Bondi Writers Newsletter

February 2012

2012-02-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

The member contribution this month is from Garth Alperstein, originally from South Africa, but obviously a citizen of the world now, who delights in other places, faces and cultures. Thanks Garth!

Poems

When I travel, I have of late written short poems, in an attempt to encapsulate the essence of a place, an experience or a memory.

Photographs by Melissa Becker

Aix-en-Provence, South France. Cezanne’s Studio

Spacious room

A ladder turns perspective

Shades of trees

Limestone mountain appears

Contribution to Yoko Ono Peace Tree. Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice

Pen and paper

Perchance a poem

To offer the olive branch

Sevilla, Spain

Pale blue five petaled plumbago

Sticky stems

And Spanish flag lantana fragrance

At the Alcazar.

France, Italy and now Spain,

Fort Beaufort still sticks to me

Incheon Airport, Seoul, Korea

A face of poise

Vase

Sparse strands

Shoots of beauty

Florence, Italy

Red tiled roofs

Il Duomo at dusk

Over the Arno

A flash of gold

Pompeii, Italy

Bodies frozen ash grey

Cobbled streets

Murals on brothel walls

The bathhouse is closed.

In the gladiators' arena

Grass grows

Arles, South France

A Roman arena

Black mussels pierce

bowls of yellow rice

Red smears the bull cart

The Rhône gently flows

Capri, Italy

Time worn cliffs

White washed walls

Through the narrow crevice

A blue you canʼt describe

Here is the final draft of the flyer created by Gavin Austin for publishing our Anthology Launch next month. We are still in the final stages of planning the event. I will email details and the flyer out to members ASAP.

invite you to

The print launch of

‘Bondi Tides’

edited by Carol Chandler

LAUNCHED BY JOHN WAKEFIELD, MAYOR OF WAVERLEY

Bondi Tides is an anthology from the Bondi Writers’ Group, which is the Eastern Suburbs branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW Inc. http://www.bondiwritersgroup.org.au

RSVP by March 10, 2012 - president@bondiwritersgroup.org.au or 0415 339420

Featuring writing by: Garth Alperstein, Gavin Austin, Andrew Barry,

Susan Beinart, Carol Chandler, Kay Dunne, Gavin Hanbridge, Gita Irwin,

Cynthia Rowe, Anne Skyvington, Pamela Trustrum, W R Widerberg

Photography from: Gavin Hanbridge, Anne Skyvington, Melina Wicks

Theatrette
Waverley Library

1^st Floor, 32-48 Denison Street, Bondi Junction

Saturday 17th March 2012, 1-3pm

Supported by Waverley Library & Waverley Council

Minutes Sunday 19th February

Present: Anne, Kay, Carol, Garth, Dina, Pam, Gita, Sunny, Karin, Prim, Susan, Irina, Lenka, None, Sunny, Isabella, Daniel, Jennifer, Lani

Apologies: Cynthia, Gavin, Hiroko, Dorothy

* Short Discussion re Book Launch:

Theatrette:

Scattered chairs, Podium with Mike for readings, Tables

Food/Drinks

Gavin A. and Anne will purchase Cheese and crackers; Wine/ Mineral Water the day before and store in kitchen and fridge.

Set-Up/Tasks

Some Members arrive to set up at 12pm: Gavin A, Anne, Garth. Food and Drinks set up inside back corner. Gavin A. to serve alcohol; Gavin H and Susan on book sales with help from others if necessary

Invitees

People arriving. 1.00pm: Drinks served, Books sold, People mingling

Program:

1.20pm-2.20pm

Speeches/Readings

More food/Drink/More Books sold/

Mingling until 3pm

Other Members help Clean up

Retire to Tea Gardens?

* Ros Burton’s Presentation/Workshop: “Castles, Follies and Four-Leaf Clovers”

Illuminating and useful for budding writers.

Good ideas on breaking through procrastination.

Short writing task given

Buying books

January 2012 Edition

2012-01-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

Balls Head: Rocky Seat

Balls Head: Reedy Circle Seat

Welcome to the New Year! And it's my turn and Gita's to offer up something for Members' Contributions. Above are photos of favourite spots where I sit when I go for my daily walk in Balls Head Reserve at Waverton. This Reserve of 23 acres of bushland with native flora and fauna, Aboriginal sites, and spectacular views, was first explored by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, Commander of the ship Supply in the First Fleet of 1788. In the first photo, you can see Wild Oats 11 practising for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The following poem was inspired by one of my visits. As I'm just returning to poetry after man years away, I welcome any input for improvement.

The Other Side
From this reedy womb wherein I stay
cross-legged over water,
sailing boats and gulls glide into view
and water lapping sounds swash over me.
Currawongs are carolling in
eucalypts with leaves of dusk, whisper
overhead and join in
symphony with mystic signs
from ancient ferries passing by
on the other side.

I smell the salty sea as the wind swishes
softly past my ears
far away from aeroplanes that fall
on concrete over there,
and floating giants that
stir up wakes of foam as they head
for open seas--America on the other side.
While I dream of fish flying in the
spray and magic eyries like
the one wherein I lie
on the other side.
© Anne Skyvington

Veins

Water leaks through my ceiling

tracing vines across the boundary of my space

these walls I built to contain feeling

vent their emotion in liquid lace

fine splash mist becomes my face

Bespoke a wind the shadow of winter

The heart remembers still

as seasons circle the splinter

buried within the harshest will

so it is I stand transfixed by the window sill

Midnight the soft fog rolls in

as the world exhales

the excuses wear thin

myriad reasons pale

as the night grows stale

Just today

Just today, the sun has beamed on twenty million people

the fish have frolicked in a clean ocean

the seagulls have collectively decided not to pester anyone for food

but to make their request ever so politely

the crabs have clambered back onto the sand

out of their rocky estuaries hiding in the damp

and there will be no fighting amongst the surfers

it doesn't matter who catches a wave

the tide rolls for everyone.

Just today, my mother learned how to smile again

my brother discovered the connection between food and productivity

my cat won the battle of the flea invasion

and sent the blood sucking scoundrels packing

the dishes seemed to wash themselves

and the back deck developed ambitions to be a proper garden.

© Gita Irwin

The next monthly meeting is on Sunday, 19th February, at which Ros Burton is set to address us. She will talk about the path towards publication of her travel book Castles, Follies and Four-Leaf Clovers. It should be an interesting afternoon. I have included photos of Rosamund and her book cover, and a short bio for you to look at.

Rosamund in Ireland

Bio

Though born in Ireland Rosamund Burton grew up in England, until her father got a job with the Duke of Devonshire, and the family moved into the East wing of Lismore Castle. Rosamund went on to become an actress, performing at Dublin's Gate and Gaiety Theatres, and in the film, Educating Rita with Julie Walters and Michael Caine. She then worked in London before coming out to Australia 17 years ago. Since 2001 she has worked as a freelance journalist writing for a range of newspapers and magazine including the Sunday Telegraph, The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald. She is married to an Australian and lives in Sydney.

In 2008 she walked St Declan’s Way, and her book, Castles, Follies and Four-Leaf Clovers, is about that journey.

The launch by the Mayor of Waverley of our new Anthology, Bondi Tides, is set to occur on Saturday 17th, one day before our March meeting.
Carol, Bill and Anne have been busy trying to finalise a suitable date and venue for this event.
It looks like the Waverley Library is the most appropriate venue.
I do hope most of you are free on the chosen date. Things to consider: Invitations, Advertising, Food and Drink, Protocol, and Readings

KAY DUNNE'S SUCCESSFUL COURSE IS ON AGAIN!

I'm conducting a meditation course at City East Community College for eight weeks from February, 2012. If you know anyone who might be interested, I would appreciate your passing on this information and

the link below. The style of meditation is called "mindfulness-based stillness meditation" (MBSM) which is the approach taken by The Gawler Foundation: http://gawlerfoundation.org.au. It is a very body focussed

method and aims to help people move from focus on the breath to simple awareness.The course covers the science behind meditation and the approach is introduced in steps so that people can practice and then obtain feedback at the next session. Resources will be recommended and a CD of two guided meditations (mindfulness and MBSM) will be available to purchase.

