Listen to the Grand Slam Final of the Australian Poetry Slam 2008 broadcast nationally on ABC Local Radio webcast live across Australia via the internet, on Thursday December 4. The webcast starts at 6.30pm to introduce the finalists before crossing to the Sydney Opera House at 7pm hosted by Andrew Daddo, presenter of 702 ABC Sydney Evenings. Poets compete for $5,000 and the title of Australian Poetry Slam Champion. The night is the culmination of a three month search for Australia's best poetry slammers, consisting of state winners, plus the ABC Local Radio online winner. The online winner 'Butterfly', submitted by Elise Batchelor from Karratha (WA), was selected from 77 entries by judges: Alicia Sometimes (poet, writer, musician); Dr Wendy Were (Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the Sydney Writers Festival); and Miles Merrill, the Australian Poetry Slam co-creator. Alicia Sometimes said of the winning entry: "It was the performer's succinct and powerful images within the piece that won me over. It was so well written." She describes the quality of the overall entries as having a "great freshness and some pieces had shining lines like 'our early night weezes in the rain' and 'Detox is the new Club Med'. The Australian Poetry Slam 2008, now in its second year, is organised by State Libraries and supported by ABC Local Radio. For more details about the Australian Poetry Slam 2008 or to view the online entries go to abc.net.au/poetryslam.

And the NSW State winners are Greg North from Katoomba, and Andrew Riemer from Parramatta. The contest was close, sometimes only a decimal point the difference between the "slammers". Congrats to our finalists from the Central West - Josh Simpson and Shannon Elliott who were able to attend thanks to Orange Regional Arts Foundation. Read more about Poetry Slam finalist Josh Simpson in the Western Advocate http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/poet-wins-place-in-slam-finals/1365318.aspx. The State winners now go on to perform at the Sydney Opera House on 4 December 7pm.

Join us in wishing our Australian Poetry Slam Regional Heat winners all the best when they take to the stage on Friday night for the State Final of the Australian Poetry Slam 08. Shannon Elliott, formerly of Canowindra, won the regional heat with his energetic rap "Self Acceptance" - about life, along with Josh Simpson, of Bathurst, who performed a moving poem about poetry. They each won Sydney flights and accommodation sponsored by The Orange Regional Arts Foundation and a spot in the final on Friday 21 November at 6.30pm at the State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney. Spoken word artist Miles Merill will also be there introducing 22 contestants from across the State. Good luck guys!

Budding poets can upload a two minute poetry slam video and compete for a wild card entry into the Poetry Slam National Grand Slam Final. The Grand Slam will be held at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday, 4 December and the online winner will compete alongside state winners for a chance of the $5,000 prizemoney. Anyone outside Sydney will be flown to the NSW capital and provided with accommodation. ABC Local Radio has joined forces with State Libraries to bring the Australian Poetry to all Australians. There is now a dedicated online Poetry Slam destination: abc.net.au/poetryslam. For the first time ABC Local Radio will broadcast and stream all State finals, plus the Grand Slam Final. The dedicated website will include video of slam performances from heats and finals as well as the video entries in the online competition. Visitors will have the opportunity to join in forum discussion and comment on poet works. The online competition closes on Sunday November 16. Online entries will be judged by some of Australia's leading writing professionals, including spoken word artist Miles Merrill, poet Alicia Sometimes and Sydney Writers' Festival Artistic Director Dr Wendy Were. For more details about the Australian Poetry Slam and to find out what is on the mind of poets and performers go to abc.net.au/poetryslam.

Congratulations to the winners of the Australian Poetry Slam 08 heat held in Orange on Thursday night: Shannon Elliott, of Canowindra, with his energetic rap called "Self Acceptance" – about life and Josh Simpson, of Bathurst, with a moving poem about poetry. They have each won Sydney flights and accommodation sponsored by The Orange Regional Arts Foundation to be able to perform at the State Final to be held at the State Library of NSW on Friday 21 November at 6.30pm. The NSW winner and runner-up take home $500 and $100 in prize money respectively and compete for the Australian Poetry Slam 08 title and $5,000 at the National Grand Slam in Sydney on 4 December. It was a great night of theatre sports style entertainment and thank you to everyone who joined in the fun. Here are the winners with host Miles Merrill (centre), Shannon on the left and Josh is on the right.