my bio

lisa-bio-poet
Photo by Graham Tidy
1992/Fairfax Syndication

Lisa Ride

Lisa Ride was born and raised in Canberra ACT attending Garran Primary School and Canberra Girls Grammar (1974-1979) where her love of writing was fostered. Sitting in the Refectory of (the now) University of Canberra in 1980 she took up the offer of a traveling recruiting company to join the fledgling Australian Federal Police (AFP) as an Undergraduate.  During the late eighties and nineties Lisa was well known in Canberra as the police public relations spokesperson for the uniformed component of the AFP. She is pictured here in 1992 with one of her Luckywood Dalmatian puppies.

Lisa went on to work as the Media Liaison Manager for the Australian National University; as a NSW Corrections Court Escort & Security Officer; a Case Manager for Community Offender Services and as a Civil Marriage Celebrant (2004-2014.) Lisa also proudly served in the Australian Army Reserve (1981-2016) Affected by Parkinson’s she maintains positivity by singing as an Alto in the Royal School of Church Music system and continues to support Defence personnel by making Aussie Hero Quilts for deployed soldiers. In addition she’s a mother of five and grandmother of one.

A Little Spot of Poetry is a collection of 22 poems written by Lisa who describes herself as “The poet with Parkinson’s writing in the style of Pam Ayres meets AB Paterson.” Along the way Dottie the Dalmatian shares in her adventures.

Lisa’s first public poetry recital was at the ANU Poets’ Lunch in 1995 where her poem Ode to Berocca was chosen for publication. Her poem The Fabric Stash is known to quilt groups all over the world. Lisa’s first local performance was at Beechworth WRAP in 2014. Since that time she has won New Novice Writer at the Australian National Bush Poetry Championships with Driving to Corryong in 2015; was a state finalist (Victoria) in the 2015 Australian Poetry Slam after a crowd pleasing performance of My mother said at Wangaratta and was a winner at the 2016 Victorian Performance Bush Poetry competition. Her most popular poem Remember the Australian Soldier “is a moving tribute to those who serve.” The Border Mail

Lisa Ride

Photo by Graham Tidy

1992/Fairfax Syndication

I love poetry! I have been around poetry all my life. My father Edwin Ride was The Sentimental Bloke in the early 1960’s play written by Albert Arlen. My mother Josie Lester had me reciting Banjo Paterson by the time I was five years old. I very much enjoy writing poetry but to me the fun is in performance poetry. I describe my style as Pam Ayres meets AB Paterson.

I gave my first local public recital at the Beechworth WRAP (Writers, Readers and Poetry) in 2014 where I watched in awe as other poets entertained the crowd. My next big event was the Australian National Bush Poetry competition at Corryong in 2015, where I won 'Best New Novice Writer'; I was a Victorian finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam 2015 and I'm a NSW state finalist for the 2016 Australian Poetry Slam in Sydney. With the launch of my book A Little Spot of Poetry, it's been an exciting journey. I hope you enjoy it too.

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