Upcoming Events
Calanthe’s first guest poet for 2026: NICOLE MELANSON
Friday 06 February 2026 at Zamia Theatre, Tamborine Mountain
Nicole Melanson has been awarded Australia Council grants in both poetry and fiction and was shortlisted for the 2021 Island Nonfiction Prize. Her writing is widely anthologised and published everywhere from Meanjin to Mississippi Review. A native Bostonian and former Sydneysider, Nicole now lives in Brisbane, where she mentors emerging writers with disabilities and runs WordMothers, supporting women’s work in the literary arts worldwide. Find her at www.nicolemelanson.com and www.wordmothers.com
Calanthe Press will be publishing Nicole's latest work, Siren, in April this year so watch this space for launch details in a few weeks.
But for this event:
THE WHEN
Friday 6th February 6.30 PM for a 7.00 PM start
THE WHERE
Zamia Theatre
22 Main St, Tamborine Mountain
Blackboard Poets
There will be a blackboard poet section for those who would like to share a poem.
THE COST
There is no specific cost, but we ask for a donation at entry. These monies go to a contribution to the poet, the musicians, the hire of the space and our continuing ability to support poetry and poets by our annual competition, guest poet events and our publication of new poetry by Calanthe Press.
BUT, and this is always the case, if you aren't flush this month, please, please, please do not let that stop your coming to hear Nicole's fine work. Come and enjoy poetry.
WHAT TO BRING
* Money for donation entry, the raffle, a cuppa or an ice cream, and for books.
(We do have a card reader if you don't have cash, though who would refuse cash.)
*It's BYO nibbles and tipple. All easy as you'll be sitting at tables.
* A poem for Blackboard Poets. (One long-ish one or two short-ish ones is the recommendation.)
RSVP:
to this email address: calanthecollective@gmail.com
Calanthe Press are pleased to announce the upcoming launch of The Singing Ship: A Study in Resistances, by Jena Woodhouse, on Sunday 22 February 2026.
Jena Woodhouse grew up in Queensland, in the Capricorn Coast hinterland, the setting for many of the poems included in The Singing Ship: A Study in Resistances. Her professional occupations— which include library assistant; teacher of English as a Second Language; examiner for international tests of competency in English; book editor; an arts journalist in Athens (Greece)— have all involved language/s, literature/s and writing. She holds tertiary and professional qualifications in these contexts. Her lifelong interests include archaeology, mythology, other cultures and their literatures (especially that of Greece, where she lived and worked for ten years); travel; protection of habitat and the natural world; and writing. Her widely-published poetry and her fiction for children and adults have garnered a number of awards and honours, locally and internationally. The present collection is the thirteenth of her book and chapbook publications.
Jena’s latest collection will be launched by local poet, Wendy Morgan, at Under the Greenwood Tree Independent Bookshop and Gallery, Tamborine Mountain, on Sunday 22 February at 3pm. Following the launch Jena will be in conversation with Jock Macleod and then signing copies of The Singing Ship: A Study in Resistances.
Please RSVP to: janenegardner@gmail.com
Poets@Yuulong (Maddy Dale)
6:00pm arrival for 6:30pm start
Private home, outdoors, Tamborine Mountain
Address supplied upon booking
Wet weather alternative will be notified (if appropriate)
Entry by donation at gate
Bookings essential, book at calanthecollective@gmail.com (enquiries Geoff Cartwright, 0416 217 005)
BYO drinks, glasses and snacks (no catering available)
Ideally, bring a folding chair or a picnic rug
Maddy’s feeling for the natural world is palpable in every word she writes, which hit their target so well. Moving, surprising and very accessible, her poetry is both haunting and everyday in its themes and style. Now Brisbane-based, Maddy spent her formative years on Tamborine Mountain. She holds First Class Honors and a Masters of Philosophy from the University of Queensland, where she also tutors in creative writing. Her poetry manuscript Eleven Portraits of Drowning has been shortlisted from the Dorothy Hewett Award and the Thomas Shapcott Award.
Poets' Morning (Alice MacKinnon)
Where: Centre for Regenerative Arts, 6-8 Knoll Rd, Tamborine Mountain
Price: Entry by donation at door
Bookings essential, book at: https://events.humanitix.com/poets-morning (enquiries Geoff Cartwright, 0416 217 005)
BYO coffee and brunch (no catering facilities available)
Compere: Margy Rose
Music: Bella Acapella and others
A surfer, diver and bushwalker, Beechmont resident Alice Iona MacKinnon (aka Sally MacKinnon) has been crafting poetry that tells stories: of landscape, the body, tragedy, trauma, hope. As Guest Poet she’ll take us on a journey through her recent work. Blackboard poets are encouraged to choose poems loosely relating to Alice’s overall themes.
Part of a weekend-long event ‘In Consideration of Trees’, showcasing the visual artwork of Bronwyn Davies.