Boor anga Ne ws
NewsletterforBoorangaWriters’Centreof
Wa g g a Wa g g a W r i t e r s W r i t e r s I n c . J u n e - J u ly 2 0 0 5
Editor: Sar ah last
H
SC Open Mike Nite
The HSC Open Mike Nite, one of Booranga’s most successful annual public programs, is on again.
If you are looking for an evening out with a difference you should join us at the Riverine Club
on Wednesday, 15th June, at 6.00 pm. You will become an interactive part of readings presented by local HSC
students sharing excerpts from their Extension 2 Major Works. Not only will there be a wide variety of subjects,
styles, and genres employed by the young writers but you will see evidence of extensive research, exciting
imaginations, adept use of language and articulate expositions.
Students, family supporters, Booranga regulars and the general public are sure to be delighted by the fresh visions
these writers open up.
The evening is jointly organised by the Wagga Branch of the English Teachers Association (ETA) and Booranga
Writers’ Centre. In addition to the entertainment value of the evening, the audience is encouraged to contribute
to the editorial and reflective processes by providing written feedback, to encourage and critique the students.
Admission: $5.00. To book phone Booranga on (02) 6933 2688.
Catherine Edwards, ETA Chair Person
Director’s report
When programming for any arts organisation, particularly a regionally based one, maintaining a balance between
showcasing emerging and established talent at both a local and national level is an ongoing consideration. Booranga’s public
programs are designed to provide networking and skills development opportunities through exposure to visiting and local literary
talent. Over the past four months Booranga has been fortunate to host two Australian writers of international acclaim, these being
poet Geoff Page and author Marele Day, who each facilitated readings and workshops for our broad constituency.
Booranga’s membership includes an active writing community and our programs have developed a culture of open and confident
sharing of creative output, processes and skills. This month we will be celebrating these talents through a range of events
showcasing emerging and established local writers and their recent publications. The HSC Open Mike Nite is one such event,
which provides our young writers with the rare opportunity to read their work to an audience. Considering the audience for
their HSC studies has generally been fellow students and teachers, Open Mike Nite will add dimensions of performance, public
appreciation and critical engagement to the students’ experience of writing; each of these aspects will inform the future direction
of their work.
In the latter part of June readings and a workshop will celebrate the recent biographical publications by Riverina based writers Dr
Nancy Blacklow and Dr Frank Molloy. Both authors engaged in extensive research into their subjects, Edgar Hugh Graham and
Victor J Daley respectively, whilst demonstrating the capacity of regionally based writers to get their work published. With the
remarkable number of enquires Booranga gets from people researching and writing a personal memoir or self-publishing a book
about local and/or family histories, it seemed appropriate for Booranga to utilise the professional resources of Frank and Nancy to
further build the skills of our writing community and the investigation of our personal and collective histories.
Continuing the local theme, this edition of Booranga News also features contributions from Riverina writers reflecting on
recent literary journeys and requesting contributions for independent publishing and professional development initiatives.
Be you literary audience or practitioner, you will find something to enjoy and support. See you at the programs.
