The Power of Poetry Portrayed in 30-Year Passion

Banjo Patterson and Wordsworth are just two of the famous poets who have inspired one of Mercy Place Mandurah’s most senior residents during the 30 years he has been writing poetry.

Kingsley Bremner, who celebrated his 95^th birthday this week, continues to follow his passion for the written word by writing poetry inspired by his day-to-day environment and his interest in spirituality.

Born in Benalla, Kingsley moved from Victoria to WA with the army in the 1950s, during which time he worked a surveyor in the north of the state and, in later years, worked as a cartographer and draughtsman. He also won numerous awards as a long-distance runner and as a proficient cricketer in his lifetime - experiences which have also inspired and shaped his poetry as an older man.

Mercy Place Mandurah Service Manager, Simone Baxter, says creating the environment, and opportunities, for residents to pursue their passions is something that Mercy Health was strongly focused on.

“Kingsley has an incredible zest for life and his poetry really reflects his lifetime of experiences, from his love of family to his strength and resilience, and also the joy he finds in spirituality,” she said.

“Our team here knows very well that been able to pursue your passions in your senior years enhances a person’s health and overall well-being, which is why we are incredibly supportive of his hobby, indeed, it is wonderful to see Kingsley gain so much fulfilment from something he loves so much.

“We are encouraging him to do some poetry readings for all of our residents in the coming weeks, something that we are all looking forward to very much.”

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