Kenneth Slessor Science, Sex and Mr
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ESTERLY stories poems reviews articles Collage-Principle in Recent Australian Writing Kenneth Slessor Science, Sex and Mr. Wells Singapore Writing in English The Mysterious Fate of the "Aagtekerke" a quarterly revi ew price two dollars registered at gpo perth fo r transmi ssion by post as a peri odical Category' B' PATTERNS VOL4 n03 Fremantle Arts Centre poetry magazine published three times a year by the Fremantle Arts Centre with the assistance of the Literature Board of the Australia Council and with support from the Western Austral ian Literary Fund Now in its fourth year, PATTERNS publishes work from all over Australia and from New Zealand. It particularly welcomes work from Western Australian poets. The Winter 1978 number just published includes writing by Thomas Shapcott, Graeme Hetherington and Hal Colebatch Single copy $150 (postage 30c) annual subscription $540 including postage order from Fremantle Arts Centre 1 Finnerty St Fremantle 6160 WESTERLY a quarterly review EDITORS: Bruce Bennett and Peter Cowan EDITORIAL ADVISORS: Margot Luke, Fay Zwicky CONSULTANTS: Alan Alexander, Swami Anand Haridas (Harry Aveling) Westerly is published quarterly by the English Department, University of Western Australia, with assistance from the Literature Board of the Ausb'alia Council and the Western Australian Literary Fund. The opinions expressed in Westerly are those of individual contributors and not of the Editors or Editorial Advisors. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editors, Westerly, Department of English, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009 (telephone 3803838). Unsolicited manuscripts not accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope will not be returned. All manuscripts must show the name and address of the sender and should be typed (double-spaced) on one side of the paper only. Whilst every care is taken of manuscripts, the editors can take no final responsibility for their return; contributors are consequently urged to retain copies of all work submitted. Minimum rates for contributions-poems $7.00; prose pieces $7.00; reviews, articles, $15.00; short stories $30.00. It is stressed that these are minimum rates, based on the fact that very brief contributions in any field are acceptable. In practice the editors aim to pay more, and will discuss payment where required. Recommended sale price: $2.00 per copy. Subscriptions: $8.00 per annum (posted); $15.00 for 2 years (posted). Special student subscription rate: $7.00 per annum (posted). Single copies mailed: $2.40. Subscriptions should be made payable to Westerly, and sent to The Bursar, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009. Synopses of literary articles published in Westerly appear regularly in Abstracts of English Studies (published by the American National Council of Teachers of English). Western Australia 150th Anniversary Celebrations 1979 WESTERLY POETRY AND SHORT STORY COMPETITION Westerly is holding a short story and poetry competition as part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary in 1979 of the founding of Western Australia. The prize money is provided by the Western Australian Government's 150th Anniver sary Celebrations Committee. Provided that entries are of a sufficiently high standard, two prizes will be awarded for short fiction-$500 to the best entry by a West Australian writer and $500 for the best entry by a writer from elsewhere in Australia. Two prizes for poetry will also be awarded, provided that the standard is high enough-$500 for the best entry by a West Australian writer and $500 for the best entry by a writer from elsewhere in Australia. A further $1,000 of prize money may be divided among entries commended by the judges. All prize-winning and commended entries will be published in a special issue of Westerly in 1979. No restriction is imposed on subject or theme. The criterion is literary merit. Closing date for entries is 1 February 1979. Entries are invited on the following conditions: 1. Entrants must be of Australian nationality or be a resident of Australia. 2. All entries must be the original work of the person or persons who enter them for the competition, and must be previously unpublished. 3. Entries must be type-written, double-spaced on one side of the paper and must be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope containing the writer's name and home address. 4. Each entry must contain the words "Westerly Competition" followed by the writer's nom de plume for the purposes of the competition and his or her home address. (The reason for the nom de plume is that the judging process should not be biassed by the actual names of the writers.) 