My heart, along with that of many others in Canberra and beyond, is breaking this weekend, because on Friday evening we heard the news we had been dreading, that Michael Sollis had died - that morning. Just weeks off his 41st birthday, Michael was a musical performer and conductor, composer and arranger, artistic director, musicologist, … Continue reading Vale Michael Sollis (1985-2026)
Obituaries
Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale David Malouf (1934-2026)
Last week, one of our grand old men of Australian letters, David Malouf, died. He has been such a presence in our literary landscape since the mid-1970s, that, despite all that has been written and said over the last few days, it would feel disrespectful to let the occasion of his death pass. And, anyhow, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale David Malouf (1934-2026)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale Kerry Greenwood
I was sorry to hear a few days ago that the Australian writer Kerry Greenwood (1954-2025) had died on 26 March, at the too-young age of 70. Her death was only publicly announced week ago, which is fair enough. Families have a right to grieve their loved person in private if they so desire. It … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale Kerry Greenwood
Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale Yasmine Gooneratne (1935-2024)
It was through the Jane Austen Society of Australia's (JASA) newsletter, Practicalities, that I learned of the death of Yasmine Gooneratne, a woman with whom I have crossed paths - one way or another - three times. She was an academic at Macquarie University, where I did my undergraduate degree; she wrote a novel, A … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Vale Yasmine Gooneratne (1935-2024)
Vale Marion Halligan (1940-2024)
Such sad news. I have just heard that Marion Halligan, one of Australia's literary treasures, died yesterday. She has been frail for some time, but the last time I saw, and spoke briefly to, her was at the 2023 ACT Book Awards in December. She was her usual engaged self, though also frustrated with the … Continue reading Vale Marion Halligan (1940-2024)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Elizabeth Webby (1941-2023)
This might be a first for me, an obituary-style post for an academic/literary scholar rather than for an author. However, this post seemed appropriate as, Elizabeth Webby, who died last month, is someone whom I've mentioned several times in my blog due to her having written in areas that are of interest to me. Specifically, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Elizabeth Webby (1941-2023)
My literary week (17), musicals, movies and more
Spring is springing It's been over two years since my last literary week, which is weird given I enjoy writing these posts that explore the literary content or implications of other parts of my life. I am writing this one, for a number of reasons, prime of which is that I've not written a review … Continue reading My literary week (17), musicals, movies and more
Monday musings on Australian literature: Frank Moorhouse (1938-2022)
Frank Moorhouse was one of the grand old men of Australian literature, so when I learned that he'd died yesterday, I knew I had to change my plan for this week's Monday Musings to feature him. Wikipedia's introduction to him gives you a sense why I've described him as I have: "He won major Australian … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Frank Moorhouse (1938-2022)
Monday musings on Australian literature: Kate Jennings (1948-2021)
Strangely, Australian writer and intellectual, Kate Jennings, has been in the air lately, even though she has lived in New York since 1979. She's been in blogosphere because blogger Kim Forrester reviewed her novella, Moral hazard, just last month, but she's been more broadly visible too because she features in the documentary Brazen hussies which … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Kate Jennings (1948-2021)
Vale my dear old Dad (1920-2021)
If it was my Mum who introduced me to Jane Austen and the classics of English literature, together with a love of language (and thus Scrabble and cryptic crosswords), it was my Dad who introduced me to Australiana, starting in my youth with the verse (as the poet himself called it) of Banjo Paterson. The … Continue reading Vale my dear old Dad (1920-2021)
Whispering Gums 