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Newsletter of the Outback Writers’ Centre Inc Established 1996 Y2606722
President Ken Windsor [email protected] Vice President Trevor Walder [email protected] Secretary/Publicity Val Clark [email protected] Treasurer Lee Cooper [email protected] Newsletter Lee Robinson [email protected] MRL Contact John Bayliss [email protected]
ISSN 1445-‐0208
Welcome to the third quarter edition of Outback Writers’ 2015 Newsletter. Outback Writers’ is now being distributed electronically. Please send your email address to [email protected] If you have any feedback, suggestions for workshops or magazine content please contact an Office Bearer.
MEMBERSHIP Membership is now due. $25 p.a ($10 full-‐time student or under 18) We are updating the website and newsletter to now include Members blogs and websites. If you are a current member and would like your oage also to be featured please contact us. We would love to hear from our members that have their books published and available for sale – send us the information on where they are available including the website address. Send all details to [email protected]
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.
OFFICE BEARERS & CONTACT DETAILS
August, September, & October 2015
President Farewell Page 2
Writing Themes & Meeting Dates
Page 2
Members’ Writings Page 3 to 6
Members’ Books & Accomplishments
Page 7
Competitions Page 7
Outback Writers' Centre
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Farewell Ken by Val Clark It’s with great sadness that the members who attend the monthly discussion group farewell Ken Windsor as President and member. We’ve enjoyed Ken’s insightful comments, hearing his prose and poetry and celebrating with him the publication of his stories and poems. He’s been a real asset to the OWC, keeping us on track both in meetings and as an organization. We wish him well as he settles into his new home and continues to be a force for good in the Dubbo community involvement.
SEPT 2015 Fancy Food/ Volunteers OCT 2015 Children / Pets NOV 2015 TBA DEC 2015 TBA
Contributions from members are welcome. They must be typed and emailed to:
Meeting Dates Macquarie Regional Library Conference Room Cnr Macquarie & Talbragar Streets Dubbo
10am – 1pm
5th September 3rd October 7th November 5th December
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.
SnapShorts – Spectacular! Elizabeth Macintosh One of the highlights of the year at DRTCC is surely SnapShorts, a touring festival of short plays conceived, directed and acted by regional artists. The Dubbo performance on Friday 31st July showcased five plays by Dubbo playwrights. “Shit Happens” by Lee Robinson traced a father-‐son relationship which was affected by past events and a new problem: a flat tyre on a lonely country road but without the normal resources to fix it. Kellie Jennar’s “Kandy” concerned two older women seeking to re-‐enter the dating game, their “trainer” being the young and condescending Kandy whose own relationship is not what it seems. Also by Dubbo writers were “ Killing Time” by Jodie Cramond, which featured larger-‐than-‐life puppets, Jamie McGaw’s “Shifting the Blame” and Andy Carolan’s “The Secret Life of Thomas Sugg” about a child spy. SnapShorts was a great night’s entertainment. All nine plays contained some humour and many had a twist in the tail, especially Jill Baggett’s “Storm Shelter” where neither of the characters was as innocent as they appeared.
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Computers – Lee Cooper What a welcome sound – the Postie whistle. It’s something that’s been heard all my life, and anticipated each day. Hurrying to the letterbox, one imagines the surprises that it might hold. Maybe there’s some news from a loved one in another part of the country. Could be there’s a card or two that might send friendly best wishes for a birthday. Perhaps there’s a postcard from some far away and exciting destination. Sometimes there’s a unwelcome window envelope, boding the fact that money needs to be paid for some service rendered. That’s not so good, but I guess it’s a reminder of where you are and mundane things that need to be done. Lately it has been reported that the Postie is on the way out. So called “snail mail” will be a thing of the past. I’m sad about that, as I usually enjoy both writing and receiving personal messages. I also feel sorry that the Postie whoever he or she may be will be out of work. Today one hoes early each day to the Computer to see if someone has sent an email. Instant result. I enjoy some of the funny stories that come through and also the photographed images. What about Internet Banking? It’s so good not to have to wait endlessly in a queue to transfer money. Just go to the computer and one minute later the money has been zapped from my account to another. Facebook keeps tabs on everyone’s movements and lives, if they feel so inclined, although sometimes the contents are so mundane, they become frustrating. Mobile phones give us instant access to people and keep us up to date with photographs, sometimes mores the pity. What will happen to my letterbox? Maybe I’ll grow some plants in it!
