Proud to be poetic

By Melissa Walsh  Photos Rick Boland & Yanni

It’s been just over 12 months since two peninsula ladies put their heads together to create Poets Corner and the results have been outstanding. The monthly gathering to promote and celebrate the joy, wisdom and passion that poetry can bring to life is overflowing at the seams with budding thespians wanting to soak up the creative action.

Heather Forbes McKeon and Heather Mc are the faces behind the poetry nights in McCrae where people wine, dine and enjoy the wonder and bliss of poetry from locals and guest poets.
Ms Forbes McKeon is the former head of drama at Frankston High School and has been known to write some wonderful prose herself.  Heather Mc is the owner of Blue Bay Café, McCrae but somewhat of a thespian and poet, having spent many years in theatre.

“Poet’s Corner aims to encourage anyone who is involved to write, to read, to perform or simply to listen to poetry,” said the ladies who are blown away by the wealth of poetic interest and talent on the peninsula.  “We are really kicking goals, having participated in the Melbourne Spoken Word and Poetry Festival last month, with our special guest poet ReVerse Butcher, wowing the crowd.”

ReVerse Butcher is a multi-disciplinary artist with focuses in making unique artist’s books, collages, visual art, writing, poetry and performance. With her unique style, she will use any medium necessary to engage and subvert reality until it is less dull and oppressive, and it was the second time she has performed at Poet’s Corner; another coup for the peninsula soiree of poets.

“We meet in the warm and magical atmosphere of the Blue Bay Café` McCrae, where we dine, wine and share our poetry during the Open Mic sets and enjoy the poetry of a prolific poet during the Featured Poet set,” said the two Heathers.


Poets’ Corner’ runs on the last Sunday of the month at Blue Bay Café, 665-667 Point Nepean Road, McCrae.

Readings are held from 6pm to 8pm with the option to enjoy a meal or just come along, have a drink and soak up the poetic atmosphere.

First published in Peninsula Essence – August 2018