impriNorthern Territory Writers’ Centrent Journal | December 2017 CONTENTS EDITORIAL FIONA DORRELL

FEATURES On Sunday morning of the NT The Walpiri women’s appearance Ali Cobby Eckermann: inspiring Writers’ Festival that took place in the Festival, further recounted outsiders | Candy Royalle in Alice Springs this year, people in this issue in a transcription Imprint Those fifty words might live in gathered as Walpiri women from by Georgia Curran, alongside sentences | Beth Sometimes Yuendumu sat on the ground and alongside other strong Indigenous oiled and painted one another up in programming was easily a highlight Agustinus Wibowo: impressions of NORTHERN TERRITORY WRITERS’ CENTRE JOURNAL preparation for the launch of their for 2017. Mention should also be Alice | Dina Indrasafitri new songbook, Yurntumu-wardingki made of the sand story told in Book in a Day | Katherine Region of juju-ngaliya-kurlangu yawulyu Ngaanyatjarra by Lizzie Marrkilyi Writers (Batchelor Institute Press). There Ellis who sat regal on the red Sharing Warlpiri Women’s Yawulyu was a livestream beginning soon in ground beneath a desert sky and Songs the Gallery Room connecting the captivated her listeners. Special ABOUT BOARD OF MANAGEMENT launch to other audiences around the thanks to my colleagues Dani Imprint is a publication of the President Territory. From the sidelines, someone Powell and Shrike O’Malley for their INTERVIEWS NT Writers’ Centre. It is devoted Professor Martin Jarvis OAM (Darwin) tentatively reminded the group of time intelligence and passion in putting The Delhi Walla | Mayank Austen Soofi to NT writers and writing. Vice-president constraints; Valerie Napaljarri Martin, together this Festival. Dr Adelle Sefton-Rowston (Darwin) Writing Memoir | Patti Miller in her navy beanie with the blue and Secretary & Public Officer In looking back over 2017, many EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION red pompom, took charge. ‘You can’t other books and projects deserve Michelle Coleman (Darwin) rush these things,’ she explained to the Imprint is edited and produced by Regional Vice-president INDUSTRY a mention. NTWC staff. Taking a Look at Batchelor Institute audience, ‘they have to take their own Toni Tapp-Coutts (Katherine) In this issue, Beth Sometimes Graphic design Ash Steel Press | Karen Manton time.’ ‘These’ she later added ‘are the Ordinary Members cultural procedures of our lives.’ The reflects on the little yellow shed, Printing Colemans | Michelle Christian Bok (Darwin), David Ketley Children’s Author Conference livestream was delayed. No one fussed. Apmere Angkentye-kenhe, which (Darwin), Carolyn Mison-Smith Coleman opened midyear in the centre of ABOUT NT WRITERS’ CENTRE (Darwin), Nicola Pitt (Alice Springs), Makassar Writers’ Festival | Derek Pugh In The Opposite of Glamour (Sydney Alice Springs as an interactive Fred van’t Sand (Darwin) Review of Books 2017), Delia Falconer The NT Writers’ Centre encourages How to: Submissions | Jacinta di Mase place for Arrernte language, vibrant literary activity in the Northern observes ‘I’ve started to notice, over involving talks, exchanges, and the last few years, an evangelical Territory, developing and supporting SUBSCRIBE learning activities and resources. LOCAL BOOKS tone creeping into writers’ festivals, in writers in all genres at all stages of The NT Writers’ Centre members The project was produced by Refining grief into meaning: which writers proselytize the power of their careers. We value quality NT receive all issues of Imprint. $55 Watch This Space in collaboration Kim Mahood’s ‘Position Doubtful’ literature to ‘represent complexity’ or writing as a unique component of waged/$45 unwaged per year. with Arrernte language experts. Australia’s literary wealth and recognise Kieran Finnane make us better people. As writers are Join or renew your membership at encouraged to promote ourselves as Karen Manton reports on further Indigenous writers and storytellers as a ntwriters.com.au or call 08 8941 2651 Children as Authors | Sally Bothroyd core component of this. brands, it’s too easy to pat ourselves publications by Batchelor Short Reviews on the back for simply writing, rather Institute Press. Their books As well as our ongoing member ADVERTISING than worrying about the specific work and projects push new ground services, we offer a program of For inquiries about advertising please FICTION our books can do in the world.’ in the publishing industry for workshops, opportunities and showcase multimedia, multilingual books email [email protected]. Can you hear the beating of the As a writer tracking the events across the NT including the drums? | Sylvia Purrurle Neale that might better cater to a place annual NT Writers’ Festival. Imprint is printed in good faith environmental crises of our times where many of our languages and NT Writers’ Centre staff and Falconer’s scrutiny of the business of being spoken only have a short ntwriters.com.au Board of Management accept no Australian literary culture is earnest. history of being written down responsibility for any misinformation. Between festival circuits, social media, and where oral storytelling, song STAFF The views expressed by contributors grant applications, residential retreats, and dance have traditionally been or advertisers are not necessarily marketing strategies, and increasing Executive Director vessels for culture. endorsed by the staff or board. requirements on writers to ‘promote Sally Bothroyd ourselves as brands’, Falconer asks Kieran Finnane reviews Kim Alice Springs Program Manager when ‘glamour’ became a measure of Mahood’s Position Doubtful, a Fiona Dorrell Guest Cover Artist important writing. ‘Those who have book that speaks so perceptively 2017 Festival Director Dion Beasley lives in Tennant Creek glamour,’ she writes, ‘are ‘winners’ — to the complexities of our region. Dani Powell and is well known across the Territory above the ruck, in their gilded sphere Perhaps together these works 2017 Festival Coordinator as the artist behind the T-shirt brand — while those who don’t are ‘losers’’. Shrike O’Malley Cheeky Dogs, and the picture books offer more of a pompom-beanie Go Home Cheeky Dogs, and Too The Walpiri Women’s songbook take on the ‘glamour’. Happy Many Cheeky Animals. compiles and documents ancestral reading. I look forward to what knowledge and to those involved 2018 might hold. in the production of the book, its value is absolutely clear—as Barbara Napanangka Martin told the audience ‘Old people are passing away… We don’t want to lose their deep knowledge of country and jukurrpa songs and stories.’ In the face of some Fiona Dorrell of the challenges of our times, parallel Alice Springs Program Manager concerns are shared by many of us; NT Writers’ Centre I’m reminded that our books have important work to do. A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: PROFESSOR MARTIN JARVIS OAM

2017 has been a very exciting year meant we were able to partner with for the NT Writers’ Centre, following other regional centres, and we were on from the great successes of last delighted to be able to work with Vale Alice Eather, poet year. Of particular significance was libraries and various arts centres the NT Writers’ Festival held this across the Territory and beyond, all year in Alice Springs, directed by the way to Port Augusta! Our thanks Dani Powell and themed Crossings | must go to all the organisations Iwerre-atherre. Under Dani’s direction, that helped make this feature of the the Festival team did a terrific job! It Festival a success. was wonderful to see strong turn-out Beyond the Festival there was also MY STORY IS YOUR STORY for all events, including the opening a program of many workshops ceremony held at the Olive Pink Djiya wiba yinyirra and events held right across the Botanic Garden. Ngana Maningrida yo Territory, and the Board of the NT Djiya wiba yinyirra This year there was an additional Writers’ Centre would like to take the opportunity to expand our reach opportunity to thank and congratulate People ask me for my story with a pilot livestream program. Sally Bothroyd, and her team, for their But my story is your story Professor Martin Jarvis at the 2017 Festival sessions were broadcast great work during 2017 in ensuring a My feet are in the dirt and the dirt it speaks in dust NT Writers’ Festival in Alice Springs. right around the Northern Territory. Territory-wide program. There is no and the trees they speak in leaves like the people speak in trust The experiment with the use of doubt that the NT Writers’ Centre has and the water speaks in waves and the dust is in the wind live streaming technology at the firmly established itself as supporting so the Country covers my skin and my skin covers this body Festival’s so called Satellite Sessions, the whole of the Northern Territory. And this body has a vessel in this chest that carries messages from my ancestors on what to do against a threat And these messages come to me in dreams and I’ve collected so many now they’re asking me to speak People ask me for my story But I thought my story was your story A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE: SALLY BOTHROYD When I see a map of Country, I see land, sea and family When they see a map of Country they see mining fantasies When I see the sea-bed, I see sacred sites When they see the sea-bed they see dollar signs Welcome to the second edition of The NT Writers’ Centre has continued When I see a map of exploration permit 266 Imprint – the annual