Curtin Family Home Lecture 2022: John Curtin's use of poetry in Australia's darkest hour

Dr Toby Davidson spoke on how important poetry was to John Curtin and the ‘mental relief’ it provided as he faced the challenges of prime ministership during the Second World War.

Toby is a poet and poetry researcher based at Macquarie University, Sydney. He was the 2013–14 John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library Visiting Scholar and this gave rise to his recent biography Good for the Soul: John Curtin’s Life with Poetry (University of Western Australia Press). Originally from Cottesloe, Toby is also a direct descendant of John and Elsie Curtin.

The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia, introduced Toby and the event was hosted by Josh Wilson MP, Member for Fremantle.

The Curtin Family Home Lecture series is an annual event and part of the National Trust’s Lotterywest Heritage Conversations program.

Proudly supported by Lotterywest and hosted by The Grove Library.