March Newsletter Notice:
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Page 2
President’s
Letter
Because the last Friday of the month falls on Easter Saturday, there won’t a
SWWV meeting this month.
Discoveries
By Marguerite Kisvardi
Page 3
Editor’s Letter
Page 4-5
Dorothy Richards by Errol
Broome
Page 6-7
Alice Landau
by Meryl Tobin
Page 8
Changing
Lives, Changing Times Review by Veron-
Pages 9
Changing
Lives, Changing Times by
Dulcie M.
Page 1011
Apostrophe
Issues Simplified by Rebecca Maxwell
Inner rooms, the warmth of protection,
thought and feeling safe and quiet,
but a window of sky stirs the need
to escape, discover other people,
someone to share vicissitudes of life.
We drive through plains where a wind sweeps
endlessly, lifting dust from ploughed paddocks.
A line of sheep stands patiently as though
in a queue for supplies. Rubbish litters roads,
empty cans, rags, detritus of passers-by.
We glide through provincial towns, see rows
of mail boxes like one-legged puppets
waiting to be fed. Families walk in streets,
there's an unknown spire on the horizon.
A wayside stall with pyramids of fruit
flourishes colour, yellow orange red.
Houses and shop fronts hint at lives within.
Autumn in avenues of trees waves gold
and scarlet messages across the sky.
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 2
President's Letter
Dear Members,
The number of attendees at our last meeting shows that
members love to share their work and talk about books. I
found the same sentiment at Adelaide Writer’s Week last
week. Both these events reminded me that we cannot underestimate the importance of connecting with other writers and the readers of our work because they are not mutually exclusive.
While we might not be thinking of the reader as we write
initially, we do need to think of him or her at some stage.
Without readers, we have no vehicle for our stories. Seems so logical, doesn’t it?
I am often surprised when I facilitate writing workshops and a writer tells me that she
doesn’t read much. I need to bite my tongue in response to this! How can anyone expect to improve their writing skills if they don’t read much? Reading improves comprehension, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and also shows the writer how to cast a
sentence, the use of pacing and a number of other stylistic devices.
Sharing our writing also helps us to gain feedback for something that previously has
only lived in our head. Even the simple act of reading our work aloud will give insight
into how it will be for the reader, where we stumble over words (meaning the word
choice could be better) and how the language resonates as we read it.
Through reading and writing we have an exchange of ideas that live together so, as
writers, we need to be consumers of books and we need to show our work to others in
order to improve the way we convey our ideas. Both are very enjoyable activities as we
saw in our February meeting. I look forward to more of this kind of exchange at the
Society.
Until next month, keep writing!
Blaise Van Hecke
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 3
Editor’s Letter
Dear Members,
We have many items in this month’s edition of Write Away.
Sadly, two of our long-time members, Dorothy Richards and Alice
Landau have recently passed away. Their time and generosity
were invaluable to the SWWV. Tributes to the lives of these amazing women and their contributions to the Society can be found on
pages 4-7.
On page 8, Veronica Schwarz reviews Dulcie M. Stone’s newest
book, Changing Lives, Changing Times. The book explores Dulcie
Stone’s years as a teacher in a writing and arts program. This program strives to help people of varying ages and backgrounds. Information on how to
obtain a copy of Dulcie’s book is provided at the end of the review. On page 9, Dulcie
also talks about her latest publication, giving tribute to the late Dr Dennis Maginn,
who endorsed the program in the 1960s for people with disabilities.
On pages 10 and 11, Rebecca Maxwell explains the correct uses of the apostrophe in
her article Apostrophe Issues Simplified. It is a very detailed and useful article for anyone struggling with the proper uses of the apostrophe.
There won’t be a March meeting, so I wish all of you a happy Easter, and even if you
don’t have time to work on your writing at this time, I hope you enjoy the Easter chocolate!
All the best,
Lauren Thompson
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 4
Dorothy Richards
7.6.1916 – 9.2.2016
