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OUTBACK WRITERS
Newsletter of the Outback Writers’ Centre Inc Established 1996 Y2606722
Encompassing the Local Government Areas of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonamble, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Narromine,
Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle ISSN 1445-‐0208
Welcome to the first quarter edition of Outback Writers for 2014 The Outback Writers’ is now being distributed electronically. Please send your email details to [email protected] If you have any feedback or suggestions for workshops or magazine content, please contact an Office Bearer.
MEMBERSHIP
Under the new guidelines for incorporated organizations, membership lapses after three months from the membership renewal date. For OWC, the new financial year is in line with the Australian fiscal year – Membership renewals were due in July. This means if you haven’t renewed yet you are no longer a financial member.
Saturday Meetings On the first Saturday of each month members give readings of their poetry and prose, discuss their work, share their interests in writing and receive encouragement. Meetings held from 10 am to 1 pm. Thursday Critique Group Held on the second Thursday evening of each month. Writers review longer pieces of writing with a more detailed critique. Venue: Macquarie Regional Library, Dubbo All Welcome.
Office Bearers & Contact Details
President Ken Windsor 5806 0212 [email protected] Vice President Peter Dargin 6882 8880 [email protected] Secretary/Publicity Val Clark 0414 268 037 [email protected] Treasurer Lee Cooper 6884 3498 [email protected] Newsletter Karen Russell 0418 979 498 [email protected] Carinda Regional Contact Margaret Johnstone 6823 2362 [email protected] Macquarie Regional Library John Bayliss 6801 4501 [email protected]
February, March, April 2014 _________________________________
President’s report,
Page 2
OWC News, Writing themes & Meeting Dates
–Page 3
Members’ writings Page 4
Writer’s Inspiration Page 11
Competitions Page 12
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President’s Report Ken Windsor
Welcome to the first Newsletter issue for 2014 produced by Karen Russell. She will be looking for future contributions. Her contact details are on the front page.
2014 promises to be a very good year for OWC. We are about to purchase our own A3 printer, thanks to a NSW Assistance Grant. Two major workshops are in the planning stages: “WestWords” will provide the opportunity for members to meet and talk with publishers and editors. For later in the year, Val is working on a film-‐script writing workshop, “Secrets, Lies and Film-‐making:. A CASP Grant has been awarded for this one.
The monthly Critique Group will continue to meet in the Library on the second Thursday each month. This has been a great help for members working towards getting published. It addresses the more detailed aspects of editing, character development and generally providing what readers and publishers are looking for in the commercial world.
The first Saturday meeting this year attracted three new members. Those who only brought along six copies of their readings were a long way short of the required number. We have several members entering literary competitions this year and the Saturday meetings are a good way to get some feed-‐back. Ron Stevens keeps us up to date with the upcoming competitions. Don’t wait until the last minute. Give yourself time to review and edit your work well before the closing date. Don’t be disheartened by constructive criticism. Many top writers receive rejection notices before finding the right publisher!
Keep writing and look forward to meeting on the first Saturday each month.
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NEWS – Val Clark Newsletter Editor
The Outback Writers
Centre have some fantastic opportunities for writers in 2014. Although we were not awarded the NSW Arts New Projects Grant we are actively seeking sponsorship so that WestWords 2014 can go ahead. Planned for May 9-‐11 WestWords 2014 will bring to Dubbo commissioning editors from mainstream publishers Pan McMillan and Harper Collins, independent publisher Pantera and ePublisher Mosh Pit Publications. Workshops and panels will aim to demystify the process of publishing, provide the information you need to keep your work out of the slush pile and learn how to pitch your book to a publisher following which there will be pitching opportunities. A poet’s workshop and a workshop for writers of children’s fiction are also anticipated. For writers who want to see their work on the big screen, Billy Marshall Stoneking will be presenting 2 half days of workshops from October 24th, 25th and 26th.