If you do know anyone who might be interested, I'm more than happy to talk

to them about it, so feel free to pass on my phone number: 9130 8810

www.cityeastcc.com.au/courses/humanities+&+sciences/personal+development

2012 PROGRAM

Date	MEMBER CONTRIB	EVENT	PRESENTERS	DETAILS	COSTS
Jan.	Anne Gita
Feb	Garth Gavin H	Speaker	Rosamund Burton:	“Castles, Follies & Four-Leaf Clovers”
Mar Special Event		Public launch anthology	Trevar?	Waverley Library Wine/Cheese	$300-400 Pub Reading
Mar	Bill	Critique/feedback
Apr	Susan	Speaker
May	Carol	Actors Inhouse Readg or Critique/fb
Jun	Dorothy	…..
Jul	Prim	Critique/ feedback
Aug	Toni	Speaker
Sept	Pamela	AGM
Oct	Cynthia	Public Reading?
Nov	Sonny	Critique/feedback
Dec	Dina	Party

BWG Short Story Entries:

Good News from Gavin Austin!

88 entries were received from all states, excluding
the NT and we had the 1st ever international entry
from New Zealand!

The short stories have now been sent for judging

Many thanks to our wonderful and experienced

convenor, Gavin Austin for a well-done job as usual,

despite some irritating entry hiccups this time.

Carol, Editor of "Bondi Tides"

The December Issue

2011-12-05T00:15:00.000-08:00

The Member Contribution is from Fay Reeve with a seasonally appropriate poem:

The Cycle
Standing, slim and tall,
beside the gate -
a column of tremulous green
resisting the wind's assault
as icy fingers poke between
rents in her tattered gown.

Autumn frosts portend
impending winter -
green turns to gold -
brown leaves carpet the lane
tumble in drifts against the fence,
moulder, return to earth.

Bare limbs reach towards
winter's lowering skies
welcoming transitory rest.
New life cocooned
deep within
embraces deceptive sleep.

Spring's warmth heralds rebirth!
Embryonic shoots respond -
new life swells - buds burst -
and pale green leaves
dress the poplar
in new season's garb.

Fay Reeve

Fay's poem made me think of "Sumer Is Ycumen In" the traditional round and possibly the oldest such example of counterpoint in existence:

A Reminder:

The BWG 2011 Short Story Competition closes Dec 31, 2011

Open theme. Entries must be between 1,500 and 3,000 words.

Work must be unpublished and must not have won a monetary prize as of the close date.

Usual competition rules apply.

Entry fee is $5 per manuscript.

Competition convenor

Bondi Writers

PO Box 701

Bondi Junction 1355

Bondi Writers Group

Minutes of the Meeting Held 20^th November 20-11-2011

by Bill Widerberg

Apologies: Kay Dunne, Dorothy Paramore

Thirteen members were present plus one prospective member. Cynthia, Anne, Gavin Austin, Gavin Hanbridge, Hiroko, Susan, Bill, Kristen, Pam, Carol, Dina, Prim, Sunny.

The President, Anne Skyvington opened the meeting by announcing that the AGM would be held followed by the members splitting into three groups; two for fiction and one for poetry.

1. AGM.

All positions were declared vacant and votes taken. As a result all positions were filled.

President: Anne Skyvington

Vice-President: Bill Widerberg

Secretary: Kristen McNaule

Treasurer: Sunny Wong

Assistant: Prim Moss

Literary Achievements: Cynthia Rowe

Management Committee: The holders of the above positions plus Gavin Austin,

Carol Chandler, Pam Trustrum and Dina Davis for assistance with special events.

2. More entries for the Open Short Story Competition were sought.

3. The winner and runners up of the in-house Seagull Award for Short Story were announced. Carol Chandler, winner, Anne Skyvington. second place, Carol Chandler 3^rd.

4. Cynthia Rowe announced that she had won the Polish International Haiku Award.

5. The Group will apply to Council for a grant of $1200 and use of the Theory Room for monthly meetings and the Auditorium for one afternoon per year at Waverley Library.

6. Members joined the appropriate group and review of creative work continued until 4pm when the Meeting closed.

The FAW Christmas Luncheon was fun! The Bush Poet was funny! Five of us from BWG attended. (Pam not in photos)

Gavin, Anne

Dr Hilarie Lindsay, Trevar

Carol, Cynthia

...Greg North

The Bush Poet...

Announcements:
Our Anthology was ready for the 18th December and copies were handed out to those who contributed.

Thanks to all for the successful Party and discussion!

GAVIN AUSTIN'S URBAN PHOTOS

Wooloomooloo

Steps Wooloomooloo

Sydney Icons

The Harbour

The Following Points were Raised, Discussed and Results Recorded by Toni Paramore

1. Speakers:

Suggested about 3 speakers from: Rosamund Burton: (fiction writer/short story writer); Ros Baker? ; Poetry: Winifred Weir; Kirsten Tranter; Pippa Kay; Judith Beveridge; Brook Emery (male) (Coogee); Non-fiction/Local History: majority in favour of speaker from Local History Association (Prim to ring around during the holidays for non fiction speakers )

2. How many feedback sessions? 3

Those who wish to email early March (by 15^th) to all group to enable time-saving/improved feedback at meeting.

3. Do we have a Public Reading with actors? ? Preference (more than 50% of those present) was for another anthology

Instead (assuming insufficient funds for both).

4. Do we have an inhouse Reading with actors? Yes (6 of 14 present)

- No limit yet decided on re number of pieces to be read out

- cf Ordinary Feedback sessions, might want to limit to 3 pieces each time (max length 5000 words if emailed beforehand; not all of 5000 words to be read out in group… excerpts only (from longer pieces). 1000 or 2000 words or 5 v 10 mins Tbd

- nb. Shorter pieces or excerpts from longer pieces need not be emailed in advance. Anne to supply all with full list of email addresses so all will receive work emailed in advance for critiquing prior to group feedback / critique sessions.

5. (a) Do we have an inhouse Short Story Competition? YES

Convenor? Suggested Gita a possibility? (can be held anytime; 2011 one closed 30/9/11)

(b) External Short Story Competition? YES (some querying whether viability of both inhouse and external comps might depend on outcome of grants application). External $300 prize + $120 pd to Judge.

Convenor needs to be found (among BWG members) for external short story competition:

Convenor duties include: advertising the comp. (in Writers Voice, Free Xpression; Positive Words’ FAW (Vic, NSW & WA); finding a judge; collating entries; sending entries to judge (incl pick up from PO Box – Anne can help with this- ); making certificates (Gavin H has templates?); notifying winners after results are finalized; placing results in Writers’ Voice.

6. GRANT. Need to get it. Application is in for it (Bill).

7. Another Anthology? YES (at least half of those present)

8. Launch of Anthology – instead of public reading.

- Reading by authors of excerpts from own contributions (unless short pieces eg poems)

- Get FAW to advertise it. Bill – to talk to Linda Davidson from Waverley Council; discuss use of Seagull Room at Bondi Pavilion & / Waverley Lib; Garth – to talk with Moira Main from Waverley Council

- Copies of anthology too few for public launch (only 35 copeis available at present)

- Cost suggested $20 each or possibly discount if purchased at launch ($15?). extra copies only $7 each to produce?

9. Member contributions can be on any topic including travel and can be quite short (eg poem). Photos a welcome extra.

Hard copy is out!

2012 PROPOSED PROGRAM

Date	Member Contribut	EVENT	PRESENTER	Details of Event
Jan.	Anne Gita
Feb	Garth Gavin H	Speaker	Ros Burton:	“Castles, Follies & Four-Leaf Clovers”
Feb / early Mar		Public launch anthology		Pref. 1. Seagull Rm (free) 2. Seagull (max $100) 3. Waverely Lib. (free). (Wine/cheese? 6 pm?
Mar	Bill	Critique/feedback
Apr	Susan	Speaker
May	Carol	Actors Inhouse Rdg or Critique/fb
Jun	Dorothy	…..
Jul	Prim	Critique/ feedback
Aug	Toni	Speaker
Sept	Pamela	AGM
Oct	Cynthia	Public Reading?
Nov	Sonny	Critique/feedback
Dec	Dina	Party

Some of the more bizarre entries in the 2011 "Statues by the Sea" at Bondi and Tamarama Beaches

Toads on Tour

Look This Way

Dreaming of becoming a tree...

The November Issue

2011-11-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Newborn Kid: Photo by Gavin

The member contribution this month is from Gavin Austin from his recently published poetry collection 'Shadow Play'. This poem is appropriately taken from the Rural Section, given that we are in Spring.

Scotch Thistle

He stands tall
beneath a purple crown;
weapons drawn
against the enemy.
His swords slash and stab,
draw plumes of scarlet
from callused hands
at the assailing hoe.

As spring surges
he flexes resilient limbs,
braces for the searing days
to follow.
In summer he grows brittle,
stooped in the wind;
downy silver hair
falls.

With his death,
next spring his sons
stand as sentinels
securing the ground
where he once stood.

