Friendly Street Poets

Friendly Street Poets were saddened to hear of the death of respected member, former board member, fine poet and true gentleman John Pfitzner.

John was at the height of his poetic powers. He only started writing poetry five years ago. Yet he had a short collection, ‘Fence Music’, published in Friendly Street New Poets 17, and had received the great accolade of having his poem “Pointless” selected in Best Australian Poems 2012.

He will be greatly missed by his many friends in the Adelaide poetry world. Our deepest sympathy to his family.

The funeral is to be held at Immanuel College, 32 Morphett Road, Novar Gardens, SA 5040 on Wednesday 6th February 2013 at 11am and then later at Centennial Park.

NOTE: Our Tuesday February 5th 2012 meeting will include the opportunity for members to read John’s poetry or poems about John, as a special tribute to him.

FSP AGM 2012

Thursday 22 November 6pm

Ira Raymond Room, Barr Smith Library

The University of Adelaide

Every FSP member is welcome!

All members of Friendly Street Poets Inc are encouraged to attend the FSP Annual General Meeting.

The Agenda

FSP current members will be able to vote for the members of the Board of  Management. Other business includes:

• The Convenor’ Report will outline details about FSP activities and achievements in the past year
• The Treasurer’s Report, will enable all members to hear about the current financial state of the organisation.
• Provide news update on the latest 2013 grant application.
• Revision of the Constitution (including changing our financial year)
• Motions on Notice

There will be drinks, nibbles & a chance to chat to the Board after the meeting. It would help us organise catering if you could indicate whether you are coming by emailing poetry@friendlystreetpoets.org.au by Thursday 15 November 2012.

Please check to make sure your Membership is up to date.

Among other things, Membership gives you the rights to speak and vote at the AGM.If you wish to nominate for a position on the Board, please complete a nomination form. You may also arrange to vote by proxy. Nomination & Proxy voting forms are attached below & are available by contacting poetry@friendlystreetpoets.org.au.

(Nomination forms need to be returned by midnight Tuesday 13 November 2012)

If you have any questions about the AGM, the Convenor, glen r johns, or any of the current Board Members will be happy to answer your questions.

All current financial members will receive an email.

Also, please be aware that the revised Constitution & a 1-pager which explains the changes  is attached below.  Financials & last year’s minutes will be added shortly.

You can ask questions & express your opinions.

FSP is a voluntary, democratic, inclusive, welcoming poetry reading and publishing organisation.

This is  YOUR ORGANISATION & YOUR POETRY COMMUNITY.

Please note: this meeting was originally scheduled for 11 November.

FSP AGM Notice

FSP 2012 Constitution Review

It is with great sadness I inform Friendly Street Poets that our long standing, much respected friend and poet GEORGE WOOLMER died in his sleep on Tuesday 24th October 2012. In  recent times, George had to struggle  with illness, yet it never seemed possible we would have a poetry meeting without him. George has written poetry about the landscapes he loved, the old days in the bush and the characters who inhabited it. He wrote of the Wars, comrades in life, mateship, courage and he wrote of love and with love.  George was a great South Australian and I hope FSP members will take a moment at the November FSP City meeting to think of George and his positive and generous contribution to our poetry community at FSP.

George’s Funderal is Monday 29th October 11.30 am at Centennial Park Heysen chapel.

M.L.Emmett (Past FSP Convenor)

Friendly Street Poets  Inc were pleased to be award prizes at the South Australian English Teachers’ Association (SAETA) Spring Poetry Festival Book Launch. The judges for the competition were Louise McKenna  and Judy Dally, who were required to make difficult decisions and choices from the high quality entries. Monetary prizes, certificates, FSP 2012 Anthologies & 2013 FSP memberships were awarded to five young poets.

1st Prize: Matthew Podgorski “A Flock of Birds”

2nd Prize: Kristin Dalgarno “An Artist’s War”
3rd Prize: Isabelle Bach “Love is Bi-polar“

Highly Commended: Tahlia Sungos “King to His Throne”
Highly Commended: Madison Edwards “Empty“

Friendly Street Poets would like to thank all those students and their teachers for entering into the SAETA competition; and congratulates all those selected for inclusion in the Spring Festival Anthology 2012. FSP also thanks SAETA for continuing the tradition of a well organised competition and a successful launch day. Particular thanks to Paul and Jade at SAETA. Finally thank you to Louise and Judy for representing FSP as our judges.

A Workshop with acclaimed Australian Poet

Geoff Page

Saturday 15th September 2012

2 – 4.30pm @ Ira Raymond Room
University of Adelaide Barr Smith Library

Using Traditional Forms in Contemporary Australian Poetry

This workshop will involve a quick look at the role still being played by traditional metres and forms in contemporary Australian poetry. It will present an opportunity for each participant to have one of his or her own poems in traditional form considered in a workshop situation. Forms such as the sonnet, villanelle, sestina, pantoum, tanka and haiku will be discussed as well as the use of iambic metre and various stanzaic forms (such as the ballad) as occasional alternatives to the prevailing free verse orthodoxy.

