Bill curates is an occasional series where I delve into Sue's vast archive, stretching back to May 2009, and choose a post for us to revisit. The feature of Whispering Gums that we all most look forward to is Monday Musings. But when did they start? It took me a while to locate - WordPress … Continue reading Bill curates: Monday musings on Indigenous Australian writers
First Nations Australia literature
Archie Roach, Tell me why: The story of my life and my music (#BookReview)
Good things come to those who wait! At least, I hope so, because Lisa has had to wait a long time for a review from me for this year's Indigenous Literature Week. Finally, though, I finished the main book I chose for this year's challenge, Archie Roach's memoir, Tell me why: The story of my life … Continue reading Archie Roach, Tell me why: The story of my life and my music (#BookReview)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literature, 1970s
Although Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) annual Indigenous Literature Week is officially over for 2020, I thought I'd bookend it with a second Monday Musings, this one on how Indigenous Australian literature looked around 50 years ago. Who was writing then, and what were they writing? My main sources were Trove, of course, and the Macquarie Pen anthology of Aboriginal … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian literature, 1970s
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian biographies
Yesterday was the start of Lisa's (ANZLitLovers) 2020 Indigenous Literature Week, and, as I have done for a few years now, I've decided to devote my Monday Musings to an Indigenous Australian literature topic. This year's topic is Indigenous Australian biography. I have previously written Monday Musings on Indigenous Australian autobiographies and memoirs. These have flourished in … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous Australian biographies
Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Tara June Winch's novel, The yield, follows her impressive - and David Unaipon award-winning - debut novel Swallow the air (my review). Ten years in the making, The yield could be described as her "passion project". It makes a powerful plea for Indigenous agency and culture. I wrote about The yield's genesis last year, but will repeat it … Continue reading Tara June Winch, The yield (#BookReview)
Nhulunbuy Primary School, I saw we saw (#BookReview)
A week or so ago, I wrote a post to commemorate this year's Indigenous Literacy Day. In that post I noted that the book I saw we saw was going to be launched at the Sydney Opera House that day. It was written and illustrated by students from Nhulunbuy Primary School, up on the Gove Peninsula, … Continue reading Nhulunbuy Primary School, I saw we saw (#BookReview)
Indigenous Literacy Day 2019
Today, Wednesday 4 September, is Indigenous Literacy Day, which the Indigenous Literary Foundation (ILF) describes as "a national celebration of Indigenous culture, stories, language and literacy". The day is intended to both promote awareness of disadvantage in indigenous communities, and to  "encourage the rest of Australia to raise funds and advocate for more equal access to … Continue reading Indigenous Literacy Day 2019
Canberra Writers Festival 2019, Day 2, Session 1: Identity (Tara June Winch with Yvette Henry Holt)
Today was the day I was able to devote to fiction writers. There were still clashes, but there was never any doubt that I would attend this Tara June Winch session, even though it meant missing a panel featuring Charlotte Wood, Brian Castro, and Simon Winchester. Why were these scheduled opposite each other?! The Festival-goers … Continue reading Canberra Writers Festival 2019, Day 2, Session 1: Identity (Tara June Winch with Yvette Henry Holt)
Vale Kerry Reed-Gilbert
Note: It is traditional in most indigenous Australian communities to avoid using the name of a deceased person, for some time after their death. And so, as is my wont regarding writing about indigenous writers, I checked out what I believed to be authoritative precedents, and found that Wiradjuri woman Kerry Reed-Gilbert's name has been used … Continue reading Vale Kerry Reed-Gilbert
Monday musings on Australian literature: Listen to Indigenous Australian authors
Some years, I've written an indigenous Australian focused Monday Musings post to start and conclude NAIDOC Week and Lisa's ANZLitLovers Indigenous Literature Week. I have been researching a topic for this year's second post, but it's taking longer than I expected, so have decided to hold it over to next year. Meanwhile, having committed to a … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Listen to Indigenous Australian authors
Whispering Gums 