5. The entries will be judged by the editors of Westerly and such other judges as the editors may wish to consult. 6. The winning entries and other selected entries of merit will be published in a special issue of Westerly in 1979. Westerly acquires first rights only. 7. The decision of the judges in all matters pertaining to the competition shall be final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into. 8. "Westerly Competition" entries should be posted to The Editors, Westerly, English Department, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Aus tralia, 6009. WESTERLY Vol. 23, No.2, June 1978 CONTENTS STORIES The Traveller 5 VICTOR KELLEHER Only trouble is 11 DAMIEN WHITE "Thirty Love" 19 ANDREA STRETTON Being Admitted 25 NORMA WALLACE POEMS CAROLINE M. CADDY 14 ROSEMARY DOBSON 38 SUSAN HAMPTON 16 DAVID CAMPBELL 39 ANNE LLOYD 18 R. K. PRETTY 41 JOY M. ADAMS KEN LIBERMAN 42 facing 19 NORMA WALLACE CORNELIS VLEESKENS 60 24 EDWIN THUMBOO 62 ROD MORAN 37 R. G. HAY 64 AR TICLES The Collage-Principle in Recent Australian Writing 27 NOEL MACAINSH Politics and "Weltanschauung"- Walter Adamson's 'The Institution' 43 HELEN DANIEL Kenneth Slessor 51 GRAEME KINROSS SMITH (Photos G. K. Smith and Journalists' Club, Sydney) Science, Sex and Mr Wells 65 NORMAN BARTLETT The Mysterious Fate of the Dutch East Indiaman "Aagtekerke" 71 GRAEME HENDERSON Singapore Writing in English: A Need for Commitment 79 EDWIN THUMBOO The Telegraph Station at Israelite Bay- Photographs PETER COWAN REVIEWS Lloyd Ross, John Curtin 86 LENORE LAYMAN Nicholas Hasluck, Anchor and Other Poems 88 FAY ZWICKY Alan Alexander, In the Sun's Eye Lee Knowles, Cool Summer Louis Johnson, Fires and Patterns 91 GRAEME TURNER Arthur Yap, Commonplace Robert Yeo, And Napalm Does Not Help 94 KIRPAL SINGH Paul Depasquale, A Critical History of South A ustralian Literature 95 PETER COWAN VICTOR KELLEHER The Traveller It is obvious that he is a stranger, that he doesn't know Sydney, by the way he walks in no particular direction. Aimless, wandering through the late afternoon crowd. His curiosity carefully veiled. At one point he stops in the doorway of a bar, hesitates, then descends the carpeted stairs. Down below it is noisy, smoke-filled. And also vaguely familiar. On his right, two women are talking together. He leans closer, waiting for a possible opening. 'So 1 told him the truth,' she says-the young, attractive one-'that he's a pakeha bastard.' He recognizes then the faint air of familiarity. Maoris. More of them at the end of the bar. 'And did he know what you meant?' he says, trying to sound friendly, almost confidential. The woman looks up. Heavy eyes; wide, curving nostrils. Very nearly beautiful. 'What?' she says. 'The pakeha bit.' Smiling carefully. 'What did he make of that?' 'Oh, you a Kiwi too?' 'I lived there a couple of years,' he says. 'Before that in Africa. I've only been here two weeks.' The Africa part is included for effect. Exotic. But she ignores it. 'Two weeks is long enough,' she says. 'You've seen what it's like here. Because we're New Zealanders, they think we don't know anything.' He nods patiently and orders drinks. Paying no attention to the plain, silent girl besiae her. 'They take us for a crowd of country bumpkins,' she goes on. 'Especially me. I'm just a jumped up black to most of them.' Listening to her, he realizes that she is barely aware of him. Filled with her grievances and nostalgia. He lets her talk, knowing that's the only way. Not until she's on the point of leaving does she really notice him. 'Well, time to go home.' Stubbing out her cigarette; pulling the strap of her bag up on to her shoulder. 'Do you have to?' he asks. 'Couldn't we make an evening of it?' She looks at him then. Lowers her eyes. 'I mean,' he adds, 'we're both from New Zealand. Travellers you might say. I just thought ... .' 'I'm sorry,' she says, 'I've already made arrangements.' She turns away, embarrassed; but immediately hesitates, almost guiltily, half remembering something said earlier. WESTERLY, No.2, JUNE, 1978 5 'You've only been here two weeks?' she asks. That's all.' Another hesitation. 'Look,' she says, acting on impulse now. Scrabbling in her bag for paper and a ball-point. 'I know what it's like being stranded in this town without friends. If you need someone to show you around, give me a ring.' After she has gone, he smooths the used envelope out on the bar. On the back is scrawled the name Marion. followed by a phone number and an address on the Cross. He carefully folds the envelope and slides it into his top pocket. Still smiling, but differently now. Pondering the curious question of pity as he finishes his drink and climbs slowly up towards the street. * When he arrives back at the house in Coogee he finds that Nora and Jeff have delayed dinner for him. 'How did you get on today?' Nora asks as soon as he enters.