journal of the to offer support via our year-round I see them trying to reduce my country into three digits NT Writers’ Centre. program, and to other literary events, including the NT Literary Awards, When I see Yirridja and Dhuwa Country, I see everything that is our Moiety 2017 has gone by fast, and it’s been a run by the Northern Territory Library, When they see Yirridja and Dhuwa Country, they see the future in the oil busy year for myself and Alice Springs and the Young Author Awards, and gas industry Program Manager Fiona Dorrell. run by Darwin City Council. We When I see the tides rise and fall The NT Writers’ Festival in Alice also helped two Territory poetry Kabalala karapa kakaja Springs in May was an unprecedented slammers, Victoria Alondra and Daniel I can read the storms success. Huge thanks must go to Townsend, get to Sydney for the When they see the tides rise and fall Festival director Dani Powell. It was National Poetry Slam Championships. They just want to find out what’s under it all Dani’s second time at the festival’s! It’s funny how they want to dig deep, but act so shallow Thanks again to members of our helm, after delivering a great festival So I say: Koma! Ngika! No! board for their ongoing work behind in 2015. Fiona Dorrell also put a huge Saltwater people say: Koma! Ngika! No! the scenes. amount of effort into the Festival and Wùnal Clan say: Koma! Ngika! No! along with co-ordination by Shrike The NT Writers’ Centre would not be People ask me for my story O’Malley, and production by Robbie able to operate without the funding But my story is your story Hoad and Kristy Schubert, it was a support of Arts NT, the Australia When you cry, don’t you cry the ocean? winning combination! Council, the Alice Springs Town When you sweat, don’t you sweat the ocean? Council, the Darwin City Council, and For Darwin members, there was the When you drink, don’t you drink the rivers and the rain? the Community Benefit Fund. Community Writing and Publishing And when you wash don’t you wash into that ocean so that cycle can Forum – assisted largely by a start again? community grant from Darwin City When we cry, we cry the ocean Council. A number of members took When we sweat, we sweat the ocean the opportunity for a one-on-one When we drink, we drink the rivers and the rain meeting with literary agent Tara and we wash into that ocean where the cycle starts again. Wynne, or children’s publisher Clair Sally Bothroyd Hume from Affirm Press in Melbourne. Executive Director The workshops on marketing, NT Writers’ Centre publishing and romance writing, along with the free information sessions, were also a big success. Thank you to the Eather family for this photo of Alice, taken in 2015 on Kabalko Island (her mother’s country off Maningrida). Thanks also to the family for allowing us to print Alice’s poem. 2 3 FEATURES Ali Cobby Eckermann:

NGINGALI the damage of white-washing, the KULILA Inspiring Outsiders decimation of culture, of language my mother is a granite boulder and oral storytelling, the flagrancy of sit down sorry camp I can no longer climb nor walk CANDY ROYALLE a history written by white oppressors. might be one week might around But we who are not Aboriginal can be long long time her weight is a constant reminder never, ever truly understand what that tell every little story speak about one of my favourite and of myself trauma feels like. We can empathise when the people was alive SEEDS one of Australia’s greatest living poets I sit in her shadow and act as allies but we cannot tell every little story more Ali Cobby Eckermann. ever fathom the sense of absolute there are always seeds that thread us gulls nestle in her eyes devastation and loss. don’t forget ‘em story and carried on the wind set us apart Nonfiction is a huge pool and as far their shadows her epitaph night time tell ‘em to the kids as I’m concerned poetry is part of I carry Poetry can however bring us closer keep every story live does the wind come from the origins its waters. Poetry is a liquid truth – than any article, any report, any list of the mother or the father a pebble of her in my pocket certainly to the author, and too for of dehumanising statistics where don’t change ‘em story tell ‘em straight out story will my origins be blown away the reader who swims in it, often It is Ali’s continuing and consistent the continued reduction of humans only one way story or remain in distance if I leave upstream. It is nonfiction in so much language of forgiveness and to numbers is a massive injustice. It as it is autobiographical - a snippet compassion in the face of such can bring us closer to a visceral and all around ‘em story will the wind stand breathless or moment in time of the writer. A unimaginable trauma that truly