Wednesday 31 August 2011

Day 3 - Melbourne Writers' Festival Regional Tour

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Me, Chris Morphew and Kirsty Murray   
Today we traveled from Geelong to Wangaratta for an evening session tonight and talks tomorrow.
Highlights of our trek -
- photo opportunities by a cess pool (see Chris Morphew's blog!)
- the merits of iPads for authors
- road house coffee
- the scenic route around town
- a restored Vauxhaul (which brought back memories of family incidents - good and bad.)
- a patient driver
-good company and laughter.
Looking forward to tonight's session about Australian stories...





Tuesday 30 August 2011

Day 2 - Melbourne Writers' Fesitval Regional Tour

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...of potatoes, vampires and Harry P...
A huge thank you to the Geelong Regional Library and Drysdale Potato Shed staff for a full, but fantastic day of sessions. Drysdale is a favourite haunt of mine where school visits are always fabulous, and today was no exception. We covered ends and beginnings (even though I couldn't spell beginnings this morning - who knows what was going on there!), inspiration and planning and even touched on gastro (they asked for it!).
Thank you to all the students for laughing at the right times, listening, sympathising about Dale Thomas' 2 week ban and asking great questions.
Kirsty and Chris's discussion about the merits of Harry Potter and Twilight was a highlight. Special hi to the Warrnambool crew from Emmanuel!
Photos to come - thanks Heath! Struggling with internet connection at our motel. I'm currently ensconsed in the library.
Tomorrow we travel to Wangaratta for an adult session and more talks.


Monday 29 August 2011

Day One - Melbourne Writer's Festival Regional Tour

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Today was the first day of the Melbourne Writer's Festival Regional Tour, with the fantastic Patrick Cronin, who is keeping us in line.

Our first visit was to Kyneton where Kirsty Murray, Chris Morphew, Heath McKenzie and I ran workshops and talks in the Town Hall. What a sensational building and what amazing supportive staff - thank you!
Students from Candlebark and Kyneton Secondary College attended and were full of great ideas and enthusiasm. My group created characters - some deranged, others lonely and a few homicidal - the characters, not the students!

Tomorrow it's on to Drysdale, a truly lovely part of the state. Naturally I've told the others how wonderful the place and the students are. Wish we had time for a visit to Loam. Now that is a restaurant to visit!








Tuesday 2 August 2011

Of libraries...

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It's a no brainer. I'm an author and I love books. I have five bulging bookcases to prove it.
Apart from loving books, I have a vested interest in them again as an author and as a teacher, so it's not surprising I've ranted about the importance of bookshops, school libraries and school librarians before. All are essential. Full stop!
A new threat to books has emerged, and frankly, I'm as mad as hell about it.
The Victorian Government plans to cut funding to public libraries.What is the deal with that? (Yes, I am shouting!)
Isn't it enough that school libraries are shrivelling? That access to books, particularly in regional areas, is diminishing? And wasn't one of the key arguments for cutting school library funding that students could access books and information at the local library?
Okay - breathe -  in and out.
There are plenty are reasons why libraries are vital and why funding should be at the very least maintained, which you can access here, so I won't rehash them, suffice to say, libraries are vital.
Not convinced? Visit your local library and just notice the activity.
Every Monday evening, while my daughter is being tortured (piano lessons - her choice, mind you!) I go to the local library to study for forty-five minutes and borrow books. The place is always buzzing - people reading newspapers, borrowing books, accessing the Internet, reading to their children, studying or just chatting. The age range of those there is enormous.
Compare that to the myriad of vacant and unused 'projects' that governments and councils have poured money into. Put simply, money spent on libraries is money well spent.
Let's hope sanity prevails and that  funding is at the very least maintained.

Like our school libraries, public libraries are vital - please offer your support.
 Facebook page - Save Our Libraries
Join the Save Our Libraries - Fairer Funding Campaign.

Rant over!