Gran Slam 2020

Aaron Blomeley is an environmental hydrologist with the heart of a poet. Aaron has a lifetime of worldwide travel under his belt and is just about due for his OBE (Over Bloody Eighty). He writes poems for his grown-up kids and stories for his grandchildren. Last year Aaron Blomeley was the poster boy for Gran Slam. In 2020 we welcome back this moped-riding, inspirational facilitator to enlighten and enliven us with his vibrant imagination and animated performances once again.

Maturing into a very fine wine indeed, this aged Rapunzel lives in her timber tower amongst the treetops and only lowers her plait to creative fantasies that are woven into words and paintings creating a technicolour dream coat for her to disappear in. Doing what she thought was a sidestep from the time warp of Community Services and Natural Therapies, she found her 1st and 2nd ages fed the changes needed for her to travel through life to the beat of her own drum. Now the ante is cyclonically upped as she moves with determination into the 3rd age of her life. Hear the drums beating.

Author of this exquisite lilt “I have had a late-night acquaintance with a poem. I lost myself but I found my poem”, Margaret Sparks returns to the Gran Slam stage in 2020 to look over us and out for us. A natural Mother Hen, Margaret is always checking on people’s needs. She describes herself as a sophisticated hippie and passionate environmentalist (hello tautology). Margaret is a published writer of memoirs and a well-travelled blazer of life. She inspires us with her joyful presence and attention to detail.

A self-described “Citizen of Planet Earth”, Louis Weir is passionate about “the environment and social changes needed to create sustainability and diversity for future generations”. She ran an organic café in Main Beach on the sunny Gold Coast with her husband, creating a wonderful working atmosphere there that continues to be a source of joy. Louis is a poet and short story writer, most recently in the delightful inter-generational story of a commuter train sabotaged by “The Ugly Baldbits” and in need of rescue. Her humour and wit will whip you into slam poetry surrender.

She is the author of two-story collections - ‘Stitched Pages’ and ‘Layers of Life’. Margaret Clifford’s spiritual poetry is often used for reflections and rituals. After a childhood spent hiding up a mango tree avoiding chores, and a lifetime of being a “teacher, parent, publican, principal, carer, mediator and social justice advocate”, Margaret has escaped into poetry. She is a fitness fanatic and lifelong learner. Now she’s coming down from her aerie overlooking the Brisbane River to slam.

Kathryn Boorman believes that performance can be “entertaining, inspiring, and potentially bring about change”. Strong words from a writer and poet who has given voice to new ideas in one way or another all over the world. This retired English teacher lived in London, France, New Zealand and Vietnam, where she volunteered to teach English as a second language. She is well versed in writing and reciting poems as part of her globe-trotting life as well as right here at home in Suffolk Park, NSW. Kathryn is passionate about living life to the full and, as she describes, clear communication. We hear you, Kathryn!

One of Australia’s most respected astrology columnists, Lilith Rocha is taking time out from writing her next literary work for Dangerously Poetic Press, and dancing with the Hula Troupe Mana Aloha (Powerful Love) she formed in Byron, to return to Gran Slam for a repeat performance. To this famous artist’s nude, Dalai Lama-meeting Buddhist, Mad Max extra, Extinction Rebellion supporter and Casa Aloha builder, nothing fills her heart like the islands of Hawaii and the principles of Aloha. Lilith Rocha is back to inspire us.

Anne is a lifelong educationist from working in schools, TAFE, prisons, research and policy. She’s bossed those trade teachers and passionately encouraged those good folks, inspiring the most vulnerable of learners. A self-confessed “bleeding heart” and proud of it. Anne not only passionately cares about education, human rights, equality, justice and the environment, but she is a woman of action, writing letters, making phone calls to pollies, tweeting, demonstrating and marching proudly in the street. She loves, loves, loves the arts - theatre, dance, art, books and says it’s pretty hard to beat the high you feel (apart from sex) when you've been immersed in an amazing performance.

Now, she says she’s done enough viewing of art and wants to make some herself and while she may say she is “not particularly creative”, we’re not buying that for one minute! Anne Carlin - there is a first-class creative pedigree with power and passion right there.