Sarah Last, Director
1
Booranga News
June / July 2005
B
OORANGA
ACTIVITIES
Dates for your diary
at a glance…
Í Wednesday 15th
June, 6.00pm
HSC Open Mike
Riverine Club, Tarcutta Street,
Wagga Wagga
Í Tuesday 21st June,
7.00pm
Readings by Nancy Blacklow
& Frank Molloy
Riverine Club, Tarcutta Street,
Wagga Wagga
Í Saturday 7th May,
2 - 4pm
Geoff Page Poetry workshop
Booranga Writers’ Centre,
McKeown Drive, Charles Sturt
University
Í Saturday 25th June,
1 - 4.00 pm
Biography Writing Workshop
Booranga Writers’ Centre
McKeown Drive, CSU, Wagga
Wagga
Í Thursday 30th June
Deadline for fourWsixteen
submissions. Send to:
Booranga Writers’ Centre,
Locked bag 588, WW 2678 or
[email protected]
BoorangaWriters’Centre
abn: 72323065359
McKeown Drive
Charles Sturt University
Wagga Wagga, NSW
locked bag 588
Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678
phone / fax: (02) 6933 2688
email: [email protected]
Staff
Director: Sarah Last
Office Manager:
Karen Finemore
D
on’tforgetsubmissionsareduefor
fourWsixteenonThursday30thJune
fourW is now into its sixteenth year and is one of Australia’s longest running annual
anthologies published by a writers’ centre. Published in November each year, the
anthology produced by Wagga Wagga Writers Writers Inc., under the imprint of
fourW press, attracts entries from emerging and established writers from around
Australia and overseas. For 2005 there have been a few changes to the submission
guidelines (after fifteen years its bound to happen!) and we are delighted to
announce that through funds generously provided by the School of Humanities &
Social Sciences in Charles Sturt University’s Faculty of Arts, we will now annually be
offering a $250 prize for the best poem and best story in the anthology.
Guidelines for submission in fourW sixteen are as follows:
• We welcome contributions of original poetry, fiction and graphics/artwork, not previously
published.
• A prize of $250.00 will be awarded to the two works selected as the best poem and best
short story in the anthology.
• Short story word limit is 2500 words.
• We ask that contributors restrict their submissions to 6 poems or 3 short stories.
• Manuscripts should be typed/word-processed in Times New Roman, 12 point doublespaced on A4 paper.
• We prefer submissions to be forwarded in IBM Microsoft Word format on disk or by email rather than paper copies.
• Manuscripts will be photocopied only for distribution to our editing committee, so we
request that you do not use staples. To maintain anonymity we request that you include
the contributor’s name and address on the back only of each page. (Emailed documents
to be identified by the cover email message only.)
• If contributors wish to have their work returned it must be accompanied by a stamped,
self-addressed envelope of sufficient size and postage. Please note that work will not
be returned until after the committee’s decision in September.
• If you wish us to also acknowledge receipt of your work, please send a separate stamped,
self-addressed envelope.
• Please include author biography details (2-3 lines) on your cover letter or separate sheet.
• Closing date for each issue of fourW is June 30. Submissions received after this date
will be held over to the following year.
• Submissions should be posted to: Booranga Writers’ Centre, Charles Sturt University,
Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga NSW 2678
• All submissions will be read by our editorial committee during July and all successful
contributors contacted in August/September for proofreading of their own work
which will appear in the anthology. All other contributors will be advised of the
outcome of the committee’s decision in September. Launch of the anthology is in
November of each year.
• No payment is made for publication - a free copy of the published anthology will be
forwarded to all successful contributors.
•All rights remain with the author.
OFFICE HOURS
Thursday and Friday 9am - 12noon. The office is staffed at other hours but due to the work
and family commitments of the Director and the Office Manager it’s always best to give us
a call if you plan on visiting Booranga.
2
Booranga News
June / July 2005
F
rank and Nancy NOT the Sinantras
This year the Riverina has seen the release of two biographies, with Dr Nancy Blacklow, lecturer in History,
publishing The Accidental Politician: Edgar Hugh Graham, and Dr Frank Molloy, senior lecturer in English,
releasing Victor J. Daley: a life. Both Nancy and Frank are academics from Charles Sturt University’s School of
Humanities & Social Sciences within the Faculty of Arts.
These books examine the lives of two very different men and provide us with insights into Australian history,
culture and society. Nancy’s biography of Eddy Graham tells a warm human story of the rise of an ordinary
farm boy to high political life. Graham was one of Wagga’s political identities who served as a Member of
Parliament and as the NSW Minister for Agriculture during the 1940s and 1950s. Affectionately known as Eddie,
Graham set a record as the longest serving NSW Minister for agriculture and is still respected for his pioneering
role in developing rural policies. Molloy’s biography of Irish-Australian poet, Victor Daley recounts the bohemian
life of a poet who was once hailed as a “…minor deity in the literary pantheon”. Daley was Australia’s best
selling serious poet at the turn of the 20th century. His poems, like those of Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson,
were regularly recited in public houses across Australia.
