Echoes from the Bones

I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.   Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign)

I then specifically greet you: - (central reason for us being here), Jack Duggan and your wife Mary and members of your family from three generations; Roger Steele, Publishing Director of Steele Roberts Publishers; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

It has been a pleasure for Susan and I to accept the invitation to be here for the launch of Jack Duggan’s latest book of poems, entitled Echoes from the Bones.  I have been asked to undertake the launching and just before I do, I would like to speak a little of Jack Duggan’s life and the significance of this book of poems.

Originating from Victoria, Australia, Jack arrived in New Zealand in 1952  - thereby being another, it might be said, who like my wife Susan “got here as soon as he could”.  He has since made New Zealand his home for the past 58 years, interlacing that with travel overseas much of that to the Pacific. He is an accomplished author, who has published several books now including a novel Ikabula, and The History of St Joseph’s Parish, Te Aro and Mt Victoria, Wellington.  He has also produced two earlier poetry collections one called  Stranger Surviving and the other Dance of the Stranger.

One of the key characteristics of Jack Duggan for those like myself who know him is to observe his enthusiasm for life-long learning. This admirable trait is demonstrated by his completion of a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature and Classics at the Victoria University of Wellington during his sixties this being something of which not many other sixty-something year olds can boast.  Jack is a practitioner, the reader will learn, of osmipathy – “learning late in life”.

I have had the pleasure, often provided to the launcher of a book, of previewing Echoes from the Bones.  I have it here looking crisp and I don’t have the explanation to make that once David Lange had to at a launch of a book he had unfortunately dropped in the bath whilst previewing it.  Unperturbed,  David said that it was an example of a book which had sunk before being launched.  Without spoiling the read of Echoes from the Bones, I can say that it is an excellent collection of poems which are entertaining and tell stories of adventure, love, travel and many other themes that stem from Jack’s diverse life experiences which effortlessly make him seem at home in Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Zealand the last mentioned in Pakeha and Maori worlds.

At the beginning his life in New Zealand, Jack worked as a rural teacher and headmaster.  Other roles included building dams and tunnels, working in a bank, working his way round the Pacific on a Union Steamship vessel, before settling down to a career in fire, accident and marine insurance.

After retiring at 59, Jack started up a Pacific Islands company based in Suva and, following that, returned to New Zealand to become an advisor to unions and to work as a commercial historian and contract writer.

A variety of his experiences have been woven into the poems that comprise Echoes from the Bones. Poems have a way of telling a story by creating pictures and drawing out emotions for the reader to relate to or react against.

Poetry can stir the full range of emotions. It can making us laugh, be angry and to cry.  Whether with subtle choice of words or with strident language of a polemicist, the poet can provide a window into the soul, forcing both individuals and communities to reflect on what they hold to be true.  The fact that there are countries where governing regimes are known to censor and sometimes imprison poets and other writers for their work, reminds us of the power of words.

In 2009 I visited Gallipoli, with Susan, to represent New Zealand at the Anzac Day commemorations. Visiting places such as Chunuk Bair, Anzac Cove and the many cemeteries where dead are buried reminded me of the work of a number of poets of that time who, by describing in vivid language the reality of life in the trenches, played a major role in the reassessment of war as a glorious enterprise.
 
For poets to achieve an end such as this is all the more remarkable when one considers that they have at their disposal a relatively minimal pallet of colours, when compared to what may be available to a novelist.  But the concise use of choice words means that poetry is something we can carry with us always, reminding us of special times and occasions.  We can memorise and contemplate and relate to a poem in a way that is not possible with a novel.

I want to congratulate you, Jack Duggan, for your work in writing this book of poetry and Steele Roberts Publishers for publishing it. 

It therefore gives me great pleasure to come to the launching and to declare Echoes from the Bones officially launched and to ask you Ladies and Gentlemen to join me in suitably sustained applause.

And on that note of congratulation, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.