emotional understanding of that every place we been shall I remain to die broken from home glimpse into their consciousness, inspires me; how she can remain fierce suffering. Maybe, through the poetry every place killing place This is the poetry of Ali Cobby access for a fleeting second into and grounded in all her truths and still of Ali Cobby Eckermann our empathy Eckermann, a Yankunytjatjara / Kokatha their mind. It is documentation of the speak and write with great humanity. and compassion can be turned into sit down here real quiet way you can hear ‘em crying woman who was born then tricked personal, the political – inseparable from the time she was eighteen, it wasn’t action. Currently, the removal of When she signed my copy of her all them massacre mobs away from her family on Kaurna land. as they are. Poetry has the potential until her thirty-third year she was able Aboriginal children from their families book, Inside my Mother, where all to pierce through the intellectual and is happening at a rate greater than All my life I have felt like an outsider to find her – and discovered Audrey these poems are from, she wrote “To sit down here real quiet head straight for the heart. It can move the first Stolen Generation. Right now, with regards to language – a land Cobby, more widely known as Audrey Candy Royalle, the language of loss you can feel ‘em dying people in ways other crafts can’t. So it history is repeating itself and that for the elite, the educated middle- Kinnear, was a fierce and respected is the victory”. Even though we have all them massacre mobs is with Ali Cobby Eckermann’s work. activist who still carried inconceivable “Sorry” on our behalf, echos hollow. to-upper white classes. Academic spent a little bit of time together, I’ve hearts can’t make it up guilt. In Ali’s words “her generation were writing, a lot of non-fiction, even never had the courage to ask her Reading Ali’s poetry hands us our when you feel the story really shamed, more than my generation, some investigative journalism can DIP exactly what she meant by that. humanity so that we understand you know it’s true feel impenetrable. Like a language for to give their children up…the guilt that intrinsically and viscerally that the I took it to mean that we who know only a few - a kind of pervasive elitism My mother is playing hide and seek these women had to endure was really removal of children from their people tell every little story suffering, we who have witnessed the that persists, articulated in convoluted between my memory and my dreams deep inside them…” should not be happening, that it is a when the people was alive oppression of our people and fought in-knowledge that outsiders like me - crisis of massive proportions. Once tell every little story more she hides amongst the Language for some form of acknowledgement born of immigrants and without higher our hearts have been cracked wide Speakers THE LETTER or justice; we who have found the might be one week now education - cannot access. open, once we’ve bypassed the I catch glimpses of her laughing words to use, who continue to rally might be long long time Dear Mother intellectual which can be influenced This holds true, often, for poetry too. and push and create and demand sit down sorry camp no longer foetal I must arise The mission is good. by excuses and false justifications, There have been many tomes dedicated and share and speak unapologetically no longer prone she has arisen The food is good. misinformation and prejudice, once In 2017 Stolen Generations survivor, to dead white men making millions about all the injustices; we who share I am good. that poetry takes a hold of every cell Ali Cobby Eckermann, won the I see a foot dip daintily stories in the hopes of rehumanising as skeletons whilst living women of and particle and atom that makes us Windham-Campbell award for poetry. In a rivulet of fresh rain rips the page from the typewriter the dehumanised – we are truly the colour toil over groundbreaking, heart- up, perhaps we will be propelled to Valued at $215,000, Eckermann said ‘an scrunches the page till it bleeds victors. This is the point of poetry shattering work that moves in ways Is it hers or is it mine? engage and ask the first people of award of this magnitude will continue kicks it under the wardrobe for me. Poetry not in love with itself; so visceral it is hard to remember to this nation – how can we help stop healing many of us’ and will ‘change breathe whilst reading. Ali Cobby Eckermann is a survivor of instead, poetry in love with the telling inserts a fresh page this? Tell us what to do. my life completely’. The award website the Stolen Generation as her mother of true history. tentatively with finger states, Eckermann ‘has produced