BIO:
Dr June Perkins is of Mekeo and Australian background raised as a Baha’i in Tasmania. She now lives and writes in Queensland, often greatly inspired by this setting. She began her poetry performance career performing at the Launceston Poetry Cup, Tasmania, as a teenager. Ten years later she was invited back as a paid performer. She did not begin writing poetry for children until 2007.
A dedicated advocate for poetry for all ages, especially children and youth, June has initiated and participated in projects where poetry is brought to the people, from a poetry and photography wall in the Cassowary Coast, North Queensland, in 2007, to an Art Adventure in the Queensland Art Gallery (QAGOMA) in 2019. In 2019 she shared poems using puppets and storytelling at the Asia Pacific Triennial. She has written articles on poetry advocacy.
Achievements for Children’s Poetry:
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- Live Stream young Baha’i Writers Youth Endeavour (2019) and Philippines International Literacy Day (2017)
- Poems for children accepted to Spooktacular Stories & Creative Kids Tale Anthology (2019)
- Australian Children’s Poetry (15 poems) https://australianchildrenspoetry.com.au/tag/june-perkins/
- Art Adventures in the Gallery, Commissioned work QAGOMA (2018)
- Several Royal Dragon Fly Awards for Magic Fish Dreaming (2017)
- Panel exploring poetry for children Queensland Poetry Festival, including Virginia Lowe, Sally Murphy and JR Poulter (2017)
- Successfully crowd funded, well reviewed, and produced award winning book of poetry for children, Magic Fish Dreaming, Illustrated by Helene Magisson (2016)
- Ripple Project, established poetry blog, library readings, and exhibitions of poetry for and by children with RADF grant (2007)
June’s main poetry blogs are Magic Fish Dreaming & Ripple Poetry
Ripple Poetry 