Tasmania is mourning the death of literary stalwart Tim Thorne, who died on Thursday after battling an illness.
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Thorne, born in Launceston and 77-years-old when he died, was a well-known figure for many in the writing sphere - especially for those with a love of poetry.
With more than a dozen volumes of work under his belt, it is no surprise friends said the poet was recognised around the world.
A flood of tributes followed his death, with those from the Tasmanian Poetry Festival especially saddened to hear the loss of their founder.
Committee chair Colin Berry said Thorne's intelligence, wit, networking skills, and affability contributed highly to the success of the festival.
Mr Berry first met Thorne when the former was a student at the school Thorne was teaching at. Mr Berry said by that point in time, Thorne was already a public figure thanks to his poetry and political work.
"He was very influential to me and my [passion] for poetry," Mr Berry said.
"He has been one of the leading contemporary poets in Australia and will be on school syllabuses in the future."
Mr Berry used words like talented, supportive, warm, funny, gentle, and compassionate to describe Thorne, and remembered him for being cunning with words.
"He was heavily involved in politics, any cause for equality, and heavily involved in community arts," Mr Berry said.
"He leaves an astonishing legacy of published work and great sorrow at his passing among friends and fellow poets around the world."
Previous Tasmanian Poetry Festival director Cameron Hindrum recounted the first time he met the poet in his late teenage years.
Mr Hindrum showed Thorne the results of his juvenile writing and the literary icon told him that he could write and should continue to pursue the talent.
"He was always generous with his time and willing to have a conversation and support people," Mr Hindrum said.
"It's impossible to summarise [the impact Thorne had] as it's far-reaching and will continue to be for a long time. He was a mentor to a lot of writers... he was a publisher... and supported a lot of poets getting their work out into the world."
Thorne will leave behind a legacy to be rivaled with his works and festival achievements.
"Whenever we read one [of Thorne's works] he will be there somewhere smiling," Mr Hindrum said. "[He will also live on] in the memories we have of him being supportive and generous and compassionate."
A death notice appeared in The Examiner on Friday which said a celebration of Thorne's life would occur at a later date.
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