‘Antipodes’ is the first anthology of Aboriginal and white poetic voices both past and present (sometimes in harmony, often conflicting) responding to "settlement" and the culture shock of first contact. Readings by contemporary poets featured in the anthology include Margaret Bradstock, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Lionel Fogarty, Anita Heiss, Anna Kerdijk Nicholson and Brenda Saunders.

Presented by Australian Poetry.

Margaret Bradstock
Margaret Bradstock has five published books of poetry. The most recent are ‘The Pomelo Tree’, which won the Wesley Michel Wright Prize, ‘Coast’ and ‘How Like the Past’. She has also won Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson awards. She was the Asialink writer in residence at Peking University in 2003 and co-editor of ‘Five Bells’ for the Poets Union from 2001- 2010. She has edited 11 books of poetry and prose since 1983, including ‘Antipodes’.
 
Brenda Saunders
Brenda Saunders is a Sydney writer and artist of Aboriginal and British descent (Wiradjuri nation). Her poems, articles and reviews have been published in selected anthologies, poetry journals and on the web. She has read at the Sydney Writers’ Festival and other poetry events and her work was recently featured on ABC’s ‘Awaye’ and ‘Poetica’. Brenda won the Banjo Patterson Prize in 2010.
 
Anna Kerdijk Nicholson
Anna Kerdijk Nicholson won the Val Vallis Award for Unpublished Poetry in 2001. Her first book was ‘The Bundanon Cantos’. Her new collection is ‘Possession’, winner of the Wesley Michel Wright and Victorian Premier’s Prizes.

Anita Heiss
Dr Anita Heiss has published nonfiction, historical fiction, chick-lit, poetry, social commentary and travel articles. She is an Indigenous Literacy Day ambassador, patron of South Sydney Youth Services and a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation. She co-edited, with Peter Minter, ‘The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature’, and her most recent adult novels are ‘Manhattan Dreaming’ and ‘Paris Dreaming’. Anita divides her time between writing, public speaking, MCing and working as a workshop facilitator. She lives in Sydney.
anitaheiss.com

Lionel Fogarty
Lionel Fogarty is a Murri man and a leading spokesman for Indigenous rights in Australia. His poetry career has spanned more than 30 years and includes 11 books of poetry. Lionel is well known for his forthright honesty and passion for Aboriginal justice in issues including deaths in custody and land rights. He has endeavoured to “conquer the English language” and his unique voice has travelled across the world. He remains committed to the resurgence of Aboriginal languages.

Ali Cobby Eckermann
Ali Cobby Eckermann is a Nunga author and poet. Her first poetry collection, ‘Little Bit Long Time’, highlights her journey to find her Yankunytjatjara family in central Australia. Her poem ‘Intervention Pay Back’ won the Red Earth Poetry Award in 2008 and was published in ‘Best Australian Poems 2009’. Ali’s latest chapbook is titled ‘Kami’. ‘My Father’s Eyes’ is her first verse novel.

Martin Langford
Martin Langford’s publications include ‘The Great Wall of Instinct’, ‘Sensual Horizon’ and ‘Microtexts’, a book of aphorism and observation about poetics. In 2004 he co-edited ‘Ngara’ with John Muk Muk Burke, and in 2009 edited ‘Harbour City Poems’. His latest book is ‘The Human Project: New and Selected Poems’.