Continuing my little series on our writers centres, I've chosen the Tasmanian Writers Centre for my next post, largely because it is holding its Tasmania Writers and Readers Festival next month. Might as well give that a plug in case for my Tasmanian readers, though I'm sure they know! The Tasmanian Writers Centre was established in 1998 … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Tasmanian Writers Centre
Australian arts and culture
Monday musings on Australian literature: Northern Territory Writers’ Centre
Back in June, I wrote a post on the ACT Writers Centre, and indicated then that I would gradually write about other state centres. So, today I am writing about the other pseudo-state aka territory centre, the Northern Territory Writers' Centre. I've chosen this as my second one because I think the Northern Territory is … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Northern Territory Writers’ Centre
Monday musings on Australian literature: ACT Litbloggers under way
A few weeks ago I posted on the ACT Litblogging program for which I am a mentor. But, I'll just recap in case you missed that post. Titled ACT Lit-bloggers of the Future, this is a collaborative program between the ACT Writers Centre and the National Library of Australia (NLA). It provides for two emerging ACT-region … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: ACT Litbloggers under way
My literary week (8), a cultural life
There's always something going on here in the nation's capital, besides politics that is and despite the belief in some circles that it is a soulless place! In fact, it's so busy here - so packed full of things to do - that my reading has been pretty slow of late. However, I have been … Continue reading My literary week (8), a cultural life
Monday musings on Australian literature: ACT Writers Centre
Do you have a writers centre in your neck of the woods? We do in Australia, but I've barely written about them before. They generally provide support and/or training for writers, via online and face-to-face mechanisms, some free-of-charge but most fee-paying, and tend to be membership organisations. Over coming months, I'll share what's happening in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: ACT Writers Centre
Monday musings on Australian literature: 5 Australian novels to theatre
Having recently posted on Alana Valentine's adaptation of Frank Moorehouse's Cold light, I thought I'd explore other theatrical adaptations of Australian novels, because we tend, when thinking of adaptations, to focus mostly on movies - at least, I think we do. Now, I haven't seen many theatrical adaptations of Aussie novels. We get some theatre … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 5 Australian novels to theatre
My literary week (7), adaptations
With Ma and Pa Gums in the process of selling house and preparing for a downsize move, my time has been taken up with many things besides reading - but I did get out at night in the last week to see a couple of adaptations of novels I've enjoyed in the past. There's still time … Continue reading My literary week (7), adaptations
Monday musings on Australian literature: Arnold Haskell on the arts (3)
This should be my last post on Mr Haskell's survey of the arts in Australia, and it focuses on Radio and the Movies. First though, in his section on literature, he talked about Australian readers and bookselling. He wrote that the average Australian "is a great reader; more books are bought per head of population in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Arnold Haskell on the arts (3)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Memory of the World and Dorothea Mackellar
If you're an Australian, did you know that last week seven new entries were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Australian Register? If not, let me start at the beginning ... with UNESCO's Memory of the World programme. Established in 1992, it's the documentary heritage equivalent of the World Heritage Site programme which protects physical sites of natural … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Memory of the World and Dorothea Mackellar
Monday musings on Australian literature: Arnold Haskell on the Arts (2)
Back in November, I wrote a post on the Arts chapter in dance critic Arnold Haskell's book Waltzing Matilda and focused on theatre and literature. In this post, I'll look at his discussion of the press. "compares ... favourably" Haskell starts by saying that Australia's press started in a "thoroughly unprincipled and worthless manner", though he doesn't … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Arnold Haskell on the Arts (2)
Whispering Gums 