To celebrate the launch of these biographies Booranga will be hosting an evening of readings, plus a ‘life
writing’ workshop with Frank and Nancy reading excerpts from their books and discussing approaches to
writing biographies. Details of the public programs are as follows:
•
Tuesday 21st June, 7.00pm: Readings by Dr Nancy Blacklow and Dr Frank Molloy, there will also
be an open mike session for audience members to read some of their own biographical work. To
participate just turn up. Where: Riverine Club, Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga. Admission: $10
non-members, $8 members $5 CSU and high school students.
•
Saturday 25th June, 1pm – 4pm: Life Writing Workshop, facilitated by Dr Nancy Blacklow and
Dr Frank Molloy. The workshop will examine stylistic approaches to life writing, research skills and
getting published. If you have any examples of your own attempts at ‘life writing’ bring it along
to the workshop. Booranga will provide pen, paper, tea and coffee. Where: Booranga Writers’
Centre, Mckeown Drive, CSU campus, Wagga Wagga. Admission: $20 non-members and $15
Members.
Places are limited and we need an estimate of attendances to the readings and the workshop, to make a booking and/or to
confirm your interest in attending the seminar please contact Booranga Writers’ Centre on (02) 69 332 688. If you get the
answer machine don’t hang up! Please leave us a message.
W
eekly Writers’ Meetings
One of Booranga’s newest members, Laura Smith, is planning to start weekly writers’ meetings where local writers
get together and share their work. Each week participants will have a look at what others have written, and everyone will get a
chance to receive some constructive feedback with regard to their writing, and get some ideas on how to address any concerns
they may have. As everyone will be in the same situation of publicly revealing their work for the first time the meetings will be
informal with a positive atmosphere where helpful comments can be made.
The meetings will strengthen the Riverina literary community through the development of writing and critical literacy skills in
poetry and prose. If you are interested in engaging with this project and the Wagga writing (under)world a call Laura on (02)
6922 8083 or email: [email protected]
S
hare Your News
Over the years many of our members have achieved publishing success in a range of anthologies and journals.
Booranga would love to hear about any of your recent successes and share it with our membership. If you have or
you know of any members who have achieved recent publishing success or if you wish to make a contribution to our
newsletter please let us know. Email: [email protected] or phone/fax (02) 69 332 688
3
Booranga News
June / July 2005
Z
ine Zine, place of many zines
Local writer Laura Smith is starting a Zine stall at the Wagga Rotary Markets, held in the Myer carpark every Sunday. If
zines are a new concept to you the following article by Laura details the multifaceted nature and approaches of zines. Booranga
plans on hosting a zine making workshop either at the end off this year or early next year, if you are interested in attending
please contact us on: [email protected]
What’s Zine it for you…
I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who believes that the purpose of reading magazines is to collect
conversational fodder. He said that the more magazines he reads, the more TV he watches, the more movies he sees, the
more popular culture he exposes himself to the more he’ll be able to carry on interesting conversations with a wide variety of
people. I told him that unless his reading matter is quality he’ll just wind up talking crap. Unfortunately for him, much of what is
published in this day and age is crap. Not because there isn’t talent out there, but because publishers want to know that a book
will sell well before they start working on it, and are inclined to prefer the sellable, brandable author over artistic genius.
There are quite a number of writers out there who have talent and new ideas, and sometimes just a well articulated sense
of nonsense fun, but who find it impossible to get their work out there because it means publishing independently and
then spending more time and money convincing bookstores to sell the damn thing than writing it. This is where zines come
in. Zines are small, photocopied magazines that celebrate their D.I.Y.ishness, and the community that surrounds them. Zines
developed out of the frustrations felt by many writers at having to validate themselves and their art in a world that assumes
that unoriginal, formulaic texts should be taken for granted as being the norm.
