Poet Ronald McCuaig and hip hop artist Zac James. Photos supplied.
Ronald McCuaig (2 April 1908 – 1 March 1993) was once described by acclaimed author and historian Geoffrey Dutton, as ‘Australia’s first modern poet.’
McCuaig’s earliest collection of verse, Vaudeville, was written in 1933-34 and was self-published after no fewer than seven printers rejected the manuscript, considering the poems too explicit. With its risk of offending the conservative mores of the age, his work – which explored rape, abused women and sex workers – failed to reach a large audience.
Thuy On is the Reviews and Literary Editor of ArtsHub and an arts journalist, critic and poet who’s written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Age/SMH and Australian Book Review. She was the Books Editor of The Big Issue for 8 years and a former Melbourne theatre critic correspondent for The Australian.
She has three collections of poetry published by the University of Western Australian Press (UWAP): Turbulence (2020), Decadence (2022) and Essence (2025).
Threads: @thuy_on123 Instagram: poemsbythuy
