From the weekly email to members

This week there's a deluge of opportunities closing including three 'city' gigs: Poet Laureate of Auburn, Sydney City Poet, and Melbourne Poetry Idol.

The question arises, naturally, as to which of these is the most prestigious. You will all no doubt have your view, but for me Poet Laureate of Auburn is a clear leader. The Sydney City Poet role has its capital city glamour, the allure of lucre, an office, ribbon cuttings, ship launches – while Melbourne Poetry Idol, well, I'm sure it'll be better than most Sunday night reality TV, but poet laureate – now there's a magic phrase you don't hear every day in Australia.

Of course we can't answer conclusively which is best till the poets are picked and the poems are in and we'll certainly look at this question again in a few months.

There is though a still more exciting possibility to be considered – a unlikelihood that seems so out of reach no-one would imagine it, or even try for it – that one worthy poet wins all three titles, and holds aloft the Triple Crown of Australian poetry.

All I ask is that those of you applying for only one of these be instead unabashed – sharpen your pencil and apply, apply, apply for all three... the Triple Crown awaits you.