100 Years of Francis Webb at The Dax Centre

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming poetry reading in tribute to Francis Webb.

Event: Poetry Reading: 100 Years of Francis Webb - Tribute Reading

Date: Wednesday 25th June, 2025

Time: 4pm-6pm

Location: The Dax Centre, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville

Drinks provided. Seating will be available. This is a free event. RSVP is preferred.

The Dax Centre are the custodians of the Cunningham Dax Poetry Collection, managed by Dr Jennifer Harrison, which encompasses an extensive selection of poetry by people with a lived experience of mental health conditions. The Dax Centre are excited to host this poetry reading to further our commitment to preserving the legacy of poets with a lived experience.

Francis Webb (1925 - 73) has long had a reputation as one of Australia's most dazzling poets, praised in the postwar era and since by major names like Judith Wright, A. D. Hope, Gwen Harwood, Vincent Buckley, Rosemary Dobson, Les Murray, Dorothy Porter and Robert Adamson. Since the updated edition of his Collected Poems in 2011, a new generation has been astounded by not only Webb's undeniable talent, but also his courage in tackling social justice issues around racism, colonial impacts on First Nations people, xenophobia, poverty and environmental destruction.

Webb was also the first Australian poet to write openly about mental health experiences at a time when it was utterly taboo. Beginning with 'On First Hearing a Cuckoo' (1952) and 'A Death at Winson Green' (1955), Webb wrote around twenty poems set in the English and Australian mental hospitals he lived in from his mid-twenties until his death in 1973, aged 48. Webb's letters record multiple diagnoses including 'persecution mania' and schizophrenia, but he accepted none of these and instead invited readers into his life with what he called 'the sacred illness' and treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and pneumo-encephalographs. Webb challenged his own generation and those since, writing empathetically about his fellow patients, those 'plucked from the world of commonsense' for dementia, Down Syndrome, PTSD, or (like Webb) severe delusions, or indeed for the perceived social crime of being gay.

To celebrate 100 years since the poet's birth, The Dax Centre will hold a tribute reading with refreshments, co-hosted by poet and child psychiatrist Dr Jennifer Harrison and Toby Davidson, poet and editor of Francis Webb's Collected Poems. They will be joined by experienced poets and critics who will discuss the Webb legacy and read their favourite poems. This is a rare chance to hear the works of a true Australian prodigy recited and honoured by his most ardent fans.

The evening will feature readings by:

Alice Allan

Robbie Coburn

John Hawke

Sandy Jeffs

Jacinta Le Plastrier

Mal McKimmie

Peter Otto

Peter Rose

Philip Salom

Alex Skovron

Accessing the Gallery

The Dax Centre is situated on the ground floor of the Melbourne Brain Centre at 30 Royal Parade in the Kenneth Myer Building, located on the University of Melbourne Parkville campus.

The Dax Centre is wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets.

The Dax Centre is on of Royal Parade, near Grattan Street. Metered parking is available on Royal Parade. Paid parking will be available for the event underneath the Kenneth Myer Building. Gallery patrons are able to access the Kenneth Myer Building carpark, please ignore the signage that says No Public Parking if you are visiting the gallery.

Car drop offs can be made out the front of the Kenneth Myer Building, with ramp access through to The Dax Centre via the side or front entrance of the building

The Kenneth Myer Building has underground parking with fees of $12.50 for four hours or $25 all day to midnight. There are accessible car parks in the undergroud carpark, with lift access to The Dax Centre on the ground floor

Private Bus Parking is available at Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne

Please enter The Dax Centre from Genetics Lane. You access Genetic Lane from Royal Parade, walk down Genetics Lane (alongside the Kenneth Myer Building away) and you will find The Dax Centre entry on your right.

Contact us

Please get in touch with The Dax Centre team with any inquiries at inbox@daxcentre.org or call on
+61 3 9349 2538.

Go to our website for more details: Home - The Dax Centre