Carolyne Lee conceived the idea of an electronic, dedicated poetry journal some time in March 1998, in response to a suggestion by Alastair Rosie for a Poets’ Corner on the Box Hill Institute Professional Writing website. After extensive surfing on the web, the editorial committee realised that Australia did not have an all-Australian, poetry-only electronic journal, which meant that this one would be the first of its kind - an exciting prospect which has kept us going through the several months it has taken to produce this inaugural, ‘bumper’ issue, ready to be launched at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival on August 22 1998, by poet and publisher Susan Hawthorne.

Jordie Albiston solicited the manuscripts, selected, edited and proofread the poetry; Alastair did most of the technical work, designed and constructed the pages; and Carolyne oversaw the project, as well as doing a lot of the typing, some page construction, and the correcting of proofs.

We have been supported by second-year Professional Writing students Phu-Linh Tran and Cyndy Muraca. Phu-Linh has been Publicity Officer for Divan, as well as assisting with typing and web page construction; and Cyndy has been our Editorial Assistant. John Weatherley and Dominic Pentony of Online Services, Box Hill Institute, gave us ongoing assistance and encouragement, as always, and smoothly facilitated Divan’s inclusion on the Institute website.
 

Carolyne Lee
Divan Editor and Course Coordinator, Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing & Editing)
Box Hill Institute, August 22 1998