15th January 1939 – 23rd August 2005.
Denis Kevans was a writer of poems and songs for over 45 years. With a strong belief in socialist values, Denis was a committed campaigner in the fields of peace, human rights, industrial relations, republicanism and environmental causes. As part of many social movements and protests in the 1960s and 70s, he recited his poems to crowds of many thousands of people at rallies and demonstrations – something that poets of today can perhaps only dream about.
He was regarded as a poet of the people and became known as 'Australia's Poet Lorikeet', a play on the words 'poet laureate'. Denis was a great reciter and singer with a powerful stage presence. As a prolific writer, he turned his hand to rhyming verse, free verse, song writing, radio scripts, plays, operetta and biography. Denis won several awards for his poems and songs, and lines from two of his poems are inscribed on the Blue Mountains World Heritage Celebration Stones at Echo Point, Katoomba, along with those of other great literary works such as Henry Kendall's 'Bell Birds'.
Denis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sydney University and later finished a Masters degree thesis on the poetry of Henry Weston Pryce. He taught in high schools and later at the National Arts School with a few years between as a journalist for the teachers federation journal Education and a film critic.
He joined in all moratorium marches against the Vietnam War, was active in conservation and Green Ban movement and later in the Sydney H-Block committee in support of imprisoned Irish republican hunger strikers.
In 1983 Denis retired from teaching and moved to the Blue Mountains. Inspired by the natural beauty of the area he wrote many memorable poems and songs. He also published his first books. He set the poems of other writers to music. Active in political campaigns, Denis wrote scores of letters to editors of newspapers and magazines. He corresponded with academics and activists worldwide. Denis also organised poetry concerts and gatherings such as the regular Parakeet Poets in Katoomba and poetry at the Blue Mountains Music Festival. He continued to participate in political, industrial, anti-war, social justice, East Timor solidarity and conservation protests and benefit concerts.
In partnership with talented singer and songwriter Sonia Bennett, he wrote, recorded and performed songs at many concerts and festivals as well as radio documentaries that aired on the ABC.
Just prior to his death, Denis was working on the biography of Ted Roach, the Assistant General Secretary of the Waterside Workers Federation of Australia.
Denis Kevans died in Westmead hospital, Sydney, following heart surgery complications on 23rd August 2005.
His younger brother Jacko also died in 2005 and was a respected musician and teacher. Denis and Jacko will be remembered for their contributions to the bush music and folk revival. Hopefully Denis will also be recognised as an important Australian poet and commentator of our country's working class history.
Denis's published works include:
The Great Prawn War and Other Poems – Published 1982 by Denis Kevans. ISBN: 0 959 3073 0 3
Ah, White Man, Have You Any Sacred Sites? – Published 1985 by Denis Kevans. ISBN: 09593073
The Bastard Who Squashed the Grapes in Me Bag – Published 1991 by the Left Book Club Co-Operative Ltd. ISBN: 1 875285 39 7
300 Funny Little Poems – Published 1998 by Lorikeet Publications. ISBN: 0 646353292
Denis Kevan's poem Hey, Banjo, Have You Heard, Mate?
Back to top of page |