By Errol Broome
I often wonder where our Society would be today if it were not for Dorothy Richards. She
was a founding member in 1970, and the first Treasurer. In 1978 she rescued the Victorian
branch from a crisis after we were left, mid-term, without a President. Dorothy stepped into
the position. Always cheerful, thoughtful and compassionate, she also brought a good dose of
commonsense into the role and could be firm when sound judgement was required. At the
same time, she was leader of the AEA Friday Writers; this she did for more than 30 years.
Dorothy always had more time for others than for herself. I know her time for writing suffered
because of the hours she devoted to family, friends and the community – anyone who needed
her, anybody she could help. Yet over the years she won many prizes for her short stories, and
she kept on writing. In 2004, she won first prize in the Society’s Slice of Life Christmas competition.
I wonder sometimes whether, if she had not put others before herself, Dorothy might have
been another Katherine Mansfield. Her writing was unpretentious, never sentimental, acutely
observant and rich in the aspects of everyday living that touch us all. She brought to it a light,
affectionate sense of humour, warming to read. (She once wrote of her father in his long underwear, looking like a parsnip.)
Dorothy was devoted to her husband Harold, who was the Society’s Honorary Auditor and
helped to paint the room we owned, rent-free in the old YMCA building where Southgate now
stands. In a list of acknowledgments in her book An Anthology of Aunts, Dorothy thanked ‘last
but not least, the man in my life, who has always reminded me to do my homework (though
he has never read a single word) and who got me to the
train on time every Friday for 30 years.’
In the introduction to the book, she wrote: ‘I have not tried
to be witty or clever or anything but myself.’ That was
Dorothy. She has been much missed by SWWVic over the
years she has been unable to join us at meetings, but the
warmth and joy and gift of her presence will endure.
Former president and founding member of the SWWV, Dorothy Richards at 56 years old.
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 5
A Celebration of the Life of Dorothy Richards
7.6.1916 – 9.2.2016
By Janet Howie
The funeral of Dorothy Richards was held at St John’s
Uniting Church, Williamstown, on February 16 at
10.00am. The church was packed with Dorothy’s immediate family, her many relatives in Williamstown,
her friends and admirers. The Literary Patron of the Society of Women Writers Victoria Inc. and a former president, Janet Howie, were also present.
The service was led by Rev David Howie, (not related
to Janet), a former Minister of the Williamstown Parish.
Family members and neighbours paid tribute to Dorothy as wife, mother, friend and writer. It was noted that
she was a founding member of the Society of Women
Writers, Victorian Branch and an active participant. Her family story, Anthology of Aunts remains popular, as does her collection of stories, Free Range. Cheerful and creative, her
memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her and read her work.
Dorothy in her 80s. Photo provided by Michael Richards.
Vale, Alice Landau
By Meryl Tobin
Members of The Society of Women Writers Victoria were greatly saddened to read of Alice Landau’s passing. A Committee member for some
years, she was our Assistant Treasurer and our
Hostess who sat at the door with her everwelcoming smile. All members who knew her
loved her.
To have gone through what she did in her home
country Hungary and elsewhere during the turbulent 1930s and 40s and come out smiling and
still be in love with life was a remarkable
achievement. To chronicle her experiences in a memoir, and to do so in a positive way,
is also remarkable.
Alice Landau at the launch of her book, Snippets from My Family Album. Photo provided
by Meryl Tobin.
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 6
At the launch of her book Snippets from My Family Album, Alice said, ‘I always
wanted to write this book … I was robbed of my parents, my brother, my extended
family, including my aunts and uncles. I was robbed of my childhood. I wanted to
commemorate them all.’
On learning of Alice’s passing, individual SWWV members expressed their sorrow
and made tributes to her:
Errol Broome: ‘Sad news. Poor Alice had a hard last year or two, and was such a
bright and positive person. I will write to her daughter.’

