In celebrating Australia's people, landscape and history, Aslanides has also
defined Australian mythologies in national culture. These are the poems by which he will be
best remembered. They are also poems that will be read with pleasure by anyone wishing to
enjoy evocations of the people and places in Australia's past, appreciate the immediacy of a
poet's life and share his optimism and aspirations for the country's future.
Aslanides acknowledges that being mentored in poetry by Judith Wright, taught musical
composition by Peter Sculthorpe and piano by Freda Franks, were privileged 'apprenticeships'
with such artists. By integrating and applying his expertise in these arts Timoshenko
has been able to produce the very poetry we instinctively reach for in celebrating a triumph,
commiserating in tragedy, enjoying private friendships, honouring public commitments
and pleasing ourselves.
His first book of poems, The Greek Connection, won him the British Commonwealth Poetry
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