Once again, The Rhonda Jankovic Competition for Poetry on a Social Justice Theme has been held, with 166 entries from across Australia. Kevin Brophy, well known poet and academic, was this year's judge, and the quality of the poetry was very high. In this broadcast can be heard almost all of the prizewinning entries, as well as the voice of Rhonda herself reading one of her own poems.
What is social justice?
Social justice relates to inequalities stemming from power relations, indifference or exploitation. It is associated with, for instance, economic conditions, political persecution, health, education, dis/ability, ethnicity, race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, and violence. Poetry Award entries may identify inequalities by observation and/or advocate solutions.
http://www.rhondajankovicliterarysociety.org/
http://www.rhondajankovicliterarysociety.org/poetry-award.html
Rhonda Jankovic, an accomplished poet with publication credits in journals and several awards, was a passionate patron of emerging poets and a staunch advocate for people disadvantaged in society. After a childhood suffering abuse Rhonda was removed to an orphanage. But her new 'family' repeated the abuse, so Rhonda took to the streets of Christchurch (New Zealand) where she lived for Several years. At 18, fleeing her negative life, Rhonda scraped together a one-way fare to Sydney (Australia), bereft of further cash, accommodation or people meeting her. Witnessing Rhonda openly sobbing on the plane, a compassionate couple invited her to their home and assisted her with obtaining employment. Having left school at 14, Rhonda subsequently studies and gained entry into La Trobe University (Melbourne) where she reached postgraduate level researching Australian history. Rhonda pursued her advocacy for poets and social justice as producer/host of two Radio 3CR programs - Spoken Word (poetry) and SUWA (focusing on issues facing homeless and similarly disadvantaged people). She died of cancer in 2012 at the age of 49. To honour and continue her work the Rhonda Jankovic Society for Promotion of Social Justice through Literature was formed; it has posthumously published Rhonda's poetry collection Your Heartbeat in Mine and established the Rhonda Jankovic Poetry Award.
About the Society
Soon after Rhonda died on 25 November 2012, a number of supporters - inspired by her laudable achievements, by the knowledge these were attained in the face of daunting hurdles, and also by her passionate commitment to both social justice and poetry - felt moved to initiate an ongoing tribute which would actively promote Rhonda's values. This led to Sponsors contributing to a Friends of Rhonda Fund, which largely paid for the production of Your Heartbeat in Mine, and also to the formation of the Rhonda Jankovic Society for Promotion of Social Justice through Literature. As of April 2013, the Rhonda Jankovic Society for Promotion of Social Justice through Literature Inc. became an incorporated association (Incorporated Registration: A0059242G).
Objectives of the Society
The Society adopted the following objectives:
- Accept and manage sponsorships and donations for the purpose of promoting social justice through literature;
- Manage a Rhonda Jankovic Social Justice Poetry Award, the frequency of which will be determined, and;
- Subject to funding, contribute donations or similar supportive measures to causes in the spirit of Rhonda Jankovic's social justice philosophy.