Computer Chaos -‐ Tania Rovere Homepage, hard disk, download – “Is this some sort of code?” Bluetooth; blog – “My head’s in a fog. This is such a hard slog!” Firewall; email – “This test I’ll surely fail. I need to go to Yale. Is there a end to this tale?” “Windows 10” – “Not again!” Social media; Wikipedia? Word processing print out – “Give me a stout! I’d rather have gout! I wanna’ get out!” Internet, Ethernet – “Not for me yet!” RAM, Spam – “No thank you ma’am.” Hardware, Software – “I’m going nowhere!” CPU – “What do I do?” Virus – “Isn’t that a disease? Not for me please!” ROM, PCs, WiFi – “All I can say is goodbye!” Chips and cookies – “Foods you eat,” I thought. “Things at the supermarket you bought.” Spreadsheet – “I did that this morning when I made my bed. It’s all too much for my poor head Give me a account book – that’ll do instead.” Boot – “That’s what you wear on your foot. At least that’s where I thought it was put!” Powerpoint – “Isn’t that the electric socket that if you put metal in it it’ll shock it? This computer of mine: I think I’ll hock it! Just give me pen and paper and Ill get rid of all this caper!” YouTube, Facebook, Twitter – “It’s all going out in the litter!”
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Computers – Lee Robinson I remember my first mobile phone, a Nokia, back in the late 90s it was the hottest technology out. Not only could I ring people wherever I was but now I could text! Sending a message through the mobile network was amazing but it wasn’t as easy as it is today. Back then no qwerty keyboard on the mobile phone if you wanted a S you needed to hit the 7 key four times! And ofcourse my phone had Snake – hours of entertainment right there. Information Superhighway, World Wide Web – The buzzwords of the decade. Technology was coming at a rapid rate and we were all excited to connect online. The internet boomed into our lives with great force, within a year nearly every corporation in the world had a web address. Information was now available with the push of a button. The internet connected us in ways we never knew possible. Then it came to our phones.
Now mobile technology has revolutionised the way humans connect. No more only having the internet on our home computers – no we carry it around in our pockets. Connected 24/7.
I want a pizza – there is a app for that. I need directions – there is a app for that. I want a date tonight – there is a app for that. My smartphone can hold my plane tickets, check my stock quotes, book me a room for the
night – it even recommends what restaurants to eat at. Funny I never use it to call anyone anymore.
Computers/Technology – M.A.Bicket Sebastian was never bothered by the surveillance. Cameras and tracking devices were just part of everyday life. From the moment he entered the office to the moment he left at night the cameras were following his every movement. It always made Sebastian smirk in amusement, a top secret group of operatives who were in charge of monitoring the safety and security of the government were constantly been monitored. So much for trust, then again who could be trusted? The watches on the other hand, were for constant monitoring Twenty-‐four-‐seven surveillance. All operatives were given the watch as part of their standard uniform. Inside the watch was a GPS tracker so the Director always knew where the operatives were. Sebastian’s watch had gotten him in trouble on several occasions. ‘Sebastian, don’t leave the building.’ The Director would say. An hour later Sebastian’s phone would be ringing. ‘Sebastian, why are you in a brothel?’ It was a game really, at least in Sebastian’s book. He would wander away and wait for the phone call from the Director or his lieutenant telling him to go or be where he was supposed to be. On this particular day Sebastian found himself bored sick of waiting for orders. It was a quiet day and nothing had happened, there was no indication that anything would happen. ‘Zahn, I’m bored.’ Sebastian said to the Director’s lieutenant. ‘And what would you like me to do about it?’ Zahn did not look up from the laptop. ‘I’m going.’ ‘Where?’ ‘Somewhere more interesting.’ Sebastian stood and made his way to the door. As he left the building he tossed his watch into the river wondering how long until he got a phone call. Maybe he would not answer, just for laughs.
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Computers – Trevor Walder When I sit here tapping at my keyboard I sometimes like to let my mind drift back to how it all began. Charles Babbage’s “Analytical Engine” is there in the Science Museum for all to see. It’s like the East-‐Asian Abacus was an attempt at overcoming the drudgery of calculations. As an example the set of tables used by the Royal Navy in the early nineteenth century for finding Latitude and Longitude contained over one thousand mistakes. Ships were sunk and men died because of these inaccurate tables. The Analytical Engine failed mostly because the machine-‐tool technology of the 1840s and 50s was not up to the demands placed on it for producing cams and gears with the requisite degree of accuracy. By 1900 the gear-‐cutting technology had advanced sufficiently that the various Fire-‐Control systems for naval gunnery in use until the 1970’s are recognisably descended from it. Alan Turing is often given credit for the first “Colossus” electronic computer. This sits well with the English tradition of the lordly gifted amateur. The truth might be a good deal more complicated, while Turing did indeed do much of the theoretical work the actual design was done by Max Newman. It was decided by Newman and Turing, among others, that the design was too complicated to be turned into a solid object. Tom Flowers a Post Office electrical engineer who was part of the discussion group disagreed. At the Post Office research centre in North London he took ten months to turn the blueprint into “Colossus”. On the 8th December 1943 Colossus started work at Bletchley Park.
