Poetry entries are wanted

The Central Coast Poets Inc is asking for entries into the Henry Kendall Poetry Competition from Peninsula residents.

The group will publish a selection of the poems entered in the competition in an anthology.

"Our last anthology Mood Cumulus was launched with great success at The Peninsula Theatre," said president Mr David Harrison

"Our members conduct this competition every two years to promote the writing and appreciation of poetry," he said.

"Many poems are written especially for the competition.

"With a first prize of $500, it brings poets recognition and financial reward."

Umina resident Ms Shirley Hotchkiss is involved in organising the competition.

"Poetry offers us a way of understanding ourselves and the world," Ms Hotchkiss said.

"Most of the prize-winning and commended poems in the last competition were about relationships and insights on intimacy.

"It was also interesting that four of these poets had two poems each in the top ten.

"Andrew Slattery was last year's winner with a poem about his father titled Lithagraphone."

Ms Hotchkiss said that, before joining Central Coast Poets Inc, "poets were a mysterious lot to me, probably because the ones I studied at school were all famous and dead".

"The ones I now know are just like you and me: They go to work, do the usual domestic chores, and find time to write poetry."

Entry into the competition is $7 each poem and open until Monday, March 10.

Entry forms are available at Central Coast libraries or can be downloaded at www.fusionarts.org.au

Entries must be in hard copy and posted to The Convenor, Henry Kendall Poetry Award Central Coast Poets Inc, PO Box 780, Woy Woy NSW 2256.

Press release, 7 Jan 2007 Shirley Hotchkiss, Henry Kendall Poetry Competition