The zine community works with the idea that no one’s work is invalid because it doesn’t sell immediately, and enjoying doing
what you’re doing is much more worthwhile, so many zines are given for free, or traded, or so cheap that the photocopying
costs are only just covered. Money is taken out of the equation. This is a good thing because it means that there is a great
respect for variety in the zine community, and many different people are able to make zines, and to choose their own content
Some people use it as an opportunity to publish their general thoughts other people make booklets of their poetry, other people
do comics and graphic novels, and some will detail the circumstances that led to their friend eating half a lemon pie in two
hours! Still others create regular zines that have the usual articles and surveys that you might expect from a normal magazines,
but theme themselves along original lines “I hate cockroaches” and “Nerdling” being two that come to mind.
The latest development has been for cleaner zines to come out, colour and graphic design have become a part of some zines,
but instead of these things being used to catch the buyer’s attention they have been incorporated into a new art form that
means the artist having the opportunity to consider every element that makes up the publication, from words to images to the
kind of paper used, so that instead of being over-polished and underdeveloped, every part of the zine reflects the intentions of
the artist. But the original hand-written and stapled variety lives on. Z ine fairs have become regular events around Australia,
and it is possible to track down and buy overseas zines through the internet, but it’s not so easy to find zines in Wagga. This
is why I’m starting a regular zine stall at the Sunday Markets. I’m calling it Zine Zine, place of many zines. So if you’d like to
have a look at the zines I’ve got together for you, or if you make a zine and would like me to sell it, or (ahem) you want to buy
some, come down and have a look. You never know, you might find something worth having a conversation about.
Text: Laura Smith
O
ldest Performing Group is 60 Years Young
The oldest performing group in Wagga Wagga is about to celebrate its 60th anniversary. SOACT, the Wagga Wagga
School of Arts Community Theatre, was founded in 1945 towards the end of World War II, and over the long weekend in June
2005 (Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th) current and former members from both near and far will be celebrating in Wagga, with
performances in the Basement at the Civic Theatre, an Archival Exhibition at the Wagga Wagga City Library, a bus tour of past
theatre performance venues, and a play reading. The School of Arts Players, as they were known originally, came together as part
of the Wagga Wagga School of Arts, and was formed in 1859 as the Mechanics Institute to ‘provide educational and recreational
facilities for the community’.
There have been many notable achievements over the 60 years, including: persuading Wagga Wagga City Council to build the
Wagga Civic Theatre, towards which the group contributed approximately one third of the cost; helping to form the Riverina
Theatre Company, the longest surviving professional regional theatre company in Australia; running an annual one-act play festival
from 1954 – late 1990s; managing Wagga Wagga’s main costume hire service.
There will be much to celebrate when members and former members of the School of Arts Community Theatre get together
in June. For further information about the events taking place over the weekend of 11th and 12th June 2005, please contact Fay
Walters on (02) 6925 2054.
Text: Tony Trench
4
Booranga News
June / July 2005
G
eoff Page Residency
During April and May Booranga members
enjoyed the expertise of Geoff Page, who
generously facilitated a range of poetry workshops
and readings to general members and high
school students in Albury and Wagga. Booranga
member Catherine Edwards was the recipient of
the mentorship with Page, and from all accounts
it was an experience of reciprocated professional
development and immersive (poetic to be sure!)
debate. Congratulations to Catherine,
and many thanks to Geoff Page
and Australia Council for the Arts,
Literature Board for funding the
residency and mentorship.
Mentoree’s report - Catherine Edwards
When a much-published poet sets up camp in the
weatherboard wilderness of Booranga and shares
his vast knowledge and finely tuned skills in poesy
with an untutored beginner such as I, what will
come of it?