Secrets, Lies and
Film-‐making is an intensive two and a half day seminar/workshop that introduces participants to the tools, concepts and processes of dramatic screen storytelling. Participants will learn the secrets that come from working inside your characters, develop basic collaborative skill, uncover the lies, prejudices and fears that frustrate your interactions with the characters and explore the emotional and psychological hinterland of characters unique to their “tribal’ circumstances. The workshop will help you discover why every screenplay and film that WORKS is built upon the quality of the relationships that both the cast and the crew have with the characters – ALL of the characters, including those that live OUTSIDE the actual screenplay. You can find Stoneking’s CV at http://www.wheresthedrama.com/. Other events are planned for the year. To make sure you get up to the minute information about what’s happening for writers in Dubbo and the North West like Outback Writers Centre on Facebook.
Outback Writers’ Centre
Meeting Dates
Macquarie Regional Library
Conference Room
Cnr Macquarie & Talbragar Streets Dubbo
10 am – 1 pm
1 February
1 March
5 April
Contributions from members are welcome.
They must be typed and posted
to Outback Writers Centre Inc
PO Box 2994 Dubbo. NSW 2830
Or emailed to:
The views expressed in Outback Writers are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
Outback Writers’ Centre
March Favourite/Balance April Travel/Signpost May Sanctuary/On Reflection June Gathering In/Friends July Go With The Flow/Equinox
August Rivers/Letting Go September Origins/(Far) Horizons October Contemplation/Families
Write up to 300 words on the topic of the month in any style, from prose to poetry, essay to letter, and bring it along for
sharing and constructive feedback at the Saturday meetings. From February 2014 there is a choice of topic. Outback Writers – February, March, April, 2014
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Outback Writers
Articles – Poetry – Prose – History – Biography – Autobiography – Fact – Fiction – Fantasy Musings – Diaries – Essays – Lyrics – Letters – Reviews – Scripts – Reports – Thoughts
INNOVATION
Innovation is the marvelous ability the human mind has to use what is already in the environment to create things. If our world has been created by a God, this divine entity must have included in the worldly environment the materials that lent themselves to be used by humans to create the world we have today. Thus we have the examples of the first wheelbarrow probably being made out of wood from a tree, the great Egyptian pyramids made of sandstone from the earth and cars manufactured using metals smelted from minerals deep within the earth’s crust. There is nothing new in the world. What we have has always been here and always will be. What we create will eventually return to its original components and sink into the earth once more. We as innovators are working with everlasting materials. We ourselves are everlasting as we inevitably follow the same path as our creations because there is nothing in us that is not from the earth. Our spirit is also of the earth, as traditional aboriginals have always known. It, like our physical original components, is everlasting and indestructible. But our spirit is different in that having no recognizable form or tangible substance it does not break down and is therefore eternal. This is where our immortality lies. In this divine creation humans possess the power and the freedom to innovate to make what they will of their world. Some innovations are noble, such as advances in curing cancer, while others are horrendous such as the pursuit of developing ever more powerful weapons of mass destruction. With these thoughts in mind and a new year approaching, I ponder the question “Are our innovations leading us along the road to ultimate destruction, or to a higher plane of civilization?”
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I believe that while many innovations have the potential to provide untold benefits as well as dire consequences, such as the internet in its role as an educator and its sinister tangent of pornography, they will not of themselves destroy civilization. There are natural checks and balances in the world that will curb the unbridled growth of the evil aspects of innovation in the form of more effective policing, widespread education, enlightened legislation, human decency and common sense. Thus a balance between good and evil will be maintained as it always has been over the long term. Climate change, the most pressing challenge facing us today, and caused by our insatiable instinct for innovation, will be accommodated by more innovation. The time to act is short, but the younger generation is very environmentally aware and I believe, equal to the task. So I envisage a future for my grandchildren living in a different world to my familiar one, but a world that will be the product of human innovation just as it has been over aeons of time past.
