Benjamin Frater

Benjamin Frater (27 February 1979 – 4 July 2007), also known as "the Catholic Yak", was an Australian poet.

Biography

Frater was born to Howard and Denise Frater and grew up in Campbelltown, New South Wales, west of Sydney, Australia. He attended Airds High School before going on to the University of Wollongong where he was only a semester away from finishing his degree at the time of his death. He called himself "the Catholic Yak" for unknown reasons and cited Francis Webb, Edmund Spenser, Allen Ginsburg, and Russian futurist poetry as inspirations for his works. He published one book of poetry during his life titled Bughouse Meat in 2003 and was reportedly working on an epic centered on the Greenacre Tavern titled "Preyed Hotel". A collection of selected poems, 6am in the Universe, was published posthumously in 2011 by Grand Parade Poets. He is the subject of a documentary produced by Lisa Nicol which earned silver at the 2012 New York Festivals International Radio Program and Promotions Awards.

Frater was married to Alise Blayney, a poet and mental health educator. Frater suffered from schizophrenia that was being treated by the anti-psychotic drug clozapine at the time of his death. He was 28 years old. A plaque was dedicated to his memory on the campus of his alma mater in 2011.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hefferman, Tim; Blayney, Alise (12 October 2016). "BEN FRATER AND THE MAD POETS OF THE GONG". Verity La Journal. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "A visionary poet of rhapsodies and nightmares". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Plaque pays tribute to young poet". ABC News. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  4. ↑ Duwell, Martin (1 October 2011). "Benjamin Frater: 6am in the Universe: Selected Poems | Australian Poetry Review". Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  5. ↑ National, Brought to you byABC Radio (28 January 2012). "Pray Ho'tell". ABC listen. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  6. ↑ Nicol, Lisa. "The Film". Wide Open Sky. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Alise Blayney". Red Room Poetry. Retrieved 20 September 2026.

See the ABC radio national radio documentary Title: 6am in the Universe Author: Benjamin Frater Publisher: Grand Parade Poets, Wollongong 2011