Barbara Hamilton wants to be taken out of her comfort zone. Well, come inside, Barbara, slam poetry awaits! When someone says “the sea has been part of my life forever” therein lies the heart of a poet. Barbara has raised two families with 5 children and had 2 “animated” divorces. She has tutored Asian students in Hong Kong and was the first woman to be elected to Local Government in Casino. Now Barbara is animating her life through embracing the Feros Care Virtual Social Centre and employing it for the love of God, Family, and all things creative. Amen to that.

Risk takers. Fervent life observers. These are the defining characters of the 2020 Gran Slam cohort. Daniele Lamarche-Sarvia is no exception. Descended from a long line of visual artists, art curators and archaeologists, Daniele has traversed the earth in pursuit of the sea, art and creation. Her unique view of the world as a visual artist gives Daniele the ability to weave powerful and beautiful imagery into her explosive slam performances with a lucid narrative.

Robbie Wesley is a published poet and produced playwright. She has performed at Murwillumbah’s ‘Poets Out Loud’ and won the Darwin Writers’ Festival Poetry Slam. Robbie was a teacher in Jakarta and a pupil at a Buddhist Monastery. She was “born under a wandering star” and enjoys reading “anything that stimulates ideas”. Robbie’s unique take on life includes her interest in astrology as it relates to current global affairs. She loves walking in nature and performing slam. And we love wandering under her starry sky woven with words.

In 2019, Jan Flower lost her beloved husband, a journalist and writer. She admits to still processing a lot of grief and learning to be without him, but she is ready to take the baton of creative pen and write her way to happiness. Jan was a teacher in Papua New Guinea, acted with the Southport Little Theatre and in Sydney years later. She is an artist, a traveller, a mother and grandmother whose passion is art. Jan’s journey and Gran Slam experience now inspires her to share everything in poetry. Even in the middle of the night. Sorry about that Jan!

Margo Knox has a qualification in age.

Being 73 she wants to know “What The Hell Has Happened to Our Elder-hood”.

Margo has written, published, and talked about the gems of ageing for the past 15 years.

She has run many workshops for people retiring, making big changes and wanting to age consciously.

Creating situations for talking about ageing in a positive and interesting way, where Wisdom is precious sacred and heard.

Margo thinks we need to talk more and listen more, to taboo subjects.

Like age bias and death…or fear of both!

A new poet thanks to Gran Slam, Feros Care & Everybody Now.

Creating, sharing, listening and respecting is a working motto.

Watch Margo's Tedx talk - What the hell happened to elderhood?

Some people are talkers. Others are doers. As recently as last year, Axel Bosselmann was in Uganda and Sudan, providing guidance and leadership to refugees; conducting audits in war zones, restoring bio-medicinal resources and working in the Tonj/Wau region. He has started language schools in Malaysia and succeeded with limited material and financial resources under great physical exertion, where others would never even dare. He is a trauma counsellor and a horticulturalist and now Axel Bosselmann brings all of his experiences to the slam, direct from the Charters Towers visitors information centre where he is a volunteer with a dash of poetry workshops on the side.

Born to be a rock star and having rocked a part in the taboo-busting theatrical laugh fest “All The Sex I’ve Ever Had”, Valerie Frost is expanding her repertoire and life experience. Not long ago she was hanging out of helicopters taking aerial shots for advertising companies and gaining a Masters Degree in Anthropology. She paints, swims, dances, reads and loves getting her hands dirty in the garden. Watch Valerie slam this unstoppable zest for life in her next premiere performance!

Julie defies anything remotely linked to the shackles of age and believes we are forever changing and evolving. A tall, strong, determined, and stylish woman, she is skilled at chasing down the next big creative pursuit. Ocean swimming, flying high on a trapeze (no jokes!), rehearsing for the next theatre performance, or writing a new rhyme inspires the get up and go in all of us. In 2009 Julie needed to learn basic computer skills when she signed up for internet dating which incidentally was the catalyst to kick start her passion for rhyming words.