© Gavin Austin

From the collection ‘Shadow Play’

A MEDITATION COURSE from one of our members

I'm conducting a meditation course at City East Community College

for eight weeks from 19th October.

If you know anyone who might be interested, I would

appreciate your passing on this information and the link below

The style of meditation is called "mindfulness-based stillness

meditation" (MBSM) which is the approach taken by The Gawler

Foundation: http://gawlerfoundation.org.au. It is a very body focussed

method and aims to help people move from focus on the breath to simple

awareness.

The course covers the science behind meditation and the approach is

introduced in steps so that people can practice and then obtain

feedback at the next session.

Resources will be recommended and a CD of two guided meditations

(mindfulness and MBSM) will be available to purchase.

If you do know anyone who might be interested, I'm more than happy to talk

to them about it, so feel free to pass on my phone number: 9130 8810

www.cityeastcc.com.au/courses/humanities+&+sciences/personal+development

KAY DUNNE

Inspired by Libby Hathorn's Workshop:

Walking home from school...

As a child I saw clouds,

but not as other see.

Kings on horses galloped for me.

Their castles stood with turrets high,

Then misted away, away,

into the soft and melted air.

My Father's House

The rain is white words on the

tin roof of my father's house,

structured nail by nail

with work hardened hands

and world-weary

I's.

Love is the vowels in between

the brick-like consonants

that ricochet and reverberate,

in order to create

our family's

sanctuary.

If our house could recite

its his-story,

it would narrate in peals

of laughter and of squall,

wrapped up in timber

hidden walls--the covers

on the book

of my father's

sodden tale.

© Anne Skyvington

Baby smiling

Tiny girl entwining

My heart in her hands

Those finger uncurling

Eyes wide and adoring

Mouth kissing.

Breath sweet as Spring showers

Her smile in my heart.

© Dina Davis

The Room

This room is a womb

My shelter and succour.

Inside I am safe,

Nourished and warm.

Its walls a placenta

Feeding m spirit

As it grows to emerge

In the outside world.
© Dina Davis

Libby also asked members to compile lists of good and bad things. Here is Pam Trustrum's:

That's Good:

Love.

More Love,

Lots of Love,

Abundant Love,

Overwhelming Love,

Love your neighbour as yourself.

Love,

Omnipotent Love,

Love, Love, Love,

That's good!

Bad List

No Love

That’s Bad!

A newborn human

Older brother coping well...

Wooloomooloo by Gavin

Don't forget our Short Story competition!

BONDI WRITERS 2011 SHORT STORY COMPETITION

Bondi Writers gratefully acknowledge the grant from Waverley Council that makes this short story competition possible.

Open theme, unlimited entries, no entry form required, attach cover sheet with author details. Minimum length 1500 words, maximum 3000 words.

Usual competition conditions apply. White A4 paper, no names on manuscript, double line spaced, and pages numbered please. Entry must not have won a monetary prize nor have been published as at the close date.

Include SSAE/email for results and judge’s report.

Entry fee $5 per entry. First Prize $200. Second prize $100.

Closing date: December 31, 2011.

Results to be published in Writers Voice.

No ms to be returned and no assessment will be given.

Entries to be sent to: Competition Convenor

Bondi Writers
P.O. Box 701
Bondi Junction NSW 1355

Breaking News
SWW Biennial Book Awards 2011
1st prize: Susanne Gervay (Always Jack)
2nd prize: Cynthia Rowe (Bad Grass)
3rd prize: Libby Hathorn (I Love You Book )

Special Congratulations to Cynthia and Libby

Chelsea Gardens

The October Issue

2011-10-26T03:56:00.000-07:00

Libby Hathorn will lead a workshop this month

From Libby's website: http://www.libbyhathorn.com/

Libby Hathorn Biography

Libby Hathorn is an award-winning author of more than fifty books for children and young people. Translated into several languages and adapted for stage and screen, her work has won honours in Australia, United States, United Kingdom and Holland. She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003.

Lbby’s latest stories include Fire Song (ABC Books, 2009) Highly Commended, Prime Minister’s Literary Award 2010,Zahara’s Rose (IP Press, 2009) and a limited edition of her adult poetry, Vietnam Reflections (Pax Press, 2010). Her anthology of poetry The ABC Book of Australian Poetry: A treasury of poems for young people, was launched at the CBCA NSW Conference, 2010. Poetry is dear to her heart and Libby currently works on her own special arts project entitled 100 Views with schools and councils here and internationally. Her documentary 100 Views Kathmanduscreens on community channels.

Libby loves stories in many different formats; her kindle titles include Fire Song, Letters to a Princess and Ghostly Ghastly, which is only available online. However, she is devoted to books, her latest children’s picture book I Love You Book (IP Kids, 2010) celebrating this.Her best-selling young adult novel is Thunderwith, re-titled The Echo of Thunder.

The Member Contribution this month is from Prim Moss

The Fortune-Teller

Hands outstretched for inspection

to tell the lines, the creases,

and what do they say?

Grubby hands,

paws that are stained

with nicotine and work from another day.

Oh! What do they say?

These lines, these bumps, these creases

Happiness? Success? Long life?

All of us want to know,

and yet...

we dont really want to hear

the truth about ourselves...

we like to hear the best,

the best about our hands

and about ourselves...

the worst...

we know too well our faults.

Prim moss

CYNTHIA ROWE'S NOVELS

I have just finished reading Cynthia Rowe's first novel for young adults Our Hollow Sofa, and found it a scream! It's written largely as internal dialogue narrated by a secondary school pupil with Australian teenage slang and schoolyard idioms and references. It's hilarious and there's a good storyline to it too. I fully intend reading her other books too now.

From Cynthia's website:

Cynthia has published four Young Adult novels: Our Hollow Sofa, Ants in My Dreadlocks, Stinger in a Sugar Jar and

Bad Grass - with a general fiction novel, Couscous Threads, released in March 2008. Her short stories have appeared in

national magazines such as Woman’s Day, That’s Life!, Tarralla 5, Signatures, Positive Words, Blue Crow Magazine and

Alliance Française magazine.

Cynthia's website is at:

http://www.cynthiarowe.com.au/

Libby Hathorn's presentation was much appreciated by all who attended. She showed us and talked about
her beautifully written and illustrated books for children and young adults, and led workshop tasks based on
poetic imagery, including invocation structures and extended metaphor. I was personally motivated to trial
and workshop poems based on excerpts from masters of the past.

Here is my offering:

My Father's House

The rain is white words on the

tin roof of my father's house,
structured nail by nail

with work hardened hands

and world-weary
I's.

Love is the vowels in between
the brick-like consonants

that ricochet and reverberate,
in order to create
our family's
sanctuary.

If our house could recite
its his-story,

it would narrate in peals
of laughter and of squall,

wrapped up in timber

hidden walls--the covers

on the book

of my father's

sodden tale.

Anne Skyvington

Please offer for publication next month any work-shopped poems from Libby's presentation.

Also, Libby invites you to follow her on her blog at www.libby-hathorn.blogspot.com

Her best-selling y

Prim moss

The September Issue

2011-09-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

Boats on Sydney Harbour

Barangaroo Berth

Berrys Bay

Sunset

Our member contribution this month is from "Anonymous". See if you can guess who wrote this delightful poem. Just a hint: she is one of the younger members of the group. I wanted to be carried along further on the tide of its rollicking rhythm, which is surely a good sign.

The Sailor

Awash in the waves of the thrice Blessed Seas,

The jolly Saint Mary will flow as she please.

Clap once, cheer twice, let’s throw the dice!

For love and for luck, we’ll steal Fortune’s keys.

Awaiting adventures on islands afar

We’ll trust to our LORD for our bread and our heart.

Sing bold, sing loud! Let us be proud

Of courage and craft, and strength without par.

A-watching horizons from ship-masts on high,

The water is gold where the sea meets the sky.

Live fast, live well! My song must tell:

I’ll sail the wide seas till the day that I die!

Anonymous

*BWG minutes August 21st 2011

Apologies from Kay Dunne, and Gavin, also from Sande Bruch, who has resigned as secretary.

Present: Anne, Cynthia, Pamela, Sandra, Bill, Susan, Prim, Sunny, Kathleen, Toni, Dorothy, Garth.

We are now called branches, not regions.

The AGM is held in September.

Roles: President, Vice-president, Treasurer, Publicity officer, Secretary.

The Public Reading will be held in November - only works by financial members will be read.

Membership will be renewed in December.

Possibility of more feedback groups to be held Wednesday nights at Waverley Library Bondi.

This month is critiquing time again! Get your poem or story ready for publication or for the Public Reading in November. Bring along several copies for us to read. Only financial members can have their work critiqued, but all are welcome to give feedback.

