[2] He worked at a number of jobs, as a cow farmer, in radio, as a wages clerk, a surveyor's labourer, fruit-picker, proof-reader and journalist, before deciding to write full-time.
[1] He wrote his first poem in response to the dropping of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima, and continued to write even while working as a labourer.
Even though he suffered from bipolar disorder, Beaver was able to continue writing until close to his death in 2004.
I have been carrying his book Charmed Lives (UQP) around in my bag like an amulet.
His poetry is pungent, discursive, feral, disturbing, wise and very funny.