I was delighted to be accepted for a mentorship
by Canberra based poet Geoff Page, but
wondered what he would make of my writing. Of
course I need not have worried as Page is both
a professional and a gentleman. He is a poet
who has really worked at being a poet, teaching
secondary school English for many years,
combining evenings of marking students’ essays
with writing poetry for two hours on three nights
a week and four hours each weekend. This has
produced a poet who is not only well read but
practised in his own style of iambic rhythm and
regular rhyme. Geoff Page is a fine craftsman.
Page sometimes will draft a poem six or seven
times until he feels it is ready to be sent off to
potential place of publication.
In each of our four meetings he worked over
three or four of my pieces, suggesting changes,
tightening the lineation, improving the metre and
showing me what to leave out. He also shared
ideas on inspiration and work habits. My Fathers
Blindness is one of the pieces we worked on.
My Father’s Blindness
One morning last week my father woke blind in one eye.
The father and the eye are old and have together
done a great deal of looking.
On damp days in East Anglia they learned to read
and rode home together in a wheelbarrow pushed by cousin Flo
when he shat his pants.
They’ve toasted chestnuts and dug for winkles on Lowestoft Beach.
He’s finding it difficult to put toothpaste on his brush
and hang up his cap.
That good eye travelled to the other side of the world with him,
saw early mornings on the milk cart in Kensington,
worked on celluloid buttons at the factory in the Rocks
and flew to New Guinea with Wirraways
seeing native women feeding baby pigs alternately with
their own babies from pendulous breasts.
Hard to know how he will
adapt to being a one-eyed man,
he who always saw the other point of view.
What if there is a clot behind the other eye
and he loses sight completely?
Then I shall take his hands and run them over my face
allowing what I can see and the smell of his old hands
to inspire memories of burnt stubble foggy mornings
leather harness split pine kindling the rank stink of fox,
and evenings spent listening to radio serials and shrilling cicadas.
When I was eight he taught me how to milk.
Each morning in the bale, seated on a stool
I would wash the udder with warm water
and proceed to practice as he had taught me
gently squeezing down from top to bottom
on the swollen teats, sqwishing a stream of hot milk
into the metal bucket. The right hand worked
but the left one lagged behind
and I never emptied the udder the way he always did,
reverting to a stripping technique towards the end.
His gentle way with these big boned jersey cows
and the way he leaned in against the animal’s side
are with me still and when I take his hands
the smell of warm milk is in them.
Catherine Edwards
ÍÍÍE-LISTÍÍÍ
E
-LIST FOR MEMBERS
To extend our service to our members Booranga provides a
fortnightly listing of literary news, professional development and publishing
opportunities. The increased computerisation of society has enhanced
the proliferation of information and Booranga staff are finding that by
the time the newsletter is published, many opportunities of interest
to our members are obsolete. By increasing our contact with you,
we hope to increase your access and participation with what is
happening in the literary world.
If you wish to be included on our e-list please sent an email with
“Booranga e-list” in the subject heading to: [email protected]
(Please note your email will only be used to receive Booranga information and will not be passed onto
other organisations or individuals)
Booranga members workshopping their peoms with Geoff Page 7.4.05
5
Booranga News
June / July 2005
PUBLISHING, COMPETITIONS and OPPORTUNITIES
P
THE AUSTRALIAN CENTRE LITERARY AWARDS 2005
The Australian Centre at the University of Melbourne is
currently inviting applications for five literary awards, with
prizes of up to $10,000. The five awards are:
* The Kate Challis RAKA award; $10,000 award for Indigenous
poets
* The Peter Blazey Fellowship; $5000 award to further a work
in progress in the non-fiction fields of autobiography, biography
or life writing
* The DJ (Dinny) OíHearn Memorial Fellowship; $3500 award
for emergent Australian writers of fiction, poetry and drama
* The Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize; $3500 award for
an Australian poet, providing opportunity to visit Ireland
* The Asher Literary Award; $10,000 award offered
in collaboration with the Australia Council for women writers for
work carrying anti-war message or theme.
