Page 9 - Luce 2023

I nterview

In contrast, the American poet, Rita Dove writes that ‘Poetry
is language at its most distilled and most powerful’, and this
careful ‘distillation’ of language is an effortful and painstaking
process, much like the training regime of elite sportspeople.
All of the poets I know put a great deal of energy and thought
into carefully crafting their work to ensure maximum effect,
working on countless drafts, even if the finished poem has an
apparent effortlessness or nonchalance about it. W.B. Yeats
expresses this beautifully in ‘Adam’s curse’ (1904):

‘A line will take us hours maybe;
Yet if it does not seem a moment’s thought,
Our stitching and unstitching has been naught.
Better go down upon your marrow-bones
And scrub a kitchen pavement, or break stones
Like an old pauper, in all kinds of weather;
For to articulate sweet sounds together
Is to work harder than all these, and yet
Be thought an idler by the noisy set
Of bankers, schoolmasters, and clergymen
The martyrs call the world.’

Would you tell me something of your current academic area
of interest and how you may engage in that in Melbourne?

In the last few years I have developed a research interest in
children’s and Young Adult (YA) literature. My next edited
volume, Family in Children’s and Young Adult Literature will
be published by Routledge in late 2023. I’m looking forward
to lecturing on modern and contemporary literature on
the University of Melbourne’s English and Theatre Studies
programme in the 2023 academic year, and to bringing some
of my favourite writers and fellow academics to offer readings
and masterclasses at JCH.
Completing the 2022 Melbourne Marathon.
I understand that you are keen to engage with JCH alumni.
What ideas do you have to undertake that? Story-based that we are here to ensure transformative educational
alumni engagement sounds fascinating: what does it experiences for real young people, with their own unique
involve? backgrounds, dreams, and futures ahead of them. It works
both ways, too, with the potential to inspire and motivate our
At JCH we are so fortunate to enjoy such a close relationship students by sharing with them stories from our alumni about
with so many members of our alumni community, and our their own experiences, struggles, and successes.
alumni are important stakeholders, not only in the College’s
past, but in its future as well. At our recent Christmas Jazz and Can you suggest three things about yourself that might
Cocktails event it was wonderful to see alumni from the 1960s surprise people who don’t know you well?
and ‘70s chatting and sharing stories with recent graduates
from the last few years. We’re going to be talking to alumni I’m not sure how surprising it is, but I’m a keen distance
in the coming months to find out what kinds of events and runner and arrived here just in time to complete the 2022
engagement opportunities they would most value and enjoy; Melbourne Marathon. Having just missed it in October, I’m
perhaps becoming one of our Leading Lights Career Mentors, hoping to achieve that elusive ‘Good for Age’ result in 2023
singing in a scratch choir in the Trinity/JCH Chapel, or joining (under 3:45:00) that will guarantee me entry to the World
us for a private viewing at the NGV. We want to ensure that Marathon Majors. I also enjoy volunteering at the local
JCH remains an important part of our students’ lives long after Parkrun in Princes Park to encourage novice runners.
they graduate.
Perhaps more surprising is that I used to work as an Educator
Story-based engagement basically does what it says on the tin! at the New England Aquarium when I was at Harvard,
It’s about sharing stories and experiences with our alumni and mainly within the marine mammals and penguin colony
supporters to help deepen their relationship with the College exhibits. I’ve always had a keen interest in marine ecology
and our current students. It’s so powerful for us to be able to (I’m also an open water swimmer and will be in the sea or
share with an alumnus that a student has just landed their first at the coast given half a chance!) and nearly chose to study
job, thanks to the experience acquired on a work placement Biology at university rather than English Literature. Working
they offered, or for one of our donors to learn that the student at the aquarium amongst professional marine scientists was
who is benefiting from their scholarship has just made the a brilliant opportunity to do something completely separate
Dean’s List for their academic performance or has been from my academic research every week, and I now enjoy
elected to an ICAC leadership role. It helps us all to remember helping Wolfie discover the wonders of the marine world.

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