Bill Messmer
INNOVATION Trevor Walder Invention means new things. Like with Fleming and Penicillin. Innovation – new ways of doing old things. Napoleon the Ogre from Corsica Made the Crowned Heads of Europe tremble With his battlefield innovations. He gifted the invention of power to the Common Man. The Wright Brothers and Santos Dumont were inventors of flight. Reggie Mitchell and Willi Messerschmitt were innovators both. Who remembers them? The Spitfire and Me-‐109. Who hasn’t heard of them? Thomas Slade and Robert Seppings innovated and prepared the way. Ericsson and the Froudes were inventors and innovators who blurred the line. For Clipper and Steam-‐ships. For immigration from the Old World to the New. I know Turing and von Newman invented the computer. But isn’t Tim Perners-‐Lee the real innovator?
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The Fun Run Ron Stevens
I’ve never raced in Sydney’s City-‐to-‐the surf
or ever hoped to win Olympic running gold but Saturday my feet were pounding local turf in giddy marathon, my breathing uncontrolled. I wheezed along behind Aunt Bertha’s ample rump when fun-‐run shattered peace in sleepy Bunglestump Reluctantly I’d entered for this great event because I feared she’d have a stroke or heart-‐attack through jealous contest with her neighbor, Polly Kent. For fate decreed their joint appearance at the track when Bertha’s cake was pipped by Polly’s ‘soggy lump’ at January’s show at bustling Bunglestump. A loss by inches in the ladies’ cow-‐pat throw left Bertha fuming when the winner, Polly, claimed ‘I’m sorry for the also-‐rans,’ went on to crow ‘but isn’t Father Time the one who should be blamed? I trust no ancient lady here decides to lump her bulk around the fun-‐run planned for Bunglestump.’ First thing next morning Bertha bought herself a pair of joggers (pink fluorescent boomertrots) and soon in Polly’s words – ‘was ambling like a lame old mare’ on daily training runs which circled Fink’s Lagoon. Coincidence? Or did Aunt Bertha slyly pump the councilor who set the course at Bunglestump? A secret route. The scheme demanded Alby Coles should drive ahead, while starters waited for the gun. Assisting him to place some race-‐direction poles would be Silvester, Alby’s less-‐than-‐brilliant son. The Coles reviewed their plan, at length, where drinkers slump each Saturday – the Grand Hotel at Bunglestump. Whose patrons fought to watch or join the starting throng, while drunken Guts Malone yelled ‘lolly legs’ at will (or local parson Blake, whose pins were white and long.) The pistol fired, released the mob down Bungle Hill, to jostle, hassle, stumble, elbow, trip and bump along the ten miles out and back to Bunglestump.
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A marker post directed them to Grogan’s Lane and there they came upon a second sign that read Go straight to Harvey’s Barn; which led to much profane and heated comment from the runners in the lead, as straight dictated swimming Fink’s Lagoon, a sump that held the sewer overflow from Bunglestump. A few attempted this but had to be restrained. A group that detoured west was blocked by Angry Hahn, who guarded well this melon patch, with shotgun trained. The ten who detoured east soon made it to the barn, to find the Coles arriving. ‘You’re a blessed chump,’ the parson screamed; an oath unknown in Bunglestump. Replying simply, Alby punched the parson’s nose, so talk of misdirections ended with the blue, but Bertha crept away on boomertrot-‐shod toes and led by seven lengths at Stunted Avenue. Ascending Bungle Hill, she heard a heavy clump behind her -‐ Polly, Bertha’s bane of Bunglestump. Then Polly took the lead with only yards to go and must have won, except for drunken Guts Malone. He lurched onto the road and weaving to and fro, obstructed, then collapsed on Polly who was thrown at Bertha’s feet. She did a hop-‐step-‐Polly jump and tottered on to breast the tape at Bunglestump. We eight exhausted stragglers panted in the rear, all glad the Coles had accidentally halved the course. The judges met in Foley’s bar; agreed to hear the only protest – Polly’s – flaming red and hoarse from castigating Guts and threatening to thump ‘that Bertha bitch, the biggest cheat in Bunglestump.’ The verdict favoured Bertha. Polly went berserk and ripped the parson’s shorts, so Foley closed the bar. Aunt Bertha wore her laurel crown and victor’s smirk down Bungle Hill, a passenger in Alby’s car. The council met in haste, decided it would dump its plans for further funny runs at Bunglestump. What moral shines within this epic marathon? That words and signposts, both, can lead us off the track. Should rhyme dictate direction, we must stagger on to end at the beginning, tortured, doubling back, as fun-‐run has us gasping for a final … ump which carried us belatedly to Bunglestump.
