The inaugural La Trobe University/Australian Book Review Annual Lecture, delivered by Peter Porter on 11 September, was a highlight of that tense, at times tawdry, week of commemorations. We were delighted to welcome so many ABR subscribers, who availed themselves of the opportunity to attend the event on a complimentary basis. Subscribers will be offered more gratis tickets in coming months – additional reason to subscribe to the magazine. Meanwhile, Peter Porter’s lecture, ‘The Survival of Poetry’, is published in full as this month’s La Trobe University Essay.