Handweavers and Spinners Guild Scout Around for a New Location
The Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria has recently moved from Shakespeare Street North Carlton to new premises in Nicholson Street, the site of a former video store. The Guild occupied the former scout hall from January 2000 to March 2011.The scout hall, designed by architect Harry James, dominates the north side of Shakespeare Street, a narrow street running between Lygon and Drummond Streets. The foundation stone was laid by the Lord Mayor, Councillor H. Luxton, in July 19301 and it would have been good news to the local community in economically depressed times.
The building is described as "a well-preserved but late example of neo-baroque styling, with steel-framed windows and segmental arches to openings" in the Victorian Heritage Database. It is considered socially and historically significant for its public role in North Carlton.
1The Argus, 21 July 1930, p. 7
Brian Buckley Remembers Peter Porter
Peter Porter, the poet, enjoyed Carlton and Melbourne, but there is no record of him visiting the local Library, although he was on a list of potential speakers.Born in Brisbane, he spent most of his life in London where he died in May 2010, aged (active and thoughtful) 80. He was a friend of a number of well-known Melbourne writers including the considerable poet, Peter Steele. The friendships were consolidated by his frequent visits here later in his life, after a lack of recognition in his birthplace for about 30 years.
I was a casual reader of his poems until I was knocked over one afternoon reading "Neighbours" which was composed shortly after his visit to the Arezzo region in Italy.(He loved Italy and the works of Piero della Francesca). He had looked into an old visitors' book at Borgo San Sepolcro and noticed a couple of entries, The beginning of the poem reads:
"I am Cecco di Cecchi
who died in 1493
and I apologise now
for troubling you.
This is my chance to speak...."On the opposite page of the memorial book (Libro di Morti) is an entry for Pieiro noting his death in October 1492.
Porter wrote about 17 books of poetry at last count, and a lot of music criticism (his ability as a musicologist largely self-taught), book reviews, and general literary and other comment. He made his living by writing, and regretted he never earned enough to buy a London flat when they were affordable. He was a friend of Clive James and his set.
He was clearly influenced by Browning and Auden (who is not, except the post-modernist scribblers) and became a literary lion in Britain in the last few decades of his life, through his wonderful conversational skills as well as his writing. He was interested in everything, and could turn most of this interest into verse that was fast-moving, erudite and melodic.
He enjoyed the poetry of Evan Jones, Chris Wallace-Crabbe and Vincent Buckley, amongst other prominent locals. He certainly compares with A.D.Hope, Kenneth Slessor and Les Murray in the Australian pantheon of poets, although often writing in a less formal, and less personal, style. His last published book was "Better Than God" (not intended to be irreligious). A new one is due out shortly and we hope the Library orders it.
An example of his irony is the title of his first book, "Once Bitten, Twice Bitten". In the poem, "Neighbours" (mentioned above), is the prophetic line:
"Now time has torn out my tongue".Brian Buckley
Carlton Author and Public Policy Director
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