Victor Harbor Slam Heat, SA
The final South Australian heat was held on Saturday, 30th October at Victor Harbor Public Library. The winner was Denis McGill, who wrote his first poem at the age of 13 - it was published in the Adelaide Technical High School yearbook. Since then, Denis has had poems published in magazines on various subjects. He's had success in several poetry competitions with commendations and third places and this year's slam heat was his first ever win!
"As a member of the Middleton Writers I was encouraged to enter the Poetry Slam, even though I needed to read my offering. I have now performed in public on several occasions and still feel very nervous, although I am more confident that I was. My association with my writers’ group had helped in this regard. This particular piece, “Libido” was written earlier this year and I first read it in public at the recent Goolwa Festival, receiving a great reception!
I favour rhyming poetry, being brought up with this genre, but have also dabbled in prose and short stories. I also like to include humour as much as possible, although much of my work is serious. I do not have a favourite writer, although Thomas Gray’s “Elegy” and Leon Uris’ “Trinity” are two of my favourite pieces.
It is very important for Australians to write and perform their own work, if not for their own personal satisfaction and recognition, but also to rid ourselves of the “ocker” image by which we are so widely known around the world. In spite of my early days in the “ocker” image to some degree, I believe that my writing leanings and skills were always there, as in Gray’s “Elegy” above."
Denis receives his prize from host, Daniel Watson
Victor Harbor's runner up was Kami - Novelist, freelance writer, drunk poet - A National Finalist in 2009 with performance experience in Adelaide, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney.
"I first started reading back in the dim dark days of the late 90s – pubs, bars, music scene… because that’s where our friends and audience were – in the pub. Like the bands we were simply doing gigs. And after facing a room full of drunk punk rock fans, poetry slams are a ‘doddle’. As for poetry – many would argue I don’t actually write poetry. They are probably right but whatever it is I do, it seems to be working so up theirs!"
APS: Have you performed in front of an audience before?
K: Yep, for a long, long time now
APS: How did you feel performing your own writing?
K: Well, my stuff beats most of the other stuff out there
APS: Do you have a favourite style of writing or a favourite writer?
K: Bukowski probably biggest early influence but I’m more influenced by the music scene than writers – Fear, Deadboys, ‘Pistols etc. I’m self educated, I’m learning as I go along…
APS: Do you think it is important for Australians to write and perform their own work and why?
K: Of course it is important. I don’t go and see cover bands, I ain’t going to see cover writers. If you’re not proud enough of your own work to read it to people, why should we care about your work?!
Kami with Daniel