November 7th, 2024Bugger all at the Poetry Slam

The Mollongghip Poetry Slam happens this Saturday evening, November 9 and poets must work the words “bugger all” into their poems. 

The Mollongghip Poetry Slam started when MC Mark Grant, a former local  who lived next to the hall, dreamt up the event, with participants reciting for half an hour, singing songs or reciting short stories.  

Local Gib Wettenhall said while Mark had MCed for 19 years with aplomb, it  took a few years of tweaking on the part of the hall committee to pull it into a shape  that suited the rural community.

“Poems have to be short. We now have a two minute time limit and for years Noel Gregory dressed as the Grim Reaper, clicking a pair of large shears in an attempt  to enforce the time limit.  

“Amateurs and locals are encouraged. One professional poet doing the rounds admonished a judge for showing bias by addressing a poet up on stage as ‘My  dear friend’.

This would seem to miss the point. Mollongghip’s Slam is not about  excellence, but about drawing out sparks of creativity and heartfelt performances from people who never ordinarily step out on a stage.

It’s the doing that counts. We are  proud to say that many local farmers regularly grace the stage with poetic yarns about  the bull that chased them or the kangaroo that joined the firefighters in the dam as the bushfire headed towards them.  

“Judges are picked for their potential to add spice and a touch of humour, but  not at the poet’s expense. They have been a mix of Mollongghippians (Ghipsters) and  local identities like storyteller Anne Stewart, Daylesford GP Greg Malcher and former Mayor Kate Redwood.  

“Each Slam has theme words that have to be inserted into the poem from  ‘Dangerous ideas’ to ‘Knife’s edge’ and this year’s beauty ‘Bugger all’.

It’s a lame  attempt to avoid plagiarism, although in the case of some notable rollicking ballads  delivered, we have had our suspicions.  

“Our largest number of poets was 35. Audiences usually fill the hall, numbering  up to 100. We always split the delivery by poets up on stage into two halves, with  time out for drinks at our bar.  

“Non-poets are encouraged to bring a plate for supper at the end of the night  while the judges are adding up the scores for the winning poets – one they judge as  the Grand Champion; the other as voted by the audience as the People’s Choice.” 

Bar opens and poets register from 7pm and the slam gets going from 8pm with more information available on The Mollongghip Poetry Slam Facebook page.