Betty Caldwell, also Tutor of the Wednesday Writers, U3A, Melbourne: ‘We were
saddened to hear of Alice’s death. Alice was always an optimistic, generous and vibrant contributor to our meetings and was held in particularly high regard.’

Agnes Chatfield: ‘I had an affection for Alice. Always a cheerful person; her memoir about her background and how she came to Australia was beautifully written and
very touching.’

Janet Howie: ‘I remember Alice's cheerful work as Assistant Treasurer and the enticing hampers she liked to prepare for special occasions. She also invited us to her
home for lunch followed by poetry and prose readings. I found her memoir moving
and uplifting. It has been good to know her as writer and friend.’


Rebecca Maxwell: ‘The dear hospitable Alice received many of us for the day once
a year and provided delicious catering and the opportunity for conversation about
writing. There is a gentleness in Alice’s voice. This tone is a melody that accompanies my thoughts of her. I will never forget her sitting at the door. She was hospitality herself.’
Lorraine McGuigan: ‘I am so sad to hear of Alice's passing. I send my condolences
to all who loved her.’


Jean McLean: ‘Oh Meryl. How sad.’

Veronica Schwarz: ‘Sad news indeed. Alice was a beautiful person.’
Lauren Thompson: ‘I am very sorry to hear about Alice’s passing. Alice was such
a friendly and kind lady, who always had time for everyone. ‘


Shirley Whiteway: ‘That is so very sad. I spent many happy times at Alice’s house
when Society members got together for lunch or to read each other’s work. Alice
loved entertaining and she was very happy when she had a roomful of fellow writers. These are precious memories I have of Alice. I also loved her book and her
honesty about her childhood. She was a most beautiful and kind friend.’
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 7
Paula Wilson: ‘Alice said at her book launch that I was a mentor to her, I never saw
it that way. To me she was an inspiration who had a multitude of stories that needed
to be told and it was a privilege for me to be involved in their telling. On the acknowledgement page of the book she said she was grateful to me, but it is me who was grateful that I could share her writing journey and her friendship.’