Applications for all awards and fellowships close Friday 1 July
2005. For further information and to download an application
form go to: http://www.australian.unimelb.edu.au/public/
prizes.html or contact the Centreís Awards Coordinator Luke
Rungie at [email protected] or phone 03
8344 8226.
P
OETRY
THE FELLOWSHIP OF AUSTRALIAN WRITERS WA 2006 POETS-INRESIDENCE PROGRAM The Fellowship of Australian Writers WA 2006
Poets-In-Residence program will provide two established, one emerging
and one young poet with the financial support, facilitation and writing
space to develop or complete work(s) in progress. The maximum
duration of residency will be four weeks full time for established and
emerging poets and two weeks full time for the young poet. All positions
are dependant upon and subject to funding. Applications close: 30th
June 2005. Applications are available by contacting FAWWA by phone:
(08) 9384 4771, by email: [email protected], or at out website:
www.fawwa.iinet.net.au
R
ADIO & ON-LINE
GOING DOWN SWINGING due June 30
Calling for submissions of audio, poetry, prose, short story
and literary cartoons for issue 23. For guidelines, please go to
www.goingdownswinging.org.au or check out GDS #22 now
available in bookstores and through the website. Written or
audio submissions to Going Down Swinging, PO Box 24, Clifton
Hill, Vic, 3068.
ROSE
THE ABC RADIO REGIONAL PRODUCTION FUND
The ABC Radio Regional Production Fund commissions
work from experienced radio producers and talented content
providers who live outside the major capital cities . They are
looking for documentary features, or series, music segments,
drama, comedy, serials and much more. If you have an idea for
a complete and delivered program which fits within an existing
ABC radio format, an original script, a collection of oral histories
then contact Deb Leavitt, ABC Radio on 08 9220 2781 or email:
[email protected]
2005 SUMMERLAND AWARDS CLOSING 31 AUGUST 2005
Entries are invited for the Fellowship of Australian Writers
Summerland’s inaugural competition. The short story section
has an open theme, with a maximum of 2,500 words. The
poetry section is for traditional rhyming or free verse to a
maximum of 80 lines, open theme. First prize of $500.00
and second prize of $200.00 is awarded in both sections. In
addition, the Summerland Trophy will be presented to the best
overall entry. Highly Commended and Commended certificates
will also be awarded and results will be published in the Writers
Voice and on the FAW website. Prize winning entries may be
published in an anthology. Entry fee is $6.00 or $25.00 for
five entries and no entry form is required. Normal competition
conditions apply and for more information, please call 02 6624
1933 or email [email protected]. Please send entries with
cheque or money order (made payable to FAW Summerland)
to: Summerland Awards, PO Box 4210, Goonellabah NSW
2480.
Y
OUNG & EMERGING WRITERS
FAST & FRESH Deadline: 30th June
School age writers can enter short plays in their very own
festival: Fast&Fresh! Original plays, 10 minutes long or less,
with their own friends or school mates performing. The best
will be performed - with full technical support - in August at
the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. And the winners will get a
‘wildcard’ entry in Short & Sweet 2006! If you’re a young writer
or you know of young writers who would like to be involved,
contact director Neil Gooding [email protected] or
visit www.newtowntheatre.com.au/fast_fresh
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE BRIDGE FOUNDATION
Seeking creative, non academic essays, short stories and
poems (up to five) about any aspect of the prison, previously
published okay, and improving the prison, for publication
in an anthology, to be published by Ginninnderra Press,
proceeds to further work of Bridge, contributors receive a
copy, up to 4000 words. To P.O.Box 341 Bairnsdale, 3875,
or [email protected] The BF works to support prisoners on
release & provide community education about prisons. www.bri
dgefoundation.net.au
JOHN MARSDEN PRIZE FOR YOUNG WRITERS
Express Media is proud to announce a new national
competition for young writers under 25 years of age. Named
after the organisation’s patron, the best-selling Young Adult
fiction author John Marsden (who is also donating a cash
prizes), the inaugural John Marsden Prize for Young Australian
Writers will award prizes of $500 each to two young writers
for the best poem and the best short story. The winning
entries will also appear in the December issue of Voiceworks
magazine, published by Express Media and dedicated to
6
Booranga News
June / July 2005
PLAYWORKS / VARUNA MENTORED RESIDENCIES
– CLOSING SOON (NATIONAL)
Closing date June 31
Receive a two week residential fellowships at Varuna with
dramaturgical support from Playworks.
