Greenacres Slam Heat, SA
The Greenacres heat was organised by the Port Adelaide Enfield and Tea Tree Gully Libraries and held on Thursday, 14th October.
The winner was 31 year old, Rick Pichler with Annette Swain as runner up.
Rick Pichler is currently completing Communication, Media and Culture degree at UniSA, as well as working on a music project.
When asked what he thinks of the Slam and poetry, Rick said, "I really like the idea that you can dip into the collective consciousness, or unconscious, and craft something out of the the words and ideas that are there and then put them back into that vast source. Words are energy, we take that for granted most of the time, but it's pretty amazing when you think about it."
APS: Have you performed in front of an audience before?
RP: A handful of times
APS: How did you feel performing your own writing?
RP: Nerves suck, it's good when you get in the zone though.
APS: Do you have a favourite style of writing or a favourite writer?
RP: There's so much good art out there, I like to stay open minded about what I take in. I read a fair bit of non-fiction because as they say, it's stranger than fiction. I'm really feeling the South African band, 'Tumi and the Volume' at the moment.
APS: Do you think it is important for Australians to write and perform their own work and why?
RP: Important probably needs to be qualified, I guess. More important than finding solutions to the multitude of problems that society is entangled in? Probably not. More important than wearing the latest fashion or having more stuff? Certainly.
Rick (right) with host, Daniel Watson
Runner up, Annette Swain has performed her own poetry at music festivals, writing and poetry festivals, stage productions and open mic sessions as well as competing in the Slam since 2007.
She stared making up rhymes and poetry in her head before she could write. Annette has written a novel called, 'Suicide Angels And The Silent Terrorists'. The story is about how to handle bullies, where to get help, how to deal with bullying and that suicide should never be an option. Annette wrote the novel after she put up with severe bullying for ten years and although completing it was one of the "greatest challenges of [her] life", she has found her writing to be very therapeutic. She hopes to receive a publishing contract.
"I've really enjoyed getting involved with the State Poetry Slam. This will be three out of four years I have made it into the final, 2007, 2009, 2010. It's not about winning though. It's about the freedom to speak. To put a little bit of your soul out into the universe. To teach something that may otherwise not have been taught, to speak something that may not have been thought, wouldn't you know it, and I’m a poet. LOL. My son even as a teenager also has enjoyed the slam events and has been the most seasonal practiced timer so far. He is also good at writing but is not yet ready to speak out into the universe. We really love it. The slam is such a cultural experience and you get to hear people from all walks of life, it's fantastic. I believe poetry should be just as popular as other art forms, to me it is the most divine and surprisingly entertaining. The poem I performed this year to get me into the final is titled, 'Quintessence'. Heavenly Bodies, pure in spirit.
I have performed in front of an audience since choir at the age of twelve. I performed in drama and dance productions in high school as well as five years in theatre group. I've performed my own work as well in stage productions and have had some small film and TV acting experience. I've performed my own works with acoustic guitar at poetry, writing and music festivals and have had writing experience in poetry, children’s stories, short stories and novels. Writing, resiting and singing my poetry. One of my own personal favourite pieces is my poem, 'A Mothers Unconditional Love.' The poem that got me into last years state final. I love performing my own work. As I previously mentioned. Being able to put a little piece of your soul out into the universe is a great privilege.
My favourite authors are writers of the spirit and they write beyond the flesh. My poetry is always based on the humane spirit and all natures’ wonders; this is great food for the soul. As is the Poetry slam.
It is important for people to have freedom of speech. I believe it can save lives. That is why it's great that this slam is here."
Annette receives her runner up prize from Daniel