Del Nightingale: ‘It’s like the end of an era to know that Alice has died. She was a
strong courageous woman with a very big life story and an amazing capacity to see
the positive in each day. It was a privilege to know her.’
Alice was a proud and loving mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, a great worker,
a true friend and a loving, compassionate human being. At her funeral her daughter
Rachel said Alice aspired to be a good person, and she was. Though Alice will be sadly
missed, her book, her family and the memories family and friends hold of her will live
on.
Our deepest sympathy to Alice’s family: her older daughter Rachel and husband Adam
Cohen and their daughter Avital, and her younger daughter Naomi, husband Shai
Eglick and their son Elijah.
Photo provided by Meryl Tobin.
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 8
Changing Lives Through Creative Writing
By Veronica Schwarz
SWWV member Dulcie Stone has written and published her latest book, Changing
Lives Changing Times. The book tells of Dulcie’s many years of work with a creativity
-based program of writing and art, working with students of a wide range of abilities
and ages. The book is dedicated to the late Dr Dennis Maginn, former Director of the
Victorian Mental Health Authority who officially endorsed the 1960s program at the
Mildura Day Training Centre. Students’ resultant self-exploration and increase in confidence, self worth and the ability to communicate ideas and express feelings, has literally changed lives.
The Department of Criminology at Melbourne University has described Dulcie as a pioneer in the area of Criminology, Creative Arts and Education. As fellow writers, we
can take pride in this considerable achievement of one of our members. Dulcie’s work
as a writer and a teacher has helped to change the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, highly gifted children and many others who had withdrawn into
themselves and whose lives, were it not for this program, might have been bleak indeed.
Throughout the book, Dulcie presents compelling true stories of the students she
worked with. She provides thought-provoking examples of lives that have been
touched and enhanced by the exploration of their own creativity. Her work was received with mixed reactions and sometimes downright opposition but her persistence
and care for her students shines through it all. Dulcie’s style is compassionate, at
times humourous and self-deprecating and filled with her own willingness to learn
from her students. It’s a heart-warming read with an eye-opening window into the
world of personality, learning and creativity.
Dulcie has written both fiction and non-fiction. This is her nineteenth book.
Copies of Changing Lives, Changing Times can be obtained free of all charges including postage from the Australian Institute on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at [email protected] or from [email protected]
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 9
Changing Lives, Changing Times
By Dulcie M. Stone
Publisher: Spectrum Publications
In 1991 Massachusetts University English Professor
Robert Waxler and Judge Robert Kane initiated a program titled Changing Lives Through Literature.
Designed for criminals sentenced to read and discuss
assigned books as an alternative to imprisonment, its
aim is to facilitate self exploration and increase
the ability to confidently communicate ideas
and express feelings.
Dulcie M. Stone. Picture provided by
Veronica Schwartz
The Australian creativity-based program has exactly
the same aim.
The Department of Criminology at Melbourne University has described Dulcie Stone
as a pioneer in the area of Criminology, Creative Arts and Education.
Factual cases and true stories in Changing Lives, Changing Times demonstrate successful use of the program in widely differing situations.
Importantly, the book is dedicated to the late Dr Dennis Maginn, former Director of
the Victorian Mental Health Authority, who officially endorsed the 1960s creativitybased program at the Mildura Day Training Centre for people with intellectual disability.
In the 1980 book Annie’s Coming Out Dr Maginn was falsely accused of attempted
murder by disabled Anne McDonald while she was using Facilitated Communication
(FC).
In 2014 the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
stated that it did not support FC as a valid means to communicate important life decisions. ‘FC appears to be in violation of several articles of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (i.e. Articles 12,16,17, and 21)’
Despite this, Dr Maginn has never been publicly vindicated!
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 10
Apostrophe Issues Simplified
A few ideas by Rebecca Maxwell
1: The apostrophe is most frequently used to replace a missing letter.
Examples: wouldn't (would not). can't (cannot). It's (it is).
2: The apostrophe can show possession:
Bill's boots. Jane's boots. This door's rusty hinges. A camel's humps. The baby's bottle.
3: We have another way of showing possession, by
using words which express belonging: possessive
pronouns:
Bill's boots- (or) "his boots" Jane's boots- (or) "her boots". The door's rusty hinges
(or) "its rusty hinges". The camel's humps- (or) "its humps". The land's fertility- (or)
"its fertility". The baby's bottle- (or) "his bottle", (or) "her bottle", (or) "its bottle". The
paper's editor (or) "its editor".
A map of the town with its cattle market.
The children's healthy sandwiches - "their healthy sandwiches".
Please note the possessive "its", the possessive pronoun, does not have an apostrophe.
In praise of the apostrophe, that tells-every little blip! It excuses the omission, and lets
a letter skip!
Yes, one may write "isn't", "it's", "wouldn't", "o'clock", "wantin", and so on, just by acknowledging the omitted letter with an apologetic apostrophe. that's fine.
And sometimes the apostrophe is a legal guardian; it accords possession to the right
person: "Bill's books". "Jane's belongings". "The camel's humps". "The land's fertility".
"That mine's wealth". "The children's cousins".
But we can dispense with the apostrophe as the arbiter of possession, when we use
possessive pronouns:
“His books", "her friends" "its humps" "our cousins" "my parents".
Or, we can also use another form of the possessive pronoun (and also without an apostrophe to denote ownership:
WRITE AWAY MARCH 2016 page 11
"The books are his".
"These belongings are hers". "This house is theirs".
4: Problems with Plurals: Where does the apostrophe go- before or after the S? If the
plural noun ends with S- eg boys, girls ,dogs and buns- the apostrophe goes after the
S.
Boys' voices. Girls' voices. Buns' topping. Dogs' paws.
But some plural nouns are not formed with S.
Children, men, feet, sheep
Children’s noise. Feet’s comfort. Men’s ideas. Sheep’s fleeces. The shy women's stories.
Just remember this: Don't interrupt the noun's identity: if the noun ends in S then
write it fully, then put the apostrophe in to show possession. If the plural noun is not
formed with S, then put the apostrophe right after the noun, and then the S. It's simple: just don't let the apostrophe interfere with the natural spelling of the noun.
Children’s noise. Boys' noise. Men’s feet. Camels' feet. Birds' whistles. Sheep’s fleeces.
The apostrophe is an informative blip, but not by damaging the noun.
Quote of the Month
“You’re afraid the ashes are cold but all you have to
do is blow on them, breathe life back into them. Your
stories lie waiting for you to bring them to life.” —
Kate Forsyth
Society and Newsletter Info
Contact Editor: [email protected]
Deadline for material: the 7th of the month
Society Meetings are on the last Friday of each month
Meeting Room: Hayden Raysmith Room, 4th Floor, Ross House. 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
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