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RAINY DAYS Ken Windsor Rainy days were periods of abject misery. Cancelled outings, spoiled picnics, family activities disrupted and later, planned days with friends had to be modified. No-‐one wanted to cycle in the rain! A day at the beach lost its appeal on a rainy day and adolescent ardour was dampened as rain thundered on raincoats.
Mother’s calls of “Wipe your feet” Or, “Take your shoes off before you come inside!” echoed through the residences. Young faces, chins on hand peering through condensation coated windows, looking for a break in the rain-‐laden clouds. Bored fingers drawing patterns and making pictures on the glass. Why couldn’t it rain on school days and leave the weekends clear and sunny?
Time inevitably ticked away. School days were replaced by work days. The parental calls became our calls and our children voiced the same laments on rainy days. Then we migrated to this great, brown, sea-‐girt land and our attitudes about rainy days changed. Not so much when we lived on the coast, but when we moved west of the Great Dividing Range.
The sound of rain drumming on a corrugated iron roof is wonderful music. Rainy days are a joyful time. Climbing ladders to clear the in-‐let filter on the rainwater tank, so not a drop of precious fluid is lost is a regular activity. Daily conversations start with how many millimetres were in the rain-‐gauge this morning. Farmer’s faces take on a fresh, smiling appearance. The gardens respond almost immediately, grass turns green overnight and wilting weeds in the table-‐drains, spring to life and raise their colourful heads.
Because of their scarcity out here on the plains, rainy days for us, have changed from periods of abject misery, to events of pure joy.
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The Toongi Cricket Club Jim Pascoe
I write this story from memory and as there would be very few to recall the events of which I
speak, I may be unchallenged in my telling. Just when the Toongi Cricket Club came into being I do not know, though from my Father’s
diary in the early 1920’s he states he played his first game of cricket at Toongi. For those not knowing about Toongi, it is about 25kms south of Dubbo on the Obley Road,
with a siding on the Dubbo to Molong, now unused railway line. It was once a busy railway village with a station master’s house and a few fettlers.
Local farmers trucked their wool and stock away from here and collected all sorts of goods from the station. A rail motor train ran to and from Dubbo each day collecting school children and others along the way. Toongi at that stage always had a large stack of bagged wheat which was later trucked away by train.
Now to get back to the cricket. The paddock to the south of the few houses and to the west of the railway line was the cricket field, and the mowing was done by the few local cows and horses. Occasionally a few cow pats would have to be removed from the pitch, which in earlier days was ant bed, and much later concrete with coir matting. Cricket was mostly played on a Sunday with a pick sides match. Lunch was held in the “pavilion” which was made of pine posts with rails on top to hold up the tarps (“borrowed” from the station) to keep the sun off. It did get hot back then too!!!
From the first time I played there at 15 or 16 just home from school, I noticed there was always a wooden keg of beer, kept under a wet bag. Wherever we went to play there always seemed to be the keg of beer. I was never party to the arrangements for paying for the beer, though it seemed like those drinking put in so much each and drank what they liked out of a tin mug. A large canvas waterbag also hung from the rafters with its own communal tin mug.
A few years later when we played in the Dubbo comp, we would have lunch with “Dr Taylor” at the Exchange Hotel where we had to sign in as travellers to get a drink. My mates drank many schooners while I drank squash. Later I was troubled with stones in the kidney while my mates never were. We seemed to play much better in the mornings.
One of the highlights of the team events was a trip to Forest Reefs (south of Orange) to play the locals. The game was played across the road from the Hotel where the team stayed. The paddock alongside was growing potatoes and so developed the call “Put him in the taters”, which from then on could be heard around the Dubbo ovals when Toongi were batting.
I must tell about the travel arrangements for the trip. Mr Bob Fisher’s truck was fitted up with stools from Wambangalang school and a “borrowed” tarp was put over the top for extra comfort for the team on the back. I was considered of too tender age to go. I’m not sure who won the match.