a And yet in this country, poetry that is so was before her. Both stolen women, Poetry can induce full body chills, poised and types I do not for a second presume to substantial and formally innovative enamoured by its own cleverness and their stories and histories are mirrors of involuntary tears, awe. There is a real poets dazzled by their own adroitness understand the suffering of the body of work’ which ‘gives language to the worst kind. Yet Ali talks about her Mummy intimacy, a connection between writer still get lauded by the establishment. Stolen Generation. I can never. unspoken lineages of trauma and loss.’’ two mothers being equal, both being Where are you? and reader which culminates in an Though we know how it sounds; Although I was tempted to talk about integral to her. In an interview with the experience unlike any other literary Photos included are of Ali’s Ali grew up with her Lutheran though we can read about it, talk the essays of Arundhati Roy who ABC she said: or even creative medium available participation in NT Writers’ Festivals adoptive parents but at seventeen ran about it; though we have witnessed taught me that I could speak out with to us and so for me is the greatest across the years. “[My birth mother] was the first person away and unwittingly headed to the a Prime Minister apologise for it; we truth as my firearm, though I was form of nonfiction imaginable. Maybe I saw who mirrored my face…because birthplace of her mother, at Ooldea can only gather information. We can This article is an edited version of a tempted to talk of the ongoing impact I’m biased, but I’ll leave you with the that’s what family is – we were a on the Nullabor Plains, living there only know about the damage, the speech given by Candy Royalle at the on me of Silvia Federici and her book words of Ali Cobby Eckermann and reflection of each other… for two years without any idea that very wrongness of such a program Stella prize longlist announcement in Caliban and the Witch which made you can make up your own mind. that was where her kin were from. I of enforced assimilation based on Sydney on 7 February. It was published the whole history of the subjugation …my adopted mum…who I have all the love this part of her story – that she is good intentions, which is part of in The Guardian in March this year. and oppression of women so easy to memories with…is integral in my life…my poetry herself writing with her body the greatest crime this nation has understand – so easy, so enraging and two mothers can only be equal.” Ali Cobby Eckermann’s most recent what she eventually put to page. ever committed, on an intellectual heartbreaking, I decided instead to poetry collection, Inside My Mother, Though Ali searched for her birth mum level. We can only intellectualise is published by Giramondo.

4 5 FEATURES Book in a Day KATHERINE REGION OF WRITERS

Those Fifty Words Might Live in Sentences BETH SOMETIMES

Katherine Region of Writers (KROW) from Thailand, Kalkaringi and the “12pm came. Then 4pm, I’m looking for clues to give this audio and video content, plus claims to be both articulated and is now in its 26th year. That’s quite Barkly Tablelands have, in real time, and soon after 6pm and weight, I look for weight in the light specially created elements including a heard, inviting reflection on the a feat for a writing group in a small joined together to create linguistic of others, I’m reading geography large topographic map of Mparntwe ways settler and Arrernte cultures rural town, south of The Berrimah masterpieces. Last year Katherine suddenly there were only looking for language, “the land gave with audible site names, a language encounter one another. It was Line. In August several committed School of the Air won the NT/QLD two hours left.” us words.” learning audio tour available for surprising. Lots of people showed up; KROW enthusiasts decided to division for best primary book. collection, a ‘no-shame pronunciation sometimes in surprising ways. sticks as chapters were planned and I’m riding my bike through Yeperenye take on a writing task to mark the Chelsea’s Delicious yet Dangerous booth’, a range of physical learning written then passed around for editing. shops carpark, cruising not pedalling, One idea in the making of Apmere occasion – Write a Book in a Day. Challenge is a four thousand word resources and a mini library. I up off my seat noticing things. The ‘p’ grew in to a campaign to promote novel of epic proportions. Chelsea, an 12pm came. thought, maybe it would be a place Book in a Day is an Australia-wide of apmere written in LED rope lights ‘Fifty Words Everyone Living in endangered species expert, has lost for exchanges of multiple languages competition that gives groups of up hangs within