Details at www.varuna.com.au <http://www.varuna.com.au/>
showcasing the work of young Australian writers and artists.
Prizes will also be awarded to the runners-up, whose
entries will be published on the organisation’s website. Entry
forms are available from the Express Media’s website at
www.expressmedia.org.au and entry is free. The closing date
is Wednesday 31st August. Entries of up to 3,000 words may
be submitted.
T
HEATRE &
PERFORMANCE
GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY TO TAKE ON FIVE
PLAYWRIGHTS IN HOUSE (NSW) Applications close June
27th.
Griffin Theatre Company is again searching for five writers
to become a central part of its operations. The 2005 – 2006
Playwrights’ Residency will bring five writers under the age of 35
into Griffin for one year of professional development and create
five new works for possible production. The residency, which
includes a least ten workshops of plays-in-progress, mentorships
and roundtable discussions of craft and professional practice,
allows the playwrights to:
* participate in monthly, one-to-one dramaturgy sessions
* enter a mentor-mentee relationship with a senior playwright
* have access to rehearsals of productions and to workshops of
plays currently in development
* attend company repertoire meetings
* engage in two workshops each, by professional actors, of
works-in-progress
* participate in “round table” discussions, each on a different
topic, run by a professional guest.
Applicants must not have had more than two plays
professionally produced and will be asked to submit a CV, a
sample work, and a rationale as to how they will benefit from
the residency. It is hoped that each writer will complete a draft
of a new play by July 2006. Enquiries should be addressed to
The Literary Manager, Griffin Theatre Company, 13 Craigend St,
Kings Cross, NSW 2011 or [email protected]
WRITE NOW! NATIONAL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS’
COMPETITION
Closes: 30 June 2005
Naked Theatre Company is now calling for young writers across
Australia to enter the Write Now! National Young Playwrights
competition. If you’re 18-30 years old, you are invited to submit
a short play (30 pages or less) to Write Now! for the chance to
have your play transformed from a script to a full production
with the support of some of Australia’s finest advisors and
playwrights.
10 finalists receive workshops and playreadings, with the three
winning plays going on for further development with industry
professionals, culminating in the anticipated Top Shorts season
in December at The Old Fitzroy Hotel Theatre, Woolloomooloo.
The 3 winners also receive a critique luncheon with
playwright David Williamson for some inspiring feedback and
encouragement. To enter: send plays with entry form and fee
to PO Box 3048, Tamarama NSW 2026 Cost: $15 entry fee. For
more info: Liz Fell on 02 9365 1485, 0413 050 282 , or email
[email protected] <mailto:liz@nakedtheatreco
mpany.com.au> website: www.nakedtheatrecompany.com.au
7
THE CANBERRA FESTIVAL OF ONE ACT PLAYS
October long weekend from Friday 30 September to Sunday
2 October
Closing date for registration: COB Friday 29 July 2005
Since its inception in 2000, The Canberra Festival of One Act
Plays has become an important showcase for amateur theatre
companies from Canberra, NSW and Victoria. The Festival is
open to contestants from all over Australia.