Like all groups someone has to start them off and I would suggest Mr Jack Harper of “Pacific Hill” would be a founding member, later followed by his four sons John, Bob, Bruce and Bill.
Prominent amongst those I remember were Wrights, Fishers, Bakers, Trethowans, Job, Cameron, Hockey and Grahams and the list goes on.
With the closing of the railway line and the thinning out of the farming population the cricket field was moved to the south of Toongi Hall. A new cement wicket with a special topping was installed. Dwindling numbers saw little cricket played there even though an Alan Border stand was erected (six pine stumps with wooden planks). In later time alcohol fuelled youth managed to destroy the surface doing circle work in utes.And so another chapter closes.
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RAINY DAYS Kaye Cameron
They are restless, bored and cooped up. Pacing, climbing on furniture, frustrated by each
other’s close proximity, unable to go outside. The sound on the roof is cacophonous and booming on the tin. The deluge is buffeting the
sides of the house, the leaves and branches of the trees falling heavily on the garden floor. The battle is raging between the summer heat and the rain, thickening the air with a spongy,
congealed dampness. There is no breeze to help cool the atmosphere. Even with the cooling system and extra fans turned up high, the suffocating humidity is
weighing them down like wearing a heavy woolen jumper during a swim. Rainy days. So welcome, so essential, like a prayer answered, for those living on the land.
Crops watered, stock fed, parched land granted relief from the never-‐ending drought and dust, farmers livelihoods extended, life stimulated.
By contrast, so dreaded and inconvenient for city dwellers. Confined indoors, slower commutes in traffic chaos, wet clothes, bad moods, life slowed and stifled.
She looked around the room at her family, and thought about the different reactions people have to rainy days. She refused to let the weather dictate her day or her mood.
“Why don’t you take the kids to the indoor pool?” she asked her husband. “They can cool off in the water for a while, then take them out for ice cream afterwards.”
He looked at her suspiciously, “That’s a good idea,” he agreed, “but what are you going to do?”
“Me? Well I’m going to work on my computer. I’ve got a novel to finish and today seems like the perfect time to churn out a couple of thousand words. After all, it won’t grow on its own.”
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Writer’s Inspiration
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
Ernest Hemingway -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐
We acknowledge and thank our sponsors:
Australian Art Sales And Book Central The authors of the best poem and piece of prose each receive a bottle of wine, courtesy of Australian Art Sales. Last quarter’s winners were Karen Russell and Trevor Walder.
Cindy and Peter Neilson of Book Central are offering a 5 % discount on books purchased by Outback Writers’ Centre members. Book Central is located at 83 Talbragar Street, just up from the post office. Ph: 6884 5088. Make sure your OWC membership is current to take advantage of this generous sponsorship.
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Writing Competition Closing Dates – Ron Stevens Note: Some require entry forms. When requesting forms by mail, send a business sized stamped, self-‐addressed envelope. 27 March 2014: Henry Lawson Society of NSW Inc, 2014 Literary Awards. Verse, short stories and performance poetry. Entry forms from PO Box 235, Gulgong NSW 2852 Or: [email protected] About end of March 2014: Henry Lawson Festival, Grenfell. Verse and prose. Entry forms from PO Box 77 Grenfell, NSW 2810. About mid-‐April 2014: Banjo Paterson Awards for short story and poetry. Entry forms from PO Box 194, Orange NSW 2800.
Outback Writers’ Centre Inc
Established 1996
Encompassing the Local Government Areas of
Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonamble, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / Renewal
1 July to 30 June -‐ $25 ($10 full-‐time student or under 18) institution $100
$2 per month to 30 June
Name _______________________________________________________________________ NEW RENEWAL Address_______________________________________________________________ Please make cheque/money order
Payable to: Outback Writers’ Centre _________________________________________________________________ Phone __________________________________ Fax __________________________ Mail to: The Treasurer Outback Writers’ Centre PO Box 2994 Dubbo NSW 2830 Email ____________________________________________________________________ Outback Writers – February, March, April 2014