reach on the side of the Mparntwe Should Know’ which was her wallet while canoeing along the Then 4pm, and soon after 6pm and but Arrernte people said no, this is to 10 authors, in various age and word yellow shed but still no one has pulled inspired directly from similar ideas in Ord River. After two weeks looking for suddenly there were only two hours left. Arrernte country and it will be for limit categories, the chance to write it – it has not yet become a handle Aotearoa, where a basic vocabulary endangered species in the local cave A mad dash of group editing around Arrernte language. a book aimed at ten to sixteen year and it may not. of Te Reo Māori has been insisted in she is ravenous and so happy to come a very large TV screen, thanks to olds in twelve hours – 8am to 8pm. A drop in the ocean of a long at least elements of a mainstream across a remote bush restaurant. Katherine School of the Air lending Apmere Angkentye-kenhe – a place This can be done on any chosen day legacy of language work; people’s lexicon and flourished. A political Francois is renowned for creating their premises for the day, meant that for language, also referred to as from May to August. Book in a Day is memories are short. My respect and claim. For me perhaps, a slightly dishes using Australian delicacies. at 7:52pm the writers leaned eagerly ‘that yellow shed’, arrived upon the linked to the Kids Cancer Project and acknowledgement now to all the uncomfortable step into the didactic, Starving Chelsea asks Francois for forward, watching the screen, shouting, scenes in Mparntwe Alice Springs all books are sent to cancer wards Arrernte people and others who have but one that MK and Lowlee and something to eat…for free. Chelsea’s ‘Send! Send!’ 2017. Public activity is temporarily around Australia for young patients to worked with this language in many others got excited about; their daring question gives her far more dormant again now after its first read. So, the more creative and wild ways over many years. enthusiasm gave me the impetus to than she bargains for. At 7:53pm they flopped back into their burst of life over three weeks in June the better. This year Book in a Day has run with the suggestion. chairs exhausted, but with wide grins & July - that apmere untarne, yellow Apmere experimented with the managed to raise almost $200,000. This year’s participants, Lyndal, and plastered across their faces. place, behind the Uniting Church. It potential for creative and political People who have learned other fellow KROW members, Philippa To inspire these wily words teams are was an art project, a collaboration alliances between artists and people languages or progressed further Jones, Royelene Hill, Toni Tapp Coutts ‘Same time next year?’ asked Lyndal, given parameters of two human and between Watch This Space Artist Run who work in multiple ways with than just a beginning, know that and Lorraine Harris, as well as local eagerly. one non-human character, a setting and Initiative and a team of local Arrernte Central/Eastern Arrernte, looking when a language gets into your artist Mandy Edge Tootell, had their an issue. Each team’s line-up is unique, ‘You bet.’ They replied. language custodians which grew over at what such a place could mean to system it starts reproducing itself, work cut out for them when they saw but there are five random words that Copies of KROW’s book: Outback Wonderland: a the time. The shed premised Arrernte different people and how various echoing around, rolling through your their parameters. A geologist and every team across the country must journey down under… literally will soon be available. language knowledge as the key axis political claims around Indigenous perception of the world – a little viral a jockey, in a haunted house where use, just to keep it interesting. Funds raised through sale of the book will go towards of the exchange to take place there languages could be enacted. The almost. So, words are like seeds if they gravity goes wrong and where they next year’s Book in a Day competition. through a series of events and open project positioned Arrernte language are tended. KROW member, Lyndal Carbery, has interact with the Easter Bunny. The If you are interested in being involved or having your hours. The interior housed archival learning and the necessary associated been running Book in a Day through day was spent with much butcher’s own group participate go to writeabookinaday.com Arrernte language resources including listening as a potential site for certain the ether at Katherine School of paper, markers, mind maps and USB or email [email protected] for support and the Air for four years now. Students inspiration. 6 7 FEATURES

