Upwey author Leanne Hills, with sons Tadji (left) and Tamin, will lead a poetry writing class for hills homeschoolers at the Belgrave Library tomorrow. (Wednesday). Ms Hills is involved in the Moving Galleries initiative, which encourages Melbourne commuters to connect with the poetic in their daily lives.By Paul Pickering
HILLS homeschoolers will embark on an excursion into the realm of poetry tomorrow (Wednesday) as Upwey author Leanne Hills joins the Belgrave Library’s first meeting of the year.
The homeschoolers program, launched in September by librarian Judy Wolff, is an initiative aimed at connecting home-educated children and their families with the community.
While the poetry writing session is designed to ignite the creativity of the regular homeschoolers group, all are invited to attend. The self-proclaimed quest of Mrs Hills is to “bring poetry into public and the public into poetry”, a mantra that guided her involvement in the renowned Moving Galleries product.
This initiative, backed by the Committee of Melbourne, has seen various passages of poetry and artwork being displayed on Melbourne and regional trains.
Dispersed throughout a space dominated by advertising, the short poems provide a moment for commuters to connect with the poetic in their lives.
“In my mind, the defining image is of a 42-year-old financial advisor, somewhere between Kooyong and Richmond, looking across at one of the decals, sports pages still open on his knee, connecting with poetry for the very first time,” Mrs Hills said.
A prolific author throughout a variety of genres, Mrs Hills is writing the libretto for a Swiss dance performance.
The session at Belgrave Library will be on Wednesday, 1 February at 1pm. Bookings can be made with the library on 9754 7266.
