Australian poet and storyteller Murray Hartin joins Chimes for an hour of bush yarns, sporting memories and poetry that moves from hilarious to deeply heartfelt.

Murray shares how a Tamworth poetry competition launched his career, recalls his rugby days and performs tributes to Dawn Fraser and woodchopping legend David Foster. He also delivers “Turbulence”, the powerful “Rain from Nowhere” and a cheeky poem written especially for the Fanatics TV crew.

A conversation about Australian characters, friendship, family and the power of a good story.

This episode contains strong language and discussion of depression and suicide.

TIMECODES

00:00 - Introducing Murray Hartin

01:00 - Finding poetry and winning at Tamworth

04:07 - Rugby yarns and the story behind “Gluteus Maximus”

06:21 - “Gluteus Maximus” performance

08:23 - Remembering poems and making a living

10:03 - Journalism, Tamworth and the Naked Poets

12:07 - Getting to know Dawn Fraser

15:10 - Dawn Fraser tribute performance

18:58 - Dawn’s story behind the Olympic flag controversy

20:36 - Woodchopping legend David Foster

22:17 - Smart Pups and changing lives

23:26 - “Born to Swing an Axe” performance

27:34 - Turning real lives into poetry

28:40 - Murray’s shortest poem

29:56 - Gympie Muster and poets’ breakfasts

30:38 - Radio, Parliament and the reach of poetry

32:15 - Billy Hayes and the story behind “Turbulence”

35:17 - “Turbulence” performance

39:18 - Poetry in schools and connecting with a crowd

42:41 - “The Tragic Kiwi Love Poem” performance

43:48 - Finding ideas, Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson

47:48 - The story behind “Rain from Nowhere”

50:56 - “Rain from Nowhere” performance

54:39 - Footy memories and catching up with Murray

56:11 - The koala and possum gunfight

56:47 - The Tamworth winning poem performance

58:23 - “Chimes of the Times”, a poem for Fanatics TV

01:00:05 - Final thoughts and farewell

Head to www.fanatics.tv for written versions of these interviews.

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