FROM Tennant Creek to Tanzania and Brisbane to Birmingham, women from all around the world resonate with the poetry of award-winning Indigenous writer Yvette Holt.
Her words transcend race and culture, reaching out to an audience that includes women of a variety of different backgrounds and walks of life.
“I receive emails and letters from women of all demographics saying that they felt something within themselves respond in memory to a verse or a line. And so I think, well, that’s great ... that is the power of words in action,” says Yvette, who won the 2005 David Unaipon Award for a collection of work, Anonymous Premonition.
While women respond to Yvette’s work, men, too, are moved by her poetry.
Who wouldn’t be inspired by a writer who says: “I love caressing words and throwing them up into the clouds and seeing what lands where.
“I suppose I am an old romantic at heart so poetic lyricism is an instant attraction for me, it happens because I allow it to happen.
“There is really no formula for poetry. It is such an intimate and personal journey whether you decide to share it with others or not.”
Now writers in the Barkly region are being given an incredible opportunity to spend five days with Yvette for an intensive residential writing retreat at Renner Springs, about 150km north of Tennant Creek, at the end of this month.
Organised by the NT Writers’ Centre in conjunction with Barkly Regional Arts, the writers’ retreat, from September 28 until October 2, is open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers. All costs are covered.
“The Barkly region has a host of talented writers, the majority Indigenous,” explains Sandra Thibodeaux, from the NT Writers’ Centre.
“Given the remoteness, associated costs, and connection to land and family, it is difficult for writers of this region to have access to support and professional development opportunities.
“Thus, the need to provide a retreat.”
Yvette, a member of the Bidjara and Wakaman Nations of central-western and far north Queensland (Atherton Tablelands), knows all about the value of expression and self belief, and taking the time to do this.
When asked what made her start writing she replied that it was the ability to listen to her dreams in the first instance.
“Then you have to believe in them and go after your goals,” she said.
“I envisioned that I wanted to become a poet, then a writer and you just add layers to your life, nothing is impossible.
Believe in the possibility of pursuing your dreams and your heart will follow.”
Yvette has been writing professionally for about five years which, according to this humble woman, isn’t very long at all in the grand scheme of things.
“On the personal front I have always kept journals and diaries of some description over the years and in those books I have written about my take on thoughts, philosophies and observations,” she said.
She is also an avid reader.
“They say in order to become a good writer you must firstly allow yourself to become a good reader,” said Yvette.
“The power of the written word comes from the absorption of seeking words, of wanting to express them in your daily language.
“I try and read anywhere between 20 to 30 books per year of all genres.
“Diversity of literature is a great practice to expanding the mind.”
Born in Brisbane, Yvette grew up in the highly populated Indigenous urban community of Inala where her family have lived for 40 years.
Yvette says she feels privileged to have been around so many great teachers in her life, starting with her Mum and Dad.
“I am who I am because I am their daughter, proud and strong,” she said.
In 2003 Yvette received the UTS Human Rights award in the category of reconciliation for “her outstanding contribution towards the elevation of social justice for Indigenous Australians”.
Two years later she won the David Unaipon Award (Queensland Premier’s Literary Award) for an Unpublished Indigenous Australian Author.
Her collection of poetry, Anonymous Premonition, was published by the University of Queensland Press in 2008.
A graduate from the University of Technology, Sydney in 2007, Yvette has a degree in Adult Education and Community Management (Business) and enrolled Masters of Indigenous Languages Education.
In recent years she has held the position of researcher of Indigenous Australian literature at AustLit: The Resource for Australian Literature and has also lectured in Aboriginal Women’s Studies and Indigenous Women’s Global Perspectives at the University of Queensland.
With regards to her own writing, Yvette draws inspiration from ordinary people, observing their characters.
“I also have a keen ear for listening to conversations on public transport,” she says.
“Quite a few of my poems written on the landscape of Sydney were done so out of listening to people’s conversations on the public bus between Broadway and Marrickville ... go figure?
“Taxi drivers can also be a great source of wealth for a blank page on the spoken word landscape.”
One of Yvette’s favourite poets is Audre Lorde. “Audre was a feminist-thinking lady, way ahead of her times.
She was of Caribbean-American heritage, lesbian, poet, writer, essayist and visionary in the extreme sense.
Sadly, she passed way from breast cancer in the early 90s.
One of her most powerful quotes is: ‘Your silence will not protect you’.”
Now living in Alice Springs, Yvette is currently working on the writing of a collection of autobiographical essays and short stories titled, Her Native Tongue, which will bring out “the forces of feminism, indigeneity and creative juices for all to experience”.
She says she’s enjoying the Central Australian experience and her role as Health Literacy Educator, where she outreaches to remote communities.
Yvette also does training and workshops on the English Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program.
Yvette’s poems have tackled subjects as varied as the power of family commitment and the adventure and romance that the prospect of travel evokes to speaking with compassion on vulnerability and the abused. But her favourite poem from her own collection is Motherhood.
It is an ode to her daughter – 14-year-old Cheyenne, Yvette’s only child.
“That poem brought us immense pleasure and it brings tears and laughter from women of all backgrounds and ages - grandmothers, school principals, tuckshop mums,” she says.
“It is a poem that will stand the test of time. If all that I have done on this planet is to have protected children and written poetry that inspires others then rest assured, I will rest in peace.”
If you are interested in taking part in the five-day residential Barkly writers’ retreat with Yvette from September 28 - October 2, contact Ktima at Barkly Arts on 8962 2799 or email admin@barklyarts.com.au.
All costs, including accommodation and food, are covered.