Participants should submit one poem electronically* (written in some sort of traditional form) for consideration a fortnight before the workshop. Please send your poem to gpage40@bigpond.net.au

Cost: $25.00 FSP Members $35.00 Non Members

(Cost includes a delicious afternoon tea)

Pay at the FSP Meeting in September or on the day

Please book your place with the FSP Convenor: poetry@friendlystreetpoets.org.au

It is with great sadness I inform you of the death of our dear friend, poet and long time FSP member, BETTY COLLINS.
Her funeral will be on Friday 20th July 2012.

Sensible Funerals

151 South Rd Ridleyton

on Friday 20th July at 2pm

Please give any donations to Medecins Sans Frontiers.

Envelopes will be available.

Please wear a bright accessory or item of clothing to reflect the personality of Betty.

Betty was a Senior Librarian in South Africa before coming to Australia. At FSP she contributed poetry over many years at our meetings and in our anthologies. She was an empathetic, caring and generous-spirited woman, who enjoyed paying her “social rent”. At FSP this meant we received voluntarily the full expertise of an Indexing Librarian for nearly ten years.

As many of you know, Betty had been struggling with her health for a few years and has had several set-backs in recovery. We will all remember a skilled wordsmith and a woman with a naughty, sometimes wicked sense of humour. A loving mother, grandmother and wise friend to many. We will all miss Betty at our FSP meetings

FRIENDY STREET POETS

NEW POETS 17 Launch

Three amazing manuscripts in one perfect poetry book

John Pfitzner achingly connects the spirit to the land in poems borne of thought, experience and deep consideration. Find solace and hope in his words. Gareth Roi Jones quick wit touches the making and mending of relationships, turning surprisingly and lightly at each poem’s end. Read your own stories in his lines. Rachael Mead plots daily concerns of home and abroad, ranging across the globe in wild imaginative conversations with self and others. In her poems you can bask and be illuminated.  To be launched at

The Box Factory, 59 Regent Street South, Adelaide.

Saturday May 19th 2012 6pm for a start at 6.30pm – 8.30pm

by Mike Ladd

Delicious nibbles and superb wine from

FSP Workshop: Poetry & Place

Presenter: Alison Flett

When: Saturday May 14^th 2pm – 4.30pm

Where: The Box Factory, 59 Regent Street South, Adelaide.

Cost: FSP Members $25/ Non Members $35

Scottish poet Alison Flett will be giving this Workshop on poets and their relationship to place. If you saw Alison performing at the Words @ the Wall Program, you already know something about her poetry and skills; if not, we promise you will not be disappointed. Alison will be providing practical, useful advice to poets and with workshop exercises aimed at developing poetic and language skills.

There are 15 places still available. Please contact Friendly Street Poets at our email address: poetry@friendlystreetpoets.org.au as soon as possible to book your place at this fascinating workshop. Book you place and pay on the day by cash or cheque.

Friendly Street Poets Inc SEMINAR

‘Grief and Consolation Poetry’

When: Saturday 14^th April 2pm – 4.30pm

Where: Communal tearoom, Level 8 Napier Building, University of Adelaide, North Terrace.

Cost: FSP Members $20/ Non Members $30

Please book your place  by contacting us by email: poetry@friendlystreetpoets.org.au; orpay by cash on the day or via cheque and send by post to: Friendly Street Poets, PO Box 3695, Norwood SA 5067

Jacqueline Clarke will begin this Seminar looking at Grief and Consolation in Ancient Poetry. Valerie Volk will use her book ‘In Due Season’ as a means to explore her personal experience of grief. Maggie Emmett will explore grieving related to a sudden death or suicide. Poets have always used their writing to explore and journey through major life events. Writing poetry may even be therapeutic, consoling both the poet and their readers.

This seminar includes the three presentations, an afternoon tea and an opportunity to talk about this important part of our life cycle. Please bring your poetry to the Seminar. The second half will be determined by your questions, poetry and ideas as well as input from the three presenters.

The John Bray Roman Poetry Prize 2012 competition this yearwill focus on this topic. Entry forms will be available at the end of the seminar. It will give poets the opportunity to share their own poetry relating it to two ancient Roman Poetry sources.

Seasonal Fractal Greetings

to all our friends

We will be on holday until our first meeting in February 2012. Please stay safe and well away from hospitals.  Please write or read lots of poetry, relax and enjoy the summer holidays.  We will be putting poems up during the holidays to keep you going over the break. With best wishes for jollies with your families, unburned BBQs, happy Beach trips, edgy surfing or just lolling somewhere cool and relaxed. ENJOY!