And the Australian Poetry Slam Champion is...

A packed Sydney Theatre chose Luka Lesson (pictured) to be Australia's Slam Champion on Sunday 27 November. Two poets from each state and territory bound onto the stage. They poured out their wit, substance and powerful emotions in a competition judged by randomly selected audience members. A crowd of over 400 offered wild screams, applause and people leaping to their feet shouting, "yeah, that's right". Reminder: this is at a poetry event. We heard an 85 year old woman from Launceston discuss her online relationship with a Mr. N. Large Ment, an ode to a female parking inspector, a brilliant assessment by an indigenous woman of issues in Alice Springs, moving rant on the fate of Palestine and two strong pieces from runner-up Nadine Browne, a school teacher from Perth. Congratulations to Luka "Lesson" Haralampou. Australia's Poetry Slam Champion! Check out http://australianpoetryslam.com/ for youtube clips of Poetry Slam performances!