Heros – Lee Cooper A hundred years since Gallipoli and other catastrophes either by war or from Mother Nature. We have heard of so many wonderful men and women who are lauded as heroes and so they were or are. Today there are equally wonderful men and women and they are the carers of people with severe disabilities. I see Mums and Dads coping daily with the task of looking after a loved one and so often with no respite. The Physical toll must be enormous-‐ lifting, pushing and assisting with everyday needs, together with time taken to feed meals and just being on hand all day. This must be soul destroying. Some parents say they love their charge so much, they don’t count the cost to their own lives. What heroes they are. Generally people look forward to a holiday and a change from the humdrum. These people would hardly ever be able to take a holiday. They have to soldier on. Just think of how often we say, “Let’s go to so and so,”. Quickly out some clothes etc into a bag, jump into the car and away we go. Not so for the heroes I’m talking about. Special vehicles have to be purchased to begin with, then fitted out with lifting devices etc. No long trip can be undertaken, as too exhausting for all. There is no way around this problem – it’s something that is always with us. However, I am aware of the wonderful heroes in today’s world, not people who have been and hone, but with us all the time. I guess the love and regard by the people they care for is recognition enough for them to be thought of as a modern day champion. As said be some immortal soul, “I dips me lid,”
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Heroes – Ron Stevens “What’s a hero, Mum?” Eight or nine, he’d be and she was middle-‐twenties nearing forty five. The western suburbs tend to blur and broaden time, especially for mothers. She crimped a rationed smile for mine, Not lacking warmth but awkwardly Because her upper denture gapped in disrepair. “Oh, someone brave,” Meanwhile his lips were plotting silently the further comic passage of a dazzling stellar war. Our lurching train bounced hero round my brain: as cannons boomed the overtune, young VC ‘Diver’ Derrick rested monochrome within the colour screen, while Bradman stroked another four, and Betty Cuthbert’s spirit flared from weakened flesh; with reinsman’s hands a boy held off leukaemia until the straight. “It’s our stop next,” incorporating baby, toddling girl and boy, with Easter Show impedimenta – sample bags, balloons and hats, etcetera. I marvelled how defying dust and heat, the children shone. The stop was also mine, so socializing, helping out, I offered “Daddy must be proud . . . “ “My Daddy’s gone. He hurt my Mummy’s face,” The local club, a few more drinks and dinner lost their soft attraction, and I trailed towards the bus-‐stop queue. A horse called Common Hero in the last at twelve-‐to-‐one Had left me well ahead. I thrust the bundled notes upon the stranger, doubtless left her mystified and even angry at this fleeing coward who called “A heroine’s due, my Dear.”
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-‐of-‐your-‐pants approach to creative writing. On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-‐word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. OWC Members will be meeting during the month of November to write, encourage and discuss their NaNoWriMo works. Join our Facebook page to stay up to date with meeting times and locations.
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Congratulations to the following OWC members: Ken The Walk in the Wild short story in A quick Read Aspiring Writers available Amazon. One minute stories from around the world. Ron shortlisted Gulgong Henry Lawson Poetry Competition. FreeXpression mention for Ken Windsor. Kellie and Lee for their humorous plays in Snap Shorts Recently published: Marjorie Green's novellas: An MP's Ungodly Power and Maree. Pete Volkofsky's: Beautiful Quest.
Marjorie Green -‐ An MP's Ungodly Power: Simon Trent, one-‐time journalist and secretary to the Minister for Justice, Terry Persilt, returns to his home town, Brenton, to meet his childhood sweetheart, Wilma Anton. They discover corruption and abuse in high places. Dogged by danger they seek to right old wrongs. Marre: When Maree Engle reads of Michelle Waydon't suicide she escapes from Werrisford Sanatorium, determined to expose Bruce Everett, MP who she believes was responsible
Peter Volkofsky – Beautiful Quest: Whether we know it or not, we are on a perilous and beautiful quest. Like all such journeys there are surprises in store. We are told in this book, for example, that we “must follow love,” which conjures up images of sentimental songs, flowers and dishonesty. But the love being talked about here turns out to be something far more practical and mysterious.
Writing Competitions and Closing Dates 16th October 2015 – Southern Cross Short Story -‐ $20 entry fee – This short story competition invites all writers residing in Australia to submit on an open theme up to 3000 words. First Prize is $1500. http://ballaratwriters.com/competitions 6th November 2015 – Odyssey House Victoria 5th Annual Short Story -‐ $10 entry fee – with the theme “The Choices We Make” and the story to include reference to alcohol and/or drug use. Up to 1500 words. http://www.odyssey.org.au 30th November 2015 – Field of Words -‐ $20 entry fee – Prose – 1,000 to 2,500 words. Opne theme. Flash Fiction -‐ $10 entry fee – 100 to 500 words. For more details go to http://fieldofwords.com.au/writing-‐competition
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Some of our OWC members posing for a photo shoot for the local paper.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Outback Writers’ Association Incorporated
1st July to 30th June -‐ $25
($10 full-‐time student or under 18)
I, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (full name of applicant) of,_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________(address) herby apply to become a member of the above named incorporated association. In the event of my admission as a member, I agree to be bound by the constitution of the association for the time being in force _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Signature of applicant Date I, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (full name) a member of the association nominate the applicant for membership of the association _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Signature of proposer Date I, ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (full name) a member of the association, second the nomination of the applicant for membership _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Signature of proposer Date