Our AGM will be held in December now, after the new FAW information and membership packages have been sent out.

Amendment: The AGM will now be held on November 20th. We will then nominate and vote on positions for the coming year. And we will have time afterward for feedback groups as well. This change has occurred because the group voted last Sunday on not having a Public Reading this year, but spending the money on publishing and printing our Anthology in hard copy instead.

The management committee decided to delay the AGM in order to formulate, discuss and record roles and functions of the Bondi Writers Group committee before voting takes place. Thanks to Kay Dunne for facilitating this process with her well-proven planning skills. Watch this space for feedback on this.

Don't forget to send your entries into "The Seagull" In-House Short Story Competition closing at the end of this month.

Attention BWG financial members.

Please be reminded that the BWG In House Competition closes on September 30.

Please ensure your entry is received by that date.

Short Story to 1,500 words

Usual competition rules apply – see page 25 of the current Writers Voice.

Send to:

Competition Convenor

Seagull Award

PO Box 701

Bondi Junction 1355

WATCH THIS SPACE!

August Edition

2011-07-29T01:13:00.000-07:00

Hamilton Island in July

The Member Contribution this month is from Karin Hickman with this delightful tale from Romania

The Refugee: If People Live Here, I Can Too

The first thing you see after passing immigration at Otopeni airport in Bucharest, Romania, is a huge poster of a black doorman against the backdrop of the historic Athenee Palace Hilton hotel in the heart of the city. Clad in a white livery with gold braids, his beaming smile is a reassuring welcome to the wary first time visitor. It is the kind of slick advertisement you see in New York, London or Paris and I was sure the picture must have been taken there, with a professional model posing as the doorman.

Half an hour later, the picture came to life, and helped me out of my taxi. Tall, imposing, skin like polished ebony, his name tag said “Jackson”.

One does not think of Central and Eastern Europe as a destination for immigrants. Romania is no exception, and Africans are not exactly a common sight. So I was curious to find out how Jackson got there. The fact that I didn’t see him around over the following week, nurtured my idea that he must have been on loan from the US or the UK, for a PR campaign, perhaps. However, a week later, there he was, opening the door for me with a cheerful “how are you today Ma’am?”

“Hello Jackson”, I said “tell me – how does an African come to live in Bucharest?” “Ah, it’s a bit of a complicated story Ma’am”, he said in his soft African voice, “but if you have the time, I’ll be glad to tell it to you.” “I’ll take the time”. So, as daylight faded from late afternoon sunshine to night, and between handing arrivals out of their cars and passing their luggage to a porter, he told me his story.

“Seven years ago, I was on a boat full of refugees from Sierra Leone. We were looking for a country that would have us, when our boat ran into engine trouble in the Black Sea. We had not intended to land in that region, but our boat had come adrift and so we dropped anchor off the nearest coast, which turned out to be north of Constanta in Romania. While the others debated whether to fix the boat and keep going, I left to look around and see what kind of place we had arrived in. After walking along a narrow road for about an hour, I saw a farmer working a field and I thought ‘there are people living here; means I can live here’. I figured my best chances would be in a big city, so I asked the farmer where the biggest city was. Fortunately, he knew enough English to understand my question and to tell me the capital was Bucharest, but that it was several hours’ train travel from where we were. He pointed me towards the train station and an hour or so later, I came to a wooden hut next to two railway tracks. I went to a small window at the side of the hut. A man in a uniform sitting at a counter behind the window looked up and spoke to me in a language I didn’t understand. I told him I wanted to go to Bucharest. He didn’t speak English, but got the gist of my request and when I tried my rudimentary French, he replied in that language that the next train was due in two hours’ time and asked if I wanted to buy a ticket. I told him that I had no money. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to his paper work.

I didn’t know what to do, so I sat down on a bench outside the hut, hoping that something might turn up. I must have been sitting there for nearly two hours when the man came out of the station, handed me a ticket and said “bonne chance”, good luck. Several hours later, I was in Bucharest.

Although I now know that Romania was and still is, a poor country by most European standards, it looked pretty good to me. It was also only much later that I understood how generous it was of the Romanian government to let me stay and for the people who were themselves struggling, to hold out a helping hand.

For the next 3 years, I worked as many jobs as I could get: washing dishes, cleaning, cooking. Eventually, I felt I knew enough Romanian to get myself a proper job. So I went to the Hilton to ask if they had anything for me. Turns out it was a mistake to ask at the reception. They just said no. Another thing I realised then was that I needed to speak the language better and so I took a course in Romanian and in French too, thinking it would be useful to have. A year later, I went back to the Hilton, this time straight to Human Resources. The only opening they had was a doorman’s job, and here I am.”

Sometime later, when I told the Hilton’s General Manager that his doorman Jackson was one of the most inspiring people I had ever met, he said “You don’t know the half of it. When I said ‘without references, how do we know who you are?’ He said simply ‘You’ll just have to trust me’.”

Several years later, Jackson and I are Facebook friends. He is still shining his warm smile on arrivals at the Athenee Palace Hilton, wearing his white livery in summer and dark blue in winter. Romania is part of the European Union now and he is able to visit the many friends he has around the continent.

Jackson with Roger Moore

Jackson with Cuba Gooding jnr

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Also, Travel Tales from one of our members, Dina, who spends part of the year in the Top End with her husband, visiting her children and grandchildren. Fits in well with the themes of Volunteering (like all of us at BWG!) and Refugees.

Darwin is amazingly friendly and informal. Where else would you do yoga and have coffee afterwards with the local ABC newsreader, rub shoulders with the Chief Minister at the Indian night at Mindl, share a drink with the Greek consul at the Cypriot night, and chat with your favourite writer at the Wordstorm festival? The beauty of the place is also that it takes five or ten minutes to get anywhere so it's easier to do lots of things in a day.

Kit's been helping young sailors out on the water - all day last Sunday - and also volunteer English teaching to refugees. He's planning to go out bush and tag turtles next weekend, and has volunteered to be a guide on the New Endeavour when it comes to Darwin in August. I'll start helping school aged refugees next week and maybe do some volunteer tutoring to migrant women for a couple of hours per week.

Re. refugees: my daughter who lives and works in Darwin has set up the Darwin Asylum Seekers Support Network (DASSAN) and has already made a difference. Many of the children have now started school largely due to her appeals to some Govt. ministers. She keeps a low profile about it so she's something of an unsung heroine. I am so proud of her. Here you have to have a thorough police check before you can get the Ochre card, which allows you to work with children and is necessary for the tutoring work with refugees. Kit's volunteered on a special program teaching functional English to adult refugees and asylum seekers, and I hope to start volunteer tutoring next week. Now I have the Ochre card I hope to visit the detention centre.

We're taking two or three of the kids to see Jessica Watson (the youngest person to circumnavigate the world) who wants to meet potential young sailors in Darwin. Twins Zoë and Bella are interested. They turn ten next month.

Have also been getting very positive feedback from the NT Writers' Group I've joined here, and am looking forward to joining you all again at our monthly meetings in Bondi on my return.

Dina and grandchildren, Zephyr, Jarrah, Jack, little Arlo; and Jessica Watson with Zoë and Bella

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I have heard very good feedback on the July meeting from participants whose stories and poems were read, and also from Cynthia who convened the meeting. Thanks everyone for making this a successful event. The high standard of writing was also commented on by the actors, Kay Dunne and Hugh Watson. And thanks to Sandra Fong for the following minutes:

Minutes for Sunday 17th July 2011

Apologies from Bill, Sande, Carol Chandler.

In-house short story competition: Rules on blog.

BWG open short-story competition: Submission date Dec 31st.

Convenor/committee members cannot enter.

$5 per entry. First prize 200 dollars, second prize 100 dollars, plus certificates commendation.

Open topic.

October Waverley library readings: Comedy, laughter, fun theme.

Submission to actors’ forum.

Also, there is a MacArthur play writing festival, 10 min 1 act play.

There are 2 e-mail lists for the BWG: Financial members and other members.

People whose works were read out today:  

Dorothy Paramore

Toni Paramore

Garth Applestein

Sandra Fong

Pam Trustrum

ℑ

An exercise in clarity from Gavin:

Did I read that sign right?

TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW

In a Laundromat:

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT

Message on a leaflet:

IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS

Seen during a conference:

FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN’T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR

In an office:

AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

How would you put it, if you were the sign writer?

ℑ

A Reminder:

We are pleased to announce an Inhouse Short Story Competition for members only. The theme will be open, the word length 700-1500 words, and the entry submission deadline is September 30th. So start writing! Gavin has already found a judge for this. More about this at the next meeting.

