Anthony J Bennett first became interested in poetry at primary school when he encountered Alfred Noyes' poem The Highwayman. From there he read the ballads of Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson gradually moving to modern poetry when he simultaneously encountered The Cantos of Ezra Pound and the early songs of Bob Dylan (in 1967 he won a public speaking competition with the topic Bob Dylan: a poet for our times). Experiencing teachers with an affinity for poetry encouraged Bennett to write. He spent his primary school years at St John's, Campbelltown, and secondary years at Ingleburn High. By the age of 16 he had written a substantial number of poems, many reflecting his growing political awareness: in his senior years at school he lead a group of students in a sit down strike and tried to raise their interest in joining the anti-war movement. He has fond memories of attending meetings in the back room of a well known Sydney bookshop and a wry memory of turning all he had learnt 'arse about because we loss the toss and had to defend Australia's involvement in Vietnam in the semi-final of State Debating Competition'.

In 1968 and 1969 Bennett worked variously as a postman, bank clerk, and paymaster, the latter job being located at Sydney's King Cross. He continued writing and giving readings mainly as he puts it "to my long suffering friends or a conscripted audience in a peak hour train between Wynyard and Minto, where I grew up." From 1965 he had been a constant attendee of Sydney Stadium rock concerts, graduating during his senior school years and Sydney work period to concerts and shows at places like The Pact, Chequers Nightclub, The Silver Spade Room, and wherever live music was to be had. It was an interesting but tiring period of time so in 1970 he decided to take up a Commonwealth Teacher Training Scholarship at The Armidale Teachers' College. He majored in Philosophy and Primary Teaching Methods. His two philosophy teachers, Margaret Mackie and Gwen Kelly had a positive effect on his discipline as a student and writer. Kelly had been a student at Sydney University of Professor John Anderson, one of the most important intellectual figures in Australia's cultural history. Both Mackie and Kelly were authors in their own right and took an interest and guiding hand in Bennett's development as a writer. While at the College he also ran literary readings and was involved in theatre productions and in an R&B band. In his third and final year he had some success with publications but more importantly was allowed to work, under Kelly's supervision on a poetry manuscript as a major project towards his teaching degree. The manuscript evolved into his first book: My Mind's Eye.

From 1973 through to 1978 Bennett taught in two small hamlets on the north coast: Taylor's Arm and Bellbrook. He also completed a BA majoring in English Literature. Poems written through this period emerged in his next books Fossils and Stray Cats (a book shared with former mentor Gwen Kelly) and The Continuous Present. In 1979 he returned to Armidale and became fully involved in Kardoorair Press with a radio program, reviews and as managing editor of Kardoorair Press. Apart from working stints overseas (England 1983, Canada and England 1990, and Mauritius 1993) he has continued to teach, write verse, run workshops, edit books, raise a family, complete a Master's in Education and Diploma in Social Science (psychology) and enjoy life in Armidale. During the 1990s he was director of the Armidale Jazz Festival. He served a five year period on the Management committee of The Australian Society of Authors and in 2002 was awarded an Australia Day Award for Community Service. In 2004 his fourth selection of poetry beyond the gorilla's roar was published, he undertook a professional development certificate course in Coaching for Psychologists and he returned to music with the band Stormy Weather. 2005 finds him dividing his time between his family, community, cultural and work interests.

BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

Continuous Present

Beyond the gorilla's roar