REGISTRATION FEE: $90 For further information call Nina
Stevenson ph: (02) 6286 9122 email: [email protected]
m.au web: www.canberraplayfest.com.au
F
ESTIVAL
BYRON BAY WRITERS FESTIVAL
Winter is upon us and so is the hankering for warmer climes.
What better way to shed the doldrums than by attending the
annual Byron Bay Writers Festival? Spread across the lush
seaside gardens of the Byron Bay Beach Resort, this ninth
Festival will take place from 4th till 7th August. The Festival
traditionally explores the big questions facing contemporary
society and individuals.
Who can you expect to see? Celebrated Australian author Kate
Grenville will participate in several panels and will also deliver
the inaugural Thea Astley lecture. Kate won the Orange Prize in
2002 for The Idea of Perfection and her new novel, The Secret
River, will be released in time for the Festival.
A Festival favourite is Booker Prize-winning Tom Keneally. Tom
‘s conversation with Irina Dunn in which he reviews a lifetime
of writing (over forty books and numerous screenplays) will be
a Festival highlight. A helping of fun will be served up with the
broadcaster and comedienne Wendy Harmer. Her first adult
novel, Farewell My Ovaries. A must-see panel event is that in
which Wendy and three contemporary writers examine Sex:
different approaches to an age old subject. Who better to chair
the discussion than author and sexologist Gabrielle Morrissey?
Human rights and issues of fundamentalism spur many writers.
Exiled Iranian playwright Shahin Shafaei will join with QC Julian
Burnside, one of Australia’s most respected and outspoken
opponents of mandatory detention, to unravel The Refugee
Issue: social justice and change.
Plan your visit now: every year Festival organisers post “House
Full” signs.
Australia’s fastest growing literary Festival at Australia’s
breathtakingly beautiful beach resort. The Byron Bay Writers
Festival 2005, 4th-7th August. Early Bird prices for Three Day
Passes are currently available and full program and tickets go
on sale from June 9 at www.byronbaywritersfestival.com or call
(02) 6685 6262.
Wagga Wagga Writers Writers
Application for 2005 Membership
Wagga Wagga Writers Writers Inc. was formed in 1987 to assist and promote local authors and their work. The
group holds regular readings at local venues, conducts writing workshops, offers writing fellowships at Booranga,
the Riverina Writers’ Centre at Charles Sturt University and publishes an annual anthology, fourW, under the imprint
of fourW press, and is active in promoting writing and writers throughout the Riverina
MEMBERSHIP PERIOD 1ST JANUARY - 31ST DECEMBER 2005
B
ENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP...
S
INGLE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ($33.00) or CONCESSION ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP ($22.00)
Entitles you to:
of fourW sixteen Anthology
•CopyRegular
newsletters & mailouts
• 10% discount
at Book City, Wagga
•
••
10% discount at Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Wagga
10% discount to RTC performances
Member discounts to readings, performances & workshops
Invitations to writing events and get-togethers
Access to a network of writers, book enthusiasts and other writers’ centres for information & friendship
Use of Booranga Writers’ Centre resources, such as computer and library
••
•
Student Membership for $11.00 is now also available for students under 21 years of age – please note that Student members receive
newsletters and discounted admission to readings etc, but do not receive a complimentary copy of fourW sixteen
Please fill out, detach and send application to:
*
Wagga Wagga Writers Writers Inc., Booranga Writers’ Centre,
Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga NSW 2678, Phone/Fax (02) 6933 2688
Name:
...............................................................................................................
Address:
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Telephone:
( ..........................................(home)
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...............…………………….........………...........(email) Enclosed: $...................... cheque/money order
FOR
If undeliverable return to:
Booranga Writers’ Centre
Locked Bag 588
Waga Wagga, NSW, 2678
single concession student subscription (Please circle)
POSTAGE PAID
AUSTRALIA
Booranga Writers’ Centre is supported by in-kind and financial support from the NSW Ministry for the Arts, Australia Council for the Arts and Charles Sturt University