Just to let you know, too, that this year for the Public Reading on 16th October, we will need to fit in with the Waverley Library theme of "Comedy and Laughter". This is because they are setting up a new Library Sytem: RFID, so they want to celebrate it in a positive way.

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BONDI WRITERS 2011 SHORT STORY COMPETITION

Bondi Writers gratefully acknowledge the grant from Waverley Council that makes this short story competition possible.

Open theme, unlimited entries, no entry form required, attach cover sheet with author details. Minimum length 1500 words, maximum 3000 words.

Include SSAE for results and judge’s report.

Entry fee $5 per entry. First Prize $200. Second prize $50.

Closing date: December 31, 2011.

Results to be published in Writers Voice.

No ms to be returned and no assessment will be given.

Entries to be sent to: Competition Convenor

Bondi Writers
P.O. Box 701
Bondi Junction
NSW 1355

Positive Words Competitions

End-of-Year Short Story & Poetry Competition 2011

Closing date : Entries must be postmarked by 31 October 2011

A. Open Short Story : up to 500 words. B. Open Poetry : up to 32 lines.

ENTRY FEE: $3.60 per entry or 4 entries for $12.00

Cheques, money orders or the equivalent in unused stamps (60cent or $1.20 preferred) will be accepted as payment. Please make cheques payable to S. L. James, NOT Positive Words, as the bank will not accept them.

Entries must be original and previously unpublished. Entries will not be returned so authors should keep a copy of their work. Copyright will remain with the authors and the winning entries will be featured an issue of Positive Words.

PRIZES

First Prize $100.00, Second Prize - twelve months subscription to Positive Words.

Certificates for commended entries will be awarded in each section.

Conditions.

1. All entries should be accompanied by an entry form or cover sheet. (Photocopies accepted)

2. Author’s name must not appear on the manuscript.

3. Number all pages and attach with paper clip or staple.

4. Results will be published in an issue of Positive Words and winners notified.

5. Include SSAE or email address for results.

Entries should be marked ‘Competition’ and sent to: Sandra James,

PO Box 798 Heathcote 3523, Victoria.

ENTRY FORM

Name : _________________________________________________________

Address : ______________________________________________________

Phone :__________________ Email : _____________________________________

Title of entry : __________________________ Section : A B (Please Circle)

I have read and agree to the conditions of entry. I declare that my entry/entries are original, unpublished and written by myself.

Keep writing!

July 2011

2011-07-13T00:20:00.001-07:00

Sydney Icon

we stand at the edge of the world
where yellow clouds spin
wildly above

we artists the only people left on earth
hustle bustle city
light years away

we feel the heat of the sun
marvel at the vastness of this orange sandpan
and skittle and slide into the clear waterhole

I want to sleep under the stars
to drink tea from the black open fired kettle

to hear the dingoes 3 am howl
and the wild brumbies gallop round the camp

to draw desert pictures
with the stick of a ghost gum
to snuggle deep cosy
in my sleeping bag
and feel the bight air on my face

sande bruch

The member contributions (above) are from (1) Gavin Austin with his photo of Harry de Wheel's Café in Wooloomooloo. and

(2) Sande Bruch, artist and poet, with her poem about the Australian outback, expressing her experience of it and her longing to return.

The Pinnacles, WA

This photo, which I think complements Sande's poem, is by Celia Gould, the wife of photographer Andrew Gould whom I met when we taught Academic English at the UNSW during the previous decade. They now live in Santiago.You can see many more fabulous photographs on Andrew's professional website at www.andrewgraemegould.com, focusing on Chile, as well as on other parts of the world.

BWG Minutes 19/6/2011

Present: Sande Bruch, Sandra Fong, Anne Skyvington, Gavin Austin, Toni Paramore, Garth Alperstein,

Peter Richmond, Prim Moss, Pam Trustrum, Kathleen Manos, Cynthia Rowe, Julianne Greenfield, Barry Hart, Gita Irwin, Dorothy Paramore.

We received our $1500 grant and room in Waverley Library, thanks to Gita for preparing the documentation.

Please note that there is a list with members names and month for contribution writing on our blog, photos are also most welcome.

Next month, July, we will have our reading by actors; please send contributions to Kay Dunne.

In October we will be part of Waverley Words Programme and again present readings by actors in the Theatrette, ( theme tbc )

A reminder that the Regional Report is due 15 August;

Libby Hathorne would like to speak to BWG , she has published over fifty books and is collecting poetry about women at work.

BWG will have a short story competition, 3000 words; $200- 1^st prize, $100-2^nd prize, plus Certificates, due December 2011;

( Committee members not eligible )

We will also have an Inhouse members only short story competition 1500 words, first prize $50.

Today we will split into groups for feedback on poetry and prose

or a workshop in the theatrette on the “nuts and bolts” of blogging, presented by Anne Skyvington and Peter Richmond.

Sande Bruch, Secretary

BONDI WRITERS 2011 SHORT STORY COMPETITION

Bondi Writers gratefully acknowledge the grant from Waverley Council that makes this short story competition possible.

Open theme, unlimited entries, no entry form required, attach cover sheet with author details. Minimum length 1500 words, maximum 3000 words.

Include SSAE for results and judge’s report.

Entry fee $5 per entry. First Prize $200. Second prize $50.

Closing date: December 31, 2011.

Results to be published in Writers Voice.

No ms to be returned and no assessment will be given.

Entries to be sent to: Competition Convenor

                                    Bondi Writers
                                    P.O. Box 701
                                    Bondi Junction NSW 1355

Thanks to Kathleen Manos for offering to convene this competition, and to Gavin Austin for his input with publicity and with finding a judge.

We are also pleased to announce an Inhouse Short Story Competition for members only. The theme will be open, the word length 700-1500 words, and the entry submission deadline is September 30th. So start writing! Gavin has already found a judge for this. More about this at the next meeting.

Here are some more photos from Gavin, to get you into a positive frame of mind:

The Anzac Bridge: Manual Focus by Anne

The next meeting on July 17 will be a Reading of Members' works by actors, Kay Dunne and Hugh Watson:

Companies Kay has worked for include the Melbourne Theatre Company, J. C. Williamson’s, ABC Television, Marionette Theatre of Australia, Marion Street Theatre and Grace Gibson Radio Productions. Some productions she has appeared in are The Rose Tattoo (Tennessee Williams), The Proposal (Anton Chekhov), a modern adaptation of Moliere’s Les Fourberies de Scapin and The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd (Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley).

Hugh has been an entertainment professional for thirty years. His experience includes stand-up comedy, musicals and plays. Stage productions he has appeared in include My Fair Lady, music hall melodramas, Macbeth, As You Like It and the television productions, Love My Way, Gangs of Oz, The Disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain, Learned Friends and This Sporting Life. Hugh also produced the sound effects for the comic radio series, The Samuel Pepys Show.

Come along and help with feedback for the members who have offered their work. Thanks to Kay for receiving the pieces of prose and poetry and for offering to read, as well. I enclose the guidelines for positive critiqueing to refresh our memory

Rules for Giving Criticism

1. Take on the task of critiqueing with a positive and helpful intention; read carefully, trying to understand the writer’s point of view and creative goal; consider the genre and the narrator’s purpose in writing.

2. It is better not to offer criticism if you do not like the genre or style of writing under consideration.

3. Remember that some people may be highly sensitive in relation to some pieces on offer. This is especially true for new writers, or those who have not offered their work for feedback before.

4. Think carefully about what is not working for you, and what is working, before you offer criticism.

5. Give the positives first and say why, if possible.

6. Give the negatives next, stressing that it is your perspective, and say why it doesn’t work for you, and how you think it could be made better.

7. Allow the writer time to respond to your criticism.

8. Be truthful in your criticism. The writer needs guidance not niceties.

Rules for Accepting Critici

1. Be prepared to receive negative, as well as positive criticism.

2. Try to separate yourself from the work as much as possible.

3. If possible, look on your work as a “product” after it is “out there.”

4. Look on feedback as a valuable means of improving your writing.

5. Be ready to respond to negative criticism if you feel that it is not warranted; give your reasons for your opinion.

6. Do not change your work if you still disagree with the criticism.

7. Remember that all writers have received negative feedback at times. A sure sign that you can write is that you keep going after knockbacks.

One suggestion is not to show your work until you feel confident about it .

Keep writing!

June

2011-07-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

This month deals with all things French and Japanese! The following beautiful photos of France and Japan were taken by eclectic Eastern Suburbs artist Paul Atroshenko. See his website for photos of his art works http://www.atroshenko.com. The member contribution is from Cynthia Rowe with her delightful poem about a Frenchman, whom she is able to portray so skilfully with her verse.

