Alec Choate Alec Choate i(A31224 works by) (a.k.a. Alec Herbert Choate)
Born: Established: 5 Apr 1915 High Barnet, Hertfordshire,
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England,
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United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe,
; Died: Ceased: 2 Aug 2010 Perth, Western Australia,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: ca. 1922
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BiographyHistory

Alec Choate, a full time poet for many years, was educated at Hale School in Western Australia. He served in the AIF from 1940-1945, being stationed in the Middle East and the Pacific, and worked as a surveyor in the Public Service from 1945-1975, and also as a farmer.

Choate's poetry initially appeared in publications of the Jindyworobak movement. Described as sentimental, expressing an appreciation of art, literature, friendship and the natural world, his poetry has appeared in a number of Australian journals and anthologies. Choate also co-edited collections of verse.

In a letter to the Australian literary community at the time of Choate's death, fellow poet Dennis Haskell commented: 'Alec's war experiences made him deeply aware of "some curse/of hurt on humankind" and determined to celebrate the "meltingly beautiful" in people and place. "History", he wrote, "is a succession of cages" but his poetry is largely celebratory: "the voice of science itself/cannot help but come to me singing", "a fragment of glass/... is sea-beryl/and bites the sun's edge/like a waking eye" but "lies/in the crucible/of your hands as gold". Writing of a "Botticelli Quilt" Alec Choate commented on "the wistful calm he gave all he touched" and the comment could readily be applied to Alec's own work. He was a lovely man, in poetry and in life.'

A service was held for Alec Choate at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon My Days Were Fauve : An Autobiography in Verse Inglewood : Victor Publishing , 2002 Z1035028 2002 selected work poetry autobiography Autobiography conveyed through 14 poems.
2002 shortlisted Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Poetry
y separately published work icon Ashes to Water : Poems Inglewood : Victor Publishing , 2000 Z896184 2000 selected work poetry
2000 shortlisted Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Poetry
The Rearguard i "When the word came, we raced from Lebanon,", 1997 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Wheels of Hama : Collected War Poems 1997; (p. 75-97)
1972 commended The Fellowship of Australian Writers Victoria Inc. National Literary Awards FAW John Shaw Nelson Poetry Award
Last amended 6 Aug 2010 10:40:05
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