet Lorikeet’, Denis Kevans, a stalwart of the festival who sadly passed away late last year. In a fitting tribute local raconteur, ecologist and poet Wyn Jones and Hartley-based champion poet Milton Taylor will take to the Guinness Stage on the Saturday morning to co-host the ‘Denis Kevans’ Poets Breakfast’ with a terrific line up of local and visiting poets, offering the essential combination of wit, wordplay, politics, social conscience, tall tales and more. Wyn and Milton’s guests include: Sophia Kevans, Chris Mansell, Kevin Campbell, Denis Rice, Diana Levy a.k.a. Gloria, Ninelle Durlang, songstress Sonia Bennett, Terry Regan and special guest poet from the U.S. Dick Warwick.”
Quoted from the program of the Blue Mountains Music Festival 17-19 March 2006.
Timor Lives!
Xanana Gusmao, President of Timor-Leste, was in Sydney during 2005 for the launch of his book, "Timor Lives!: Speeches of Freedom and Independence", featuring his speeches on the challenges and frustrations facing the new nation in its first years of independence. The launch was held at the Sydney branch of the Australian Institute of International Affairs on 20 September. The Hon. Justice Marcus Einfeld, launched the book with an impassioned speech on the history of Australia's relations with East Timor and the part played by Xanana Gusmao in his nation's struggle for independence.
A highlight of the launch was the reading of the Denis Kevans poem, "Never Forget You" by his daughter, Sophia Kevans. Denis, the well-known poet, political activist, member of the NSW Teachers' Federation and peace campaigner was a staunch supporter of East Timor. His poem recalls the army's promise of support to the East-Timorese in a leaflet-dropping campaign during WWII - a promise that was not kept by a succession of Australian governments. Denis Kevans' affectionally dubbed Australia's 'poet lorikeet' died suddenly shortly before Gusmao's visit. He had planned to attend the launch to read his poem.
Teachers and students undertaking the HSC National Study, 'Indonesia 1959- 1998' or 'The United Nations as Peacekeeper' within the International Studies in Peace and Conflict will find these resources of particular value. For a full text of Marcus Einfeld's speech see: www.longmedia.com.au/books/lb_speech_timorlives.html
Article reproduced with permission from Teaching History, the Journal of the History Teachers' Association of NSW, Vol 39, No 4, December 2005.
Never Forget You
"Your friends will never forget you,
the fluttering leaflet said,
Your friends will never forget you",
and then o'er the valley spread,
The wide sky cowed in sorrow,
and the eyes of the angels wept,
For a promise made by the soldiers
that their leaders never kept.
For soldiers are there when you need 'em,
they're there to suffer and die,
And to make the eyes of the angels weep
in the depths of the tropical sky,
And the soldiers are there to laugh it off,
and shoulder the blistering gun,
And fight anew, in the mud like glue,
and the sweat of the tropical sun.
And soldiers were there,
and their mates were there,
their mates, the East Timorese,
Who fought and bled beside them
in the night of the jungle trees,
Who fought and bled and suffered,
so Australia might still be free,
And the soldiers cried,
when their leaders lied,
and poisoned the Timor Sea.
"Your friends will never forget you",
the fluttering leaflet said,
Dropped from the biscuit - bomber,
and then o'er the valley spread,
Your friends will never forget you,
and the eyes of the angels wept
For a promise made by the soldiers,
that their leaders never kept.
Denis Kevans - 1999
As recited, twice, by Ian MacNamara on "Australia All Over" 5/9/1999. Printed in many newspapers and community news at the time, and, now, the book ?East Timor - Making Amends??. Printed in 10,000 copies by the CFMEU for distribution at pro-East Timor rallies. Set by Tom Bridges, and performed by the ?Blue Mountains Trade Union Choir?.
Denis Kevans Memorial Prize for Poetry
The piercing satire and ironic humour of Denis Kevans earned him international acclaim. Denis who was lovingly known as Australia's Poet Lorikeet passed away in August of last year leaving a lasting legacy to the arts of poetry and performance in the Blue Mountains in particular and Australia in general.
Work is now in progress to establish a national poetry prize in his name. The prize will take the form of a 'performance event' to be held in the historic Carrington Hotel ballroom, Katoomba during the first weekend of September in conjunction with national poetry week. This event has the potential to become very popular indeed and most importantly it will serve to stimulate creativity and encourage excellence in both the writing and performance of poetry.
We anticipate that a generous prize of several thousand dollars will be raised and which will be divided into several categories including a prize for a poem that best reflects the spirit of Denis Kevans' life and work.
For further details please contact the organising committee via: deniskevans@hotmail.com
David Hill (on behalf of the organising committee)
Woodford Folk Festival Memorial Tree Planting
A Daintree Pine sapling was planted in memorium for Denis at 5pm on New Year's Day 2006 at Woodford Folk Festival by his daughter on a hillside overlooking the festival. Present were his niece Kate and friends from around Australia. Denis' poetry was recited and his, and traditional Irish music, were played by his friends.
The Daintree Pine (Gymnostoma australianum) is a rare native pine from the World Heritage forests of Far North Queensland. Fossil records show the Daintree Pine dates back to the Gondwana Period.
Denis' sapling was planted nearby to a Bunya Pine sapling which was planted on New Year's Eve in honour of Denis' brother Jacko. It was planted by Jacko's daughter Kate on the hillside overlooking the Troubadour Stage, immediately after a Woodford Festival Tribute Concert to Jacko by his many friends.
The Bunya Pine produces Bunya Nuts. These nuts were a rich source of food for the Aborigines of south-east Queensland. During the Bunya season they would temporarily set aside their tribal differences and gather in the mountains for great Bunya Nut Feasts. The aboriginal word for the Bunya Pine was bon-yi.
At the site of the saplings, a fire tribute to Denis and Jacko was performed by Michael Collins on New Year's Day at midnight.
