Maree and I were very upset to hear of Denis' death while we are in Tokyo on a research project.
We both have known him for the biggest part of out lives and have many memories of him over the years. Denis, a unique poet, was often simply astonishing in performance. Who could forget his Concreto at the Chris Kempster tribute concert at New Theatre?
Recently I have been immersed in the study of Australian Union Songs. Denis was not just a fount of information in my chosen topic but a most important composer of the material I was trying to grapple with, In every decade from the 1950s Denis wrote dozens of poems and songs that fitted my brief, the songs and poetry of the Australian labour movement. Denis was a particularly strong presence in the Mountains and it is hard to accept not being able to see him.