Rocamadour

Terrason

Mon Troubadour
his constitutional
a walk around the block
daily in all weathers
straw hat at an angle
he tap-tap-taps
on the paving stones
with his cane

the head of hs walking stick
is carved in the shape
of an eagle, fingers gripping
the bird so tight his veins
rise as rope wrapped
in fine parchment

Vendome

he tweaks the brim
of his hat as he passes me
by, sketches a smile,
hums a tune, the sound
like the vibration of a leaf...
the Marseillaise, I think

I've never known his name
never thought to ask
until the day
he no longer...no longer
comes a-tapping
Cynthia Rowe
(First published The Write Angle)

Some Tips on Writing Haiku by Cynthia Rowe

Many definitions of haiku exist. One I like is from The Haiku Society of America:

HAIKU: A haiku is a short poem that uses imagistic language to convey the essence of an experience of nature or the season intitivel linked to the human condition.

Haiku is a minimalist form of poetry--a short, unrhymed poem originating in Japan. It is often said that haiku is the easiest form of poetry to write, but the hardest to write well. Japanese haiku were traditionally written in a single line, while most haiku in English consist of three unrhymed lines of seventeen or fewer syllables, with the middle line longest. Today's pots, on the other hand, can use a variety of line lengths and arrangements.

In Japanese, a typical haiku has seventeen "sounds" (on) arranged five, seven and five. Translators have noted that about twelve syllables in English approximates the duration of seventeen Japanese on.vIt is therefore preferable to try to write English haiku in approximately twelve syllables, or as few sylllables as possible. It is commonly said that a haiku should only be "as long as one breath" If a haiku is too log it can sound awkward. Hence one of the most important rules of haiku is brevity.

When writign haiku it is important to read haiku masters such as Basho, Issa, Buson and Shiki. Reading haiku helps to understand the form and style of the genre. Matsuo Basho said that a haiku should tell us what is happening in this place at this time, and should answer the questions what, when, where. A sesaonal word is usually included and sets the time of year and often the place as well.

To sum up, brevity is the key element in haiku. Around twelve syllables or less is ideal. A haiku does not use poetic tools such as simile, metaphor, rhyming, punctuation (except perhaps a dash to mark a grammatical break), capital letters (except for proper nouns), personification or abstract images and language. A haiku is always untitled.

A haiku captures a moment in time; it therefor needs to be written in the present tense, and preferably uses a nature reference. However modern haiku don't necessarily refer to nature; Senryu, similar to haiku, emphaises humour and human foibles instead of seasons. Haiku should relate to the senses and use juxtaposition of two images. The "aha!" factor is important.

Haiku should relate to the senses and juxtaposition of two images is preferable. The ‘aha’ factor is important.

Inspiration for writing haiku can be found anywhere. I wrote

spring storm

only the sound of waves

through ochre fog

(Highly Commended 4^th HPR conference kukai, published Famous Reporter #40 2009)

on waking to find the landscape outside my window in Terrigal blanketed with yellow dust.

billabong –

crocodiles circling

the tourist boat

(published Shamrock Haiku Journal Issue No 12 2009)

The following senryu (haiku concerned with human foibles)

country market–

the tribal musician plays

electric didge

(published Notes From the Gean #5 Vol 2, Issue 1, June 2010)

Kyoto Gardens, Japan. Photos by Paul Atroshenko: http://www.atroshenko.com

Japanese Garden

BWG Minutes 19/6/2011

Present; Sande Bruch, Sandra Fong, Anne Skyvington, Gavin Austin, Toni Paramore, Garth Alperstein,

Peter Richmond, Prim Moss, Pam Trustrum, Kathleen Manos, Cynthia Rowe, Julianne Greenfield, Barry Hart , Gita Irwin.

We received our $1500 grant and room in Waverley Library, thanks to Gita for preparing the documentation.

Please note that there is a list with members names and month for contribution writing on our blog, photos are also most welcome.

Next month, July, we will have our reading by actors; please send contributions to Kay Dunn.

In October we will be part of Waverley Words Programme and again present readings by actors in the Theatrette, ( theme tbc )

A reminder that the Regional Report is due 15 August;

Libby Hathorne would like to speak to BWG , she has published over fifty books and is collecting poetry about women at work.

BWG will have a short story competition, 3000 words; $200- 1^st prize, $100-2^nd prize, plus Certificates, due December 2011;

( Committee members not eligible )

We will also have an Inhouse members. short story competition 1500 words, first prize $50.

Today we will split into groups for feedback on poetry and prose

or a workshop in theatrette on the nuts and bolts of blogging, presented by Anne Skyvington and Peter Richmond.

Sande Bruch (Secretary)

Keep Writing!

May 2011

2011-05-25T04:19:00.000-07:00

Our speaker for May is Walter Mason, who will talk to us about his book Destination Saigon and his travels that led to the publication of this book.

Here is a blurb from Walter that should wet your appetite to hear him speak.

I am a travel writer and speaker with a special interest in spirituality. Born in rural North Queensland, I was for many years a bookseller, later moving into roles in book distribution and publishing.

I have been a member of the Fairfield Writers’ Group and am a current member of the NSW Writers’ Centre.

I first visited Vietnam in 1994, and have been back numerous times since. I spent 3 months there in 1996 travelling the country with an eccentric Vietnamese-Australian Buddhist monk, living in remote monasteries and hermitages; in 1999 I spent 6 months at the Ho Chi Minh Social Sciences University studying the Vietnamese language; and then three months travelling and writing Destination Saigon over 2008/2009.

Since the release of Destination Saigon in March 2010 I have appeared regularly on radio and in the press talking about Vietnam. I have been interviewed on ABC Classic FM, Radio National, various ABC Local stations, Radio Australia and Voice of America. Destination Saigon has received rave reviews in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sunday Telegraph and NW Magazine, among many others.

The Sydney Morning Herald named Destination Saigon one of the 10 best travel books of 2010.

I am happy to bring you a review by Patricia Prime of Driftwood, Cynthia's poetry collection

Driftwood by Cynthia Rowe

$A22 from Ginninderra Press or through the poet's website. ISBN 978-1-74027-652-8, 87 pp.

Reviewed by Patricia Prime.

Cynthia Rowe's new book shows a continued development from her successful previous collections. Comprising four parts, the book imaginatively moves from haiku, tanka and haibun to cinquain, free verse, tanka prose and tetractys. Here the poems move from the domestic, elegiac and family settings to richly exotic dreaming - all the time taking in an unusual view of the world.

Rowe's is a restrained voice, vigorous and talented but it also has the power of calmness, as we see in Part I:

harvest moon
a pearl in the palm
of her hand

making love
in the sand dunes . . .
spinifex grass

She revels in nature, connecting small moments of perception and experience to wider feeling. The haiku speak in a clear, passionate language of acceptance:

festive season
she turns off the fairy lights
to view the stars

school fete -
wondering about
the blue jam

Several of the haiku relate specifically to the Australian landscape, or to natural disasters:

bushfire haze
a queue of cars
flashing headlights

blackened eucalypts
a mirage shimmers
on the long straight road

The tanka are polished, sometimes philosophical and often of a personal nature:

a child again . . .
mum dabs disinfectant
on my grazed knee
breaks the spell
by handing me a whisky

tomatoes
on the kitchen ledge
my daughter's teeth
marks buried in each piece
of the newly ripened fruit

The haibun "Unseemliness" is a calm narrative on the subject of the poet's brother, who"wears a blue gown with a matching tube poking from his nose. In a strangled voice, he tells me he fears drowning whenever they feed him."

In Part II, the poet is warmly engaged with her haiku themes: nature and human nature:

last stitch
of my crocheted bedspread . . .
the cat's claws

There follows a haiku sequence, "smouldering embers", the theme of which is a bush fire. Then four cinquain. The tanka section focuses on nature as a rich source of images, often used to invoke a sense of loss or longing:

chiaroscuro
the play of light against shade
is reflected
in your eyes when you wave
goodbye for the last time

Two haibun, "Nest Forsaken" and "Sun Music", end this section.

Part III contains free verse and a section of haiku. Rowe's lyrical poems take on the varied themes of waiting, boat people, a mother, a drug mule, a fundraising stall, phones, the dark hours, the sun, dyslexia and a teenager. She is straight speaking and also funny - and her self-awareness cuts through any moments of sentimentality.

float to an open window
to scent of jasmine lurking
with promises and caresses
when the hand comes
in the flab of morning.

