Sunday 4 September 2011

Day Five - Melbourne Writers' Festival - Regional Tour.

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Great start!


 Okay, so strictly speaking, I'm home and the Regional Tour ended two days ago, but I haven't blogged about our last day in Frankston.
Talks and workshops were held in the Performing Arts Centre and the Frankston library, where I worked with tremendous Yr 5/6 students in the 'long room' (not to be confused with the MCC long room!).
The students were fantastic and we covered beginnings and ends and lots in between. The visit was a great way to wrap up a rewarding week. How lucky am I to have had the opportunity to work with Heath McKenzie, Kirsty Murray, Chris Morphew, the unflappable Patrick Cronin and the students and staff from Kyneton, Drysdale,  Wangaratta and Frankston? Thank you!


Miscellaneous Highlights:
  • Enthusiastic, interested students and teachers.
  • Smooth travels and sessions - thanks to Patrick and the organisers.
  • Cess pit photo opportunity by the Hume.
  • Kirsty and Heath's Twilight and Harry Potter discussion.
  • Dinner at Jack and Jill's Geelong.
  • Kirsty Murray's incredible intellect and generosity.
  • Heath McKenzie's humour, observations and discoveries in road houses.
  • Chris Morphew's humour, passion and willingness to sit in the back seat!
  • Showing off an a stage (hard to believe but true!)
  • Indian food in Wang.
  • iPads
  • sunshine!
On a Frankston Library shelf...

Thursday 1 September 2011

Day Four - Melbourne Writers' Festival Regional Tour

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This amazing gumtree was on the nature strip outside our motel. The branch scoops down to the footpath, and appears to be the perfect spot to sit and watch the Wangaratta traffic go by.
Our sessions today were at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre - a terrific venue. The children from local schools were so enthusiastic, fun and clever. They even laughed at the right bits - and honestly I didn't mean to nearly kill my brother - how were we to know chasing mice in the barn would make him puff up like a balloon? Sorry Anthony!

Heath and I gave today's talks on the stage, and both of us admitted that being in such a great venue, on a stage made us show off, just a little more!
Thank you to everyone - Jemma, Loueen etc etc, for making our visit so much fun!
Patrick our fantastic guide who has made the trip so easy and smooth and Heath checking out Indian beer at dinner last night. Great food - good beer!