I am still tripping through Queensland, and had planned a more in-depth post for today - in fact, I'd started working on it before I left Canberra on 31 August - but my energy levels have been sapped by having had COVID for the last week, not to mention by our busy touring schedule. Rather … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: A little Longreach interlude
Education
Monday musings on Australian literature: Bookprint, Australian-style
Have you heard of the term or concept of bookprint? I came across it in a December 2019 article in The Conversation titled "5 Australian books that can help young people understand their place in the world". The Conversation credits the term to African-American educator Alfred Tatum who, according to the University of Illinois' Today website, coined … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Bookprint, Australian-style
Melbourne Writers Festival 2020: Navigating our future
I didn't think I'd get to this session, but when my regular Thursday evening commitment was cancelled, I knew exactly what to do ... Navigating our future (Thursday 13 August 6-7pm) This intriguingly titled session was described as follows: Australian literature provides a means through which we might better understand ourselves, and our relationships with … Continue reading Melbourne Writers Festival 2020: Navigating our future
The Griffyns “play” music
We always say that musicians play music, or play their instruments, but the Griffyns took this to a whole new level last weekend when they presented their "Giant All-Ages Instrument Playground" concert. Were we surprised? No, because this was the Griffyns, after all ... However, being prepared to be surprised also meant that we didn't … Continue reading The Griffyns “play” music
Vale Jill Ker Conway
Just before Mr Gums and I set off for our Arnhem Land holiday in early July, I came across an obituary for the Australian-born academic, educator and writer Jill Ker Conway (1934-2018). She had died on June 1, but I hadn't heard. Why not? Her first memoir, The road from Coorain, was a best-seller, and … Continue reading Vale Jill Ker Conway
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literature in Australian schools
As I was trawling my little collection of ideas for Monday Musings, I lit upon a paper by the late educator Annette Patterson titled "Australian literature: culture, identity and English teaching". Bingo! I had my answer, because it will contribute to a discussion I took part in on Guy Savage's His futile preoccuptions blog. The … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian literature in Australian schools
Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading Australia
You know how when you go to a conference you pick up all sorts of pamphlets and brochures advertising this and that? Well, at the Writing the Australian landscape conference I attended back in August, just before I went overseas, I picked up an interesting leaflet from Australia's Copyright Agency. The leaflet is titled: Reading … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Reading Australia
Whispering Gums 