Q&A with poet David Judge

Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions! To start with, can you tell us about your dear friend Graham?

What was Graham's MND journey like?

Whilst I can never fully appreciate Graham’s battle with MND, it became the focus of our relationship in later life and a binding force amongst those who knew him as a mate. 

Graham had always been an energetic, fun-loving, robust and competitive character who endeared himself to all who knew him. To see his gradual loss of mobility and therefore his capacity to do the things he enjoyed was hard to accept. When he was diagnosed with MND, I wasn’t fully aware of what that meant until the symptoms became obvious and gradually worsened. Eventually, Graham became paralysed from the neck down, losing all forms of independence except his speech. We lived a long way from each other so we spoke regularly on the phone. 

He was always positive despite his deteriorating condition and our conversations covered many topics including our college days, politics, sport, international affairs and endearingly about our respective families. Our children and their achievements in business, sport and professional development were always discussed with pride and as his independence evaporated, he spoke of the deep connection he had with his amazing wife Helen who cared for him in ways that most people could never comprehend. 
Strangely, our friendship became more meaningful as the years passed, as it seemed to do for his multitude of friends. It was certainly the case for his mates who attended HAC and our reunions were always special occasions.

Graham inspired your poem, 'The Other Side'. What was your process for writing this poem?

Most of the poems I write take weeks, sometimes months to mature into something I am satisfied with at various levels including being technically correct, emotive, stimulating, inspirational, humorous, heartfelt or just simply entertaining. I wrote ‘The Other Side’ within a few hours of hearing that Graham had finally succumbed to MND. 

I wrote it with mixed feelings of grief but also of relief. I also wrote the poem to acknowledge Graham’s inspirational impact on the lives of so many people from all walks of life who knew him as a family man of immense integrity, intellect and endearing humour.

You're an award-winning Australian poet. Why did you start writing poems?

I started writing poems as a means of artistic expression after Elisabeth and I sold our family farm in 2016. The first poem I wrote was titled ‘The Interview’ which described a conversation between a young HAC graduate and a farmer from western NSW who was looking to employ a jackeroo. Writing traditional Australian poetry gradually developed into something more than an occasional verse as I rediscovered the life and times of our literary masters, ‘Banjo’ Paterson, Henry Lawson and many others. 

I also discovered a thriving national community of like-minded bards who were writing and performing at numerous literary festivals across the country. Their dedication and poetic artistry were infectious, and the more I learned from them the more I improved. I became determined to improve my writing, not only technically but also to write about contemporary issues such as the erosion of our cultural heritage, social inequality, and environmental degradation. 

With an eventful, fulfilling and at times turbulent 70+ years behind me, I have accumulated a vast and diverse range of knowledge, skills and experiences to call upon for poetic expression. I’m not sure what prompted me to start writing poetry so late in life, however, it has given me an enduring sense of place and purpose and a fulfilling outlet for artistic creativity. 

Australian rhyming verse has a rich and vibrant historical affinity with our national identity and seemed to be the most natural way for me to connect with the past in a way that is structured, logical and easy for most people to understand. When it was suggested that I give my poems a public airing, I decided to enter a few poems in various Australian ‘Bush Poetry’ competitions. Being presented with my first award in 2018 provided the impetus to continue writing.

Why did you decide to write your poetic memoir, 'A Sense of Place'?

Why did you decide to donate some of your book sales to MND Victoria?

Having seen the devastating effect that MND has on those who suffer from its debilitating symptoms as well as on their families/carers, (and that there was no cure), I decided that it was a worthy cause to which I could make a meagre contribution in Graham’s memory. 

My decision to donate was not as a marketing tool although I am often conflicted with the notion that I need to sell more books so that I can continue to donate. On the other hand I do not want to be seen as using the donation as a means to selling more books. Maybe someone has some ideas on how to best reconcile with that dilemma

Do you have any advice/thoughts you'd give to someone else with a friend who has been diagnosed with MND?

Graham often said that the ongoing contact with his mates, either in person or on the phone, was a source of great comfort and enjoyment, particularly in the latter stages of the disease. 

My understanding is that people with MND experience a wide range of symptoms over varying stages and it was important for me to have a broad understanding of the disease and the way that it effects individuals. 

Graham was always open to discussing MND, although he was also keen to talk about anything else.