One of Australia’s most celebrated poets will make a rare public appearance as part of this year’s Albury-Wodonga Winter Solstice for Survivors of Suicide event on June 21.
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The acclaimed Les Murray will read one of his poems and is expected to also give a short speech at the community event that aims to shine a light on the silence and stigma of suicide and mental illness.
Co-organiser Stuart Baker said it was a “real coup” to have a man of Murray’s stature attend the event.
“I think he’s been intrigued about it (since we started six years ago),” Mr Baker said.
“It will be very poignant; Les doesn’t give many public talks and I think this will be a beautiful fit.”
The 2017 solstice event included a special film recording of Murray reciting Dead Trees in The Dam at Albury’s QEII Square
The poem was chosen for its strong, hopeful theme, host David Astle said at the time.
“Les was paralysed by the black dog of depression for many years,” Astle said.
“To turn around and write such beautiful poetry …
“Rather than look at the darkness of dead trees in a dam, he creates an image of great beauty and gentleness.”
Astle had joined his good friend and solstice stalwart Mr Baker on a road trip to visit Murray at his hometown of Bunyah in June 2017 to film the reading.
Mr Baker and his wife Annette reached out to Murray after their daughter Mary took her life in March, 2011 when she was just 15 years old.
Before she died Mary compiled an anthology of poetry, called Out of the Shadows, which explored the topic of mental illness and included an analysis of one of Murray’s poems.
The Bakers shared her work with Murray and he responded with a poignant letter.
“What a filthy, unjust thing mental illness can be, taking away a life that clearly had every reason to be happy and proud of itself!” he wrote.
The Bakers went on to establish a grassroots event offering solace to those who have lost friends or loved ones to suicide or mental illness.
Set against the comforting backdrop of open fires, nourishing food and soothing music, the annual Albury-Wodonga Winter Solstice event features a line-up of speakers to educate and inspire.
This year’s line-up is no less impressive with Gold Logie-winning actor and Love Your Sister cancer campaigner Samuel Johnson among the speakers to share personal experience of triumph and tragedy.
Joining him on stage will be investigative journalist Tim Elliott and former NRL great Ian Roberts.