Part IV begins with tanka and also contains tanka prose, tetractys, haiku and a haibun. One of my favourite tanka is:

baby's tears
in the rock garden
the wheelbarrow
wedged in the same rut
since the day you departed

This section also includes tanka prose poems (haibun with tanka instead of haiku), three tetractys, and another section of haiku, of which I must admit my admiration for

eucalypt
the pungent bush smell
of his postcard

The book closes with the haibun "Today Larousse" about a teacher's encounter with a pupil:

I edge between the rows of desks, pocketing the latest excuse. The words are sketchy, the ink smudged. Her singed eyebrows whisper of things I'd rather not know. I gather up the class sets, today Larousse.

The precision of Rowe's writing is a recurrent delight. Her haibun exhibit a real but unaffected attentiveness to life registered in a language which makes them easily accessible. There is often a breath-taking responsiveness to natural beauty, just as there is an unflinching registration of humanity's foibles.Rowe writes in a manner which gives a convincing and unifying association between the minutiae of everyday life as exhibited in her haiku and tanka and the larger issues faced by society in her haibun and tanka prose. Rowe is recognised for the high quality of her writing and the distinctive voice of her work. Her easy style makes this an impressive and enjoyable collection.

www.poetrysociety.org.nz/haikunews

Anyone interested?

Dear Writers of Bondi,
My name is Wil Gritten and I\'m copy editor of an exciting new online creative/design/arts/lifestyle magazine based in Bondi, launching soon.
We\'ve got a section dedicated to new creative writing and we\'re looking for local people who can write well. We don\'t have a budget as yet, but the website looks excellent and it would be a great opportunity to be published alongside some very talented artists and photographers.
We\'re looking for short stories, essays or poems that haven\'t been published a hundred times before, that don\'t have copyright restrictions, that won\'t offend any minority groups (or majority groups of that matter, unless they themselves are offensive and we feel that offending them is a worthy cause). Other than that it\'s up to you, as long as the writing is up to a decent standard we\'ll happily publish you.
Please feel free to contact me for more information. Thanks for your time,

Wil Gritten.

BWG Minutes 15.05.11

*Membership renewal due in December

*Newsletter on BWG blogspot.

*Member contributions (to be posted on blog) will be split this way:

June - Fay

July - Sande Bruch

August - Karin

September - Sandra Fong

October - Prim

November - Gavin

December - Cynthia

January - Anne

*June reading: Submit work for reading by 31/5. Priority will be given to people who have not yet had their work read. The purpose is to improve the piece of writing, therefore it does not need to be a very polished piece of wokr.

*Gavin to organise actors? Kay will NOT be available as an actress. Hugh/Christine will possibly read the pieces?

*Revision: Kay can read if we change the date of the Reading to July.

*Read more of Walter Mason’s work at www.waltermason.com

Sandra Fong (Secretary)

This month's member contribution, is from Sunny Wong

Walk to Hell Gates

I parked the rented Hyundai Getz at the Noosa National Park. Fine rain clouded the windscreen, I lingered there in the car trying to work out which was the best way to get out, without causing myself too much grief. Three hours ago on my way to the domestic terminal, I had slipped on the stairs in front of my terrace. Shaken and bruised on the posterior, my body refused to co-operate, I almost made up my mind to stay in Sydney and let depression set in, but I had soldiered on and put up with the one hour trip to Maroochydore.

Once again my mind was bombarded with figures. The return for my investment had been disappointing for years, and the condition of my apartment, in a holiday letting complex, had deteriorated in spite of the many repair bills I had been paying. I had been relentlessly holding onto the property; now I needed the money to live, and the decision would be final.

On the other hand, what if I should decide to retire here? I had always liked the Sunshine Coast. But I could never replace the property I had bought so long ago: the same indecision, which I thought I had left behind crept back into my spine.

I wondered fleetingly whether it would be a good idea to move away and retire somewhere in the East. I could hire help and live reasonably well over there. Perhaps I should re-strategise my life like the survivalists on the television reality show. I shook my head to clear it. Still the thought persisted Fat chance, there was never any escape for me.

The scents of the ocean and forest welcomed me back to the familiar settings I once knew so well. I turned my head from side to side, breathing in the earthy perfume. I had forgotten how good it smelled. Blackbutt, Banksia, Cypress and tall pines nodded as I snail-paced along the seaside route. On the grasslands in front of the Information Centre, a family of wild turkeys were picking at their breakfast, oblivious to a human presence so close to them. One had a lame foot; my injury had made me more observant and bracingly sympathetic than ever before.

In spite of the bird songs and whiffs of bush blossoms, my armpits prickled with nervous heat and I began to feel sweat beading down my forehead. I felt drab and old. Worse still was the uncertainty; what if I made the wrong decision?

In 1939, 4000 hectares had been declared National Park, including areas surrounding Lake Weyba, Peregian and Coolum. Spectacular coastal scenery featured, providing refuge for native fauna and flora, especially threatened species, like the glossy black cockatoo and red goshawk; the Christmas bell and swamp orchid.

A short distance to Tea Tree Bay, a yellow sign, in four languages, German, French, Japanese and English, was erected on an out-of-the-way timber pole. I almost missed it. It warned swimmers that the beaches were not patrolled by lifesavers and drownings had occurred. For a moment I was with the Gubbi Gubbi people, savaging honey, bunya nuts and roots of Burgnall ferns amongst the woodlands and rain forests. Thousands of years later, the once waterfront humpies of the indigenous people had been transformed into an upmarket international tourist destination.

The grumbling of the sea had increased its volume as the rhythm of my movement improved. I wobbled slowly past dramatic formations of granite rocks, exposing streaks of clear quartz. Molten mass and surrounding sandstones had been gradually shaped by years of tumbling water and wind to become grey quartzite. Solid parts of the earth’s crust had formed into large dark boulders standing out of the sea.

Fallen leaves crumpled beneath my feet. The public wash-rooms perched on a wooden platform, hugged by emerald foliage, ten metres from the side of the walkway. Gushes of water ran like little streams into the surrounding vegetation. Close by the facility, a second and bigger sign was put up, warning that swimming in the area could be dangerous.

Once I had passed the odour of distant bedpans, I knew I was halfway to Picnic Cove.

Off Boiling Point, I noticed a lone trawler boat anchored with its lights still on. The crew could have been fishing throughout the night and had stopped to sort out their catch. A swift flying bird that looked like a sea eagle, circled nearby. The colour of the sky blended and melted into the vast ocean blue forming a giant canvas. Walkers and joggers blurred past me, indifferent or puffed-up, the occasional ones said hallo.

No pain no gain and I scuffled further, my breath heaved.

It was at this exact spot where I found the roundest and smoothest stone for Emma just before she started high school. I saw the same granite piece weighting down a pile of research papers on her desk recently. She worked over one hundred and eight hours last week, the investment bank never giving up until they had drained her every last drop. Although I did not get many visits, I was the lucky one; Emma rang me every day.

Standing at the cliff edge of Dolphin Point, I could see surfers popping up and down in the distance like black seals. Some cut through water like greased bullets and others paddled lazily along. Frolicking mammals used to frequent the Pacific blue and I hoped they still came to play. Further down the path, the vegetation was bare, eighty percent of the Pandanus trees were disappearing, infected with leaf-hoppers, as the parkland became more urbanised.

Young Olympians, with long boards under their arms, raced up the cliff with spring suckers on their feet. Their sleek toned muscles simmered in the soft sunlight, reminding me of the SAS boyfriend I dated when I was in my early twenties. My one time prince charming would have turned sixty, who, by the way, might be fat and balding. What did it matter if it was worse still, like twice divorced and broke? I dismissed the thought quickly.

I stopped and listened to the music of the sea. Neptune had started his symphony with a series of soft fire crackers, followed with uninterrupted roars of waves. I watched as the Sea God summoned all his aqueous elements creating acrobatic water displays across the horizon. His nymphs had turned on the washing machine and dishwasher at the same time. Suddenly the subsiding currents whistled like trains as they hit the shore, whirling and scattering pebbles confetti pebbles on the floor. I felt elevated, my energy recharged. Approaching Winch Cove, little wild passion fruits hung like orange light bulbs on the untidy undergrowth. The path trailed into dense growth of shrubbery and trees making a tunnel winding through moulded green. The air was cooler and smelt bitter sweet like nutmeg. The ground had become uneven and soft, something rustled and popped.

“Hallo.” Alexander the Great appeared out of the thick bushes. His unkempt red mane was bleached to a rusty mop, water dripped down his muscular neck. He looked powerful in his wet suit, his chest absurdly padded. He stood head and shoulders well above me. His eyes beneath the fall of his hair were bright and intent. I had always imagined the great conqueror of Europe to look like that.

