Denis Kevans interview by Alex and Annette Hood in the Alex Hood folklore collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3101845
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Kevans, Denis, 1939-2005, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research; written permission required for personal copies and public use during the lifetime of the interviewee.
- Description:
-
- 2004 May 2
- 3 digital audio tapes (ca. 185 min.)
- Series:
- Alex Hood folklore collection.
- Summary:
-
Folkloric recording. Denis Kevans born 1939, talks about his parents; his schooling at St. Christophers in Manuka, Canberra; receiving scholarship to St. Josephs in Sydney; his brother Anthony John (Jacko); school folklore, writing first protest poem when 14 years old; Brother Morris; his spirituality; loved singing; being a good cricketer; his dreams; father's humour; Brothers at St. Josephs; his family background; his graduation, Commonwealth Scholarship; studying medicine; winning Poetry Award in 'Canberra Times' (1956); Wharfie films Influence; Germaine Greer; winning Communist Poetry Award; studying history; his involvement in disarmament marches; Realist Writers; Alex Robertson; Paul Mortier; winning The Mary Gilmore Award, poem about Auschwitz; John Baker; playing cricket for Prime Minister's Eleven against England; his father's remarriage; Clarrie Riley; Jack Smith; moving to Glebe (1968); his poems; Gary Shearston; Alex and Denis talk of experiences (1960's); his marriage to a Greek girl (1964); working as ironworker; returning to University studying English and Italian; Professor May.
Kevan's wife learning English receiving her Arts Degree; RAF bombing of Greece after the war; meeting Clover Moore at Teacher's College (1968); job at Tempe High School; teaching (1968-1972); Principal Morrison; his involvement with conservationist movement; returning to teaching (1977); meeting writer Helen Palmer; winning prizes for songs and poems; writing white collar record songs (1960s); teaching at Malvina High School, Ryde; his divorce (1982); gave up teaching; began writing, songs and poems; meeting Sonia Bennet; local environment struggles; Isabella Bowden; Golf Course Resort; Crocodile Farm proposed; Chris Kempster; writing songs about Glenbrook; Geraldine Hood; Sonia Bennett; meeting Mary Doran; Brian Dunnett; writing book about Teddie Roach; Pat Kiley; Milton Taylor; known as 'Poet Lorikeet'; winning Ipswich Poetry Prize; wanting to write book on Gallipoli; 'H. Block' poems; Irish-Australian movement; Gerry Adams; Melbourne Trade Unions; his publications; his first recitation (1994).
- Partial contents:
-
- Tells stories about: being called 'Dagwood'
- 'Brother John the Bastard'
- punishment and 'Brother Rupert'
- debate with Scots College
- poem 'Young words'
- unidentified film that influenced him
- recites 'Builders Labourer's'
- air raid on Changi
- Japanese commandant
- his mother
- Grandfather
- Mick
- shearer/soldier
- unidentified poems and songs
- 'Bennie'
- recites 'Faces in the street'
- wedding
- Frank Hardy
- School principal
- sparrow story
- incident with drunken kids
- another story on teaching
- Christian teacher
- President of Teacher's Federation
- 'Stick man' and 'Lady Goebbels'
- destructive marking
- Malvina drama story
- reads monologue 'Nothin' to see but rocks and creeks and trees'
- newspaper article about tax payments
- Lake
- Louie
- clearing of angophora forest
- story of destruction
- recites his poem 'had a few win', 'took on Casino'
- sings 'Omeo that Denis' set to music
- Banjo Paterson connection
- recitation
- recites poem 'Rope'
- 'Adams' last visit
- explains unidentified poems
- explains poems on plaques at Echo Point
- bulldozing of Sorenson's Nursery
- Mayor
- recites poem 'Concerta'.
- Biography/History:
-
Denis Kevans is Australia's best known poet of the Left. He was a prolific writer of poems and songs, winning eighteen first prizes for verse. He has published a number of books as "The Poet Lorikeet".
- Notes:
-
- Accompanying photographs.
- Recorded on May 2, 2004 at Wentworth Falls, N.S.W.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia ;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (12 p.) available.
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Alex Hood folklore collection.
This collection contains 186 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2074 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2004
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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