Biography

Like most writers I started writing in my teens. Like most writers I produced unpublishable juvenilia which was derivative and mortifying. My early poems were heavily influenced by Dylan Thomas who I discovered when I read that Bob Dylan had named himself after the Welsh poet.

From there it was a matter of discovering one poet after another, absorbing their influences while trying to find my own voice. In my early writing life I dabbled in short story writing, but never attempted to write a novel. However, I never was any good at plots or characters so I always came back to poetry.

I can’t say I kept my poems locked in my top drawer as I often submitted them to magazines. However, like a lot of poets I didn’t venture out of the comfort (and security) of my home to read in public. I say security because reading before an audience can be a rather unnerving experience for a callow poet – especially in a pub, and in front of fellow poets.

Nevertheless, I kept subjecting myself to public humiliation until I reached a point where I realised that my poetry wasn’t that bad and that live readings can be fun and a thrill, and not necessarily a near-death experience. In the early 90s I decided – with the help of a friend – to conduct my own readings in Eltham. It was a great experience and gave me the opportunity to meet many wonderful poets. I now regularly read at poetry gigs around Melbourne.

My poems have been published in more than 60 magazines, anthologies and newspapers in Australia and overseas, including Poetry Australia, Best Australian Poems 2004, Island, Westerly, the Sydney Morning Herald, Agenda (UK), Brand (UK) and Antipodes (USA). I have read at most of Melbourne’s poetry venues, including Melbourne Writers Festival, La Mama Poetica, Montsalvat National Poetry Festival and Boroondara Soiree. I have run poetry workshops in Melbourne and last year jointly ran a poetry workshop and soiree in Cornwall in the UK.

As well as conducting a workshop in Cornwall I also did several readings in the UK. The following is a comment about the reading I did in Northern Island. “Ray’s reading at our place during his tour of Ireland in October 2007 was one of the highlights of the year. His keen and often humorous observations on life and the human condition went down a treat with the local audience and we look forward a return visit” – Gerardine & Eugene, Laurel Villa Townhouse Magherafelt, Northern Ireland.

My bio would not be complete without paying homage to the late Shelton Lea. Shelton was an icon in the Melbourne poetry scene, and he gave me the sense of self belief to call myself a poet and not merely a writer of poetry. Martin Downey’s poem The Poet’s Prayer best captures what Shelley meant to all Melbourne poets.

I have three children and live in Thornbury with my partner Heather and her daughter.