The first agenda item, COMPETITION ENTRIES, was discussed, and it was agreed Carol Wallace would supervise the judging panel again, and the categories would be the same as lastyear. Performance poets could nominate themselves on the day. It was agreed (by all but Ken Kwong) that no-one wanted to hear any more poems that were full of ideas Ken had flogged from dead poets, and he became very huffy and set his teacup down in its saucer with a pointed thunk.
The second agenda item, FESTIVAL STALLS, was discussed, and Patty Miles reported the barbecue was being run by the pub as usual, and she had sweets, craft, face painting, henna tattoos and plants organised, and was still working on a line-up of live music acts.
The third agenda item, FUNDRAISING RECIPIENT, was discussed at length and even though numerous cups of tea were drunk and a tin box of Robbo Miles’s homemade Anzac biscuits was reduced to crumbs, no agreement could be reached on where the festival’s funds raised should be donated this year. Agenda item to be carried over to the next meeting.
In other business:
•Angelo Lee brought up the idea of hanging banners from the lampposts along Lillypilly Street to advertise the festival, and Daisy Miles said she knew a graphic designer who might be able to get some printed at a discount rate. Daisy to follow up.
•Merv O’Connor said he had been running slam poetry sessions at school and would be encouraging his drama students to participate in the performance poetry. He also asked Patty if the gossip he’d heard was true, that Patty’s eldest son Joey Miles had returned to Clarence to become a farmer after a twenty-year absence, and was it also true that he’d never found love again after the terrible loss he’d suffered in Year Twelve and was now a sad recluse with only his memories oflost love to sustain him. Discussion ensued, and it was agreed that a tragic romantic hero such as Joey Miles deserved better. Merv O’Connor clasped his hands to his chest and suggested everyone keep an eye out for a suitable Mrs Farmer Joe, to which Patty said: Mervyn Trent O’Connor, Joey doesn’t need your meddling, thank you very much.
•Carol was a little busy recording the minutes, but shereallywanted to give Merv a Meaningful Look of Solidarity because hadn’t Joey’s story beensotragic? And (if he was the Miles boy she was thinking about, because there was a bunch of them and her memory wasn’t what it was) she’d always had a soft spot for him at school.
Patty Miles said the next meeting would be in a week’s time at Hogey’s place, but it would have to be in the morning if that was all right, and any mention of Joey Miles was to be struck from the official minutes. She handed out flyers to everyone to distribute.
She declared the meeting closed at 11.15 am.