“Good morning, can you please tell me what that red orangey stuff is floating on the ocean?” I pointed out to the open sphere.

“I think it’s some kind of spore from the coral. It leaves a sticky film on your surf board.” He thought I was amusing. Alex was watching me; curious as to why this grandmother did not believe in sleeping in. He waved to a young girl, in lizard print bikinis, climbing up the overhang. I looked around; half expecting to see a deserving teen queen at an all night disco but astonished to find an ordinary looking Amazon, bottled blonde with poor dull complexions. She gave me that “I know better” look. I wished them good day and moved away like a silent hunter.

I was approaching Fairy Pool; in front of my sweaty brow I could see, in my mind's eye, a little girl, in a Care Bear tee-shirt. She was fighting hard to hang onto her belief that pixie and elf lived amongst the neatly cut crevices and rocky castle. The summer before, she told me that she heard mermaids singing while we were watching the sun rise one morning.

“Mum, Leslie told me that there is no Santa. All surprised Christmas presents were put there by parents for their children.” Her face looked pink with hope and anticipation. She so wanted me to say that her best friend was only joking.

“Everything comes true when you believe hard enough.” I answered. Her brown eyes, as big as fishbowls, glowed, she smiled and happy hours after.

If I should have my life again, I would bring up children to believe in dragons and wonderland. I remembered a time - when the world was packed full of books which filled young hearts with promise of adventures, when stories could fire up imagination, illuminating minds and hopes. Too many babies grow up without magic and heroes today. They quickly become little adults and missed out on all the fun.

Looking like a graceless jumble, my head bowed, shoulders hunched, the benches looked even more enticing. I knew if I sat down, I would never get up. But I was a trouper, besides I had to protect the reputation of the baby boomers, especially in front of these young studs. I heard the laugh of a kookaburra as I dragged my feet away.

At last I reached Hell Gates, the waves pounded against the high bluff like comets tails, then turbaned in circular motions. Like a gigantic turquoise blender, the ocean taunted the land with secret contempt, splashed and churned the sea with soil and stone. Rolling white-blue foams frothed and gathered around the inlet. Strong wind carried salty haze over the headlands. The droplets brought relief to my already heated body. Remote sandy beaches went round the coastline as far as my eyes could see. Alexander Bay lied yonder.

The next walking access was Tanglewood track, which was more isolated. A hike of almost seven kilometre of inland circuit, it meandered through rainforest and open eucalypt woodlands. On hot summer days, this tropical forest pathway provided a cool alternative to the beach. Lace monitors, honeyeaters and koalas could be seen at early morning and dusk.

A safety sign, enclosed in hard plastic casing, advised visitors to walk with a group and in daylight hours. Reports of unusual activity within the park had taught me that the precaution needed in this pristine refuge, too, had sped up during my years away. Since my woolly head had just been unravelled, I left the tangled heath lands where they belonged; I decided to return via the same Coastal track.

It was time to go home, time to make changes and move on. Unpredictable I might be; I knew what I must do. My thin fingers trailed over my face and arms with my cotton handtowel, I discovered I was wearing my Puma sport track suit inside out.

©Sunny Wong

Noosa, 2006

April 2011

2011-05-25T04:09:00.000-07:00

Several of our members attended an inspiring book launch for Cynthia Rowe's poetry collection Driftwood published by Ginninderra Press (2010). Watch this space for a review of this beautiful collection of haiku, tanka, haibun and other poetic forms.

Some of my favourites, among many, are

harvest moon

a pearl in the palm

of her hand

a child again...

mum dabs disinfectant

on my grazed knee

breaks the spell

by handing me a whisky

shooting star

crosses the night sky

towing morning

baby's tears

in the rock garden

the wheelbarrow

wedged in the same rut

since the day you departed

Cynthia Rowe

Don't forget, those of you who have accepted the invitation, Gavin Austin's book launch this coming Sunday.


Jacqui Winn Workshop

A recent inspiring event was the workshop by Jacqui Winn, who is an award winning short story writer. She was able to pass on her long experience with writing short stories in an accessable and non-academic way, drawing on her skills as one who has studied acting. The focus of the presentation was the writer's voice and what this means. She stressed the importance of voice in creating readable short stories, and outlined its significance in regard to the narrator of the story.

Bondi Writer’s Group Minutes 20/3/2011

Apologies from Cynthia Rowe

Please see BWG newsletter for announcements: http://bondiwriters.blogspot.com

Gita may run feedback nights and invite writers to speak at these

Members of the Bondi writer’s group were shortlisted/commended in the Bondi Writers Short Story competition.

Karen Hickman was commended

Bill Widerberg and Fay Reeve were shortlisted

Jacqui Winn spoke in March on ‘voice’, showing us how to apply narrative theory in a practical way to our own writing by paying attention to the voice of the narrator (assumed by the writer) and the perspective of the "narratee" (assumed by the reader).

We finished with afternoon tea and conversation.

For all of you who keep asking about feedback sessions, our next meeting on Sunday 17th April will be a feedback session. We will break into two or three groups of poetry and prose. So bring along something that you have been working on, preferably not too long (1000w?), and copied for each member of the group (6 or 7). Also, hone your best critical skills ready to support your fellow members in improving their writing. If you want a longer piece critiqued, perhaps you could exchange with someone for take-home critiqueing.

This will be followed by a discussion on tasks within BWG. We are looking for people who could take over some of the roles in the group, now or in the future: Membership, Accounting, Afternoon Tea.

Karin Hickman receiving certificate...

BWG Minutes 17/4/2011 (first update)

Apologies from Sande Bruch and Denise Davis.

Congratulations to Gavin and Cynthia on successful book launches of ‘Shadow Play’ and ‘Driftwood’ respectively.

Suggestion: A financial statement should be released every few months.

Council grant is pending. Not final yet whether we will get 1000 or 1500, including in-kind use of rooms.

Receipts for new members to be issued on pro rata basis. One dollar from each member kept from membership fees.

We need to cut down expenditure.

Since we are getting a council grant, we are meant to provide a community service.

Suggestion: A one-off well known speaker presentation, maybe in July, or sometime in the second half of 2011.

Schedule for the coming year: Actors reading in June. (June poetry workshop was too expensive, so cancelled.) No room bookings necessary for this, it is held in the usual room, not in the theatre. It is a feedback reading.

July will be a feedback session.

Possibility of asking Catherine Hammond to speak on characters.

May: Walter Mason

June: Actors’ reading

July: Feedback

August: Feedback

September: AGM/feedback

October: Public reading

November: Open

December: Christmas party

Magazines calling for submissions: Positive words and signatures.

Gavin may speak to the manager of The World Bar, Kings Cross, about reading our fiction there on a Sunday or early weeknight. Fridays and Saturdays are not viable. Possibly readings of poems.

Sunny can do the accounts/membership for the next couple of months, but after that someone else must take on these roles regularly. Also need someone to bring afternoon tea each month.

Gavin Austin's Book Launch

Michelle and Gavin

Gavin Austin and Trevar Langlands

Gavin signing copies of his book

The BWG Party

A fun time was had by all who attended The World Bar for Gavin's book launch. Trevar Langlands, the President of the Fellowship of Australian Writers launched the book, and selected poems were read by actors, Amelia Kerr and Jonathon Elsom. One pleasant surprise for Gavin was the arrival of his cousin, Michelle from Victoria.

Shadow Play is presented in two parts, the first being Gavin's urban poems, and the second being the rural themes.

Coming from a country background, as I do, I love his rural poems, and his haiku, which are usually nature-themed poems inspired by the original Japanese forms. The following two are from the urban section:

street cafe

sparrows queue beneath

the pepper tree

street lamp –

a crow calls at dawn

to the neighbours

One of my favourites from the rural sections is:

Grandad's Farm

Hazy blue hills like brushed-on cobalt

blend into the canvas of distant sky,

mist hangs in the valley till noon.

Smells of the bush after rain linger.

Sunlight breaks through a cathedral

of tall eucalypts as we ride below

swaying to the rhythm of the horses' gait

with the reek of sweat, the creak of leather.

In winter, fingers stinging in the wind

as they curl stiffly about slippery reins.

How fine to be young and foolish

letting the horses snort and canter home,

hooves spattering the unpretty mud.

And in summer we run bare-foot

through paddocks of waving gold

to blackberries growing among the bracken

down by the swimming-hole in the creek.

Or devour sweet-tasting figs, their pink

innards oozing from soft bronze bellies,

as we perch parrot-like on weathered railings

of the orchard fence at Grandad's farm.

Gavin Austin

Anyone interested in a Travel Writing Foodie weekend in Bangalow? Sounds great! Go to Kim Wildman's site at