Australian poet, children’s author, creative writing teacher and comic performer, Harry Laing came to do writing workshops with Years 2 and 3.
Harry writes the following on his website: I have a passion for poetry, comic performance and for teaching. As a poet I’ve had four books published Thirst (1993) and Backbone (2010) and my first book as a children’s author is Shoctopus–poems to grip you (2015) a book of illustrated poems for 6-12 yr olds. Most recently, MoonFish (2019), a poetry picture book featuring illustrators such as Shaun Tan and Leigh Hobbs. I’ve written and performed 8 solo shows and toured one of them, Away with the birds for STARTS (Southern Tablelands Arts). I was awarded CASP grants to write and perform a two-hander Playing for Time in 2012 and a staged radio show Under Braidwood in 2014 I’ve also written for radio. My two series of quirky country tales Stories from the edge of the forest and Tales of a Tree Changer were broadcast on ABC Radio National’s Bush Telegraph in 2005/2006.
I like to think I have the ability to get people writing whatever their age and stage. Perhaps this is because humour is a big part of what I do. I’ve been Poet On Wheels (2006) worked in many schools, judged schools poetry competitions, been a writer in residence and taken workshops in jail. And I’m constantly surprised and delighted by the quality of writing of participants in my workshops.
Harry is a regular yearly visitor to our College and as always both students and teachers thoroughly enjoyed his visit.
Mrs Emma Harris
Years 1,2 & 3 Coordinator
