Bea Jones
I was born in London and grew up in NZ and started writing poetry in the early 1990s, based in Newcastle NSW and the Hunter Valley. I moved to Melbourne in 1998. I spent several years performing poetry at readings in NSW and Melbourne and appeared as guest poet at various Regional Writers’ Festivals and on a Sydney Radio Station called Made in Australia, hosted by Dulcie Meadows.
Life in, and connection to, Hobsons Bay
I have lived in Newport since 2016 and have a great appreciation of Hobsons Bay and environs. Much of my poetry is conceived whilst walking along the bay. I am also a trained visual artist. My previous exhibition was held at the Long Space Gallery, Newport in Oct 2020 and I currently have a retrospective at the Newport Hub, Feb 2022.
I am an active member, as a singer, song writer and musician, of the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club performing and participating in much of the diverse music on offer in this area.
Works
The Little Book of Astrological Poems was self published in July 2021, having originally been written as birthday offerings for family and friends.The positive response initiated the idea of making a collection available to a wider readership.
I have been published in many anthologies, including ‘ Visions from the Valley - Poetry of the Hunter Valley 1960 – 2000’ by Catchfire Press and ‘On the Street, a Melbourne Anthology’ 2020 by Quiet Corner Publishing.
I won the Ada Cambridge Award in 2016 and was shortlisted for the Grieve Award 2019, the Poetica Christi Award 2020 and the ACU Award 2019/ 2020. I do not have a website. I can be contacted by my email, beajay1@gmail.com