When we recorded an audio track of people born into the Aussie linguistic “When a language gets Beth Sometimes is a Pakeha New Lowlee and Ali and Pwerte (project mainframe can decode its rigorous Zealander based in Arrernte country. team members Lorrayne Gorey, Alison English-centrism so that the intricate into your system it An artist and language worker, Beth is Ferber & Michael Gorey) voicing and intimate alterity of the original starts reproducing itself, currently completing an MFA through those fifty words and me asking silly languages in which this continent was echoing around, rolling the Centre for Cultural partnerships at questions about the meanings, we conceived, can flourish to tell its stories Victorian College of the Arts. didn’t know each other very well and shape its future. In the words of through your perception Photographs courtesy of the author. yet. I was still very shy around them Maori/Samoan/German Aotearoa- of the world” and around Arrernte as a language born rapper Jessica Hansell: “the more because I didn’t (and still don’t) know people who are allowed to tell stories FOOTNOTES on their own terms, means that there Sofo, “‘I Consider Everything I Say to Be a Spell and it very well. We were out the back That Is Why I’m Very Careful about What I Say.’” is more meaning and dexterity to of the old Watch This Space in the Neale, “Angkentye Anwerne-kenhe Impene sun brainstorming which words were understand and experience the planet Anthurre | Our Language Is Essential - NAIDOC the fifty… Lowlee had written a big accurately.” I think of my gnawing Public Forum.” expansive list another day and this distaste for the word ‘diversity’, stories told ‘on their own terms’ really Verwoert, Rehberg, and Slater, Cookie! day we started chipping away at it, particularly in the context of the are, and then you realise, it’s there, Derrida, The Animal That Therefore I Am. every word that didn’t get to stay we arts, and just now for the first time they are already there - but it takes a Higgs, “Notes on Derrida’s The Animal That Therefore I Am.” I think perhaps ‘dexterity’ is a word frame for us to see it. said “akunye!” that poor word had Hansell, “What Would a Feminist Methodology to fall off the list. And then they kept that seems primed to jump in that There’s this rhetoric flying around Sound Like?” thinking of new ones they’d forgotten ring. A dexterous cast of storytellers. at the moment about dual naming Butler, Notes Toward a Performative Theory of Assembly. which were in fact more important. Dexterous representation. Encouraging in Alice Springs and the NT, and into something now unrecognizable Turner, “Angkentye Anwerne-Kenhe Impene The really important words were dexterity. I’m down for that. an ensuing online outcry that they Eno said, “sometimes the strongest or were intimate and have faded out Anthurre | Our Language Is Essential - NAIDOC left off the list, though. Some words might possibly consider changing single importance of a work of art Public Forum.” “On their own terms”… I’m thinking of memory. are deemed too special or sacred about the poster ‘Fifty Words the name of this town to Mparntwe is the celebration of some kind of Eno, “‘Sometimes the Strongest Single or potentially dangerous for casual Everyone Living in Mparntwe Should (which in fact no one in a position of What was apparent along the way temporary community.” I’m thinking Importance of a Work of Art Is the Celebration inclusion. about that in relation to this project, of Some Kind of Temporary Community.’ - Brian Know’, the Arrernte words in the power actually said they would). Chief was the enthusiasm of the community Eno.” I’m thinking of Amelia Turner, who “I consider everything I say to be a middle there as subject, framed by Minister for the Northern Territory that grew around the project and Gorey, Apmere Angkentye-Kenhe Debrief ran the majority of the fifty-word spell and that is why I’m very careful English - that capture a microcosm of Michael Gunner said: “It’s very clear the willingness of a group of settlers Meeting. challenge sessions, saying to me how about what I say.” – Charlie Sofo the dominant language frame through to me that we don’t have a proper to volunteer their time to something. Carew, Personal communication. which our public sphere is largely inclusion of the first people in our Exciting things happen when people she now sees people who did the challenge down the street, says hello Butler, Judith. Notes Toward a Performative One claim or assertion made by the conducted. The ‘other’ language very basic culture.” I’m excited in are able to make things happen Theory of Assembly. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Apmere group is the need to get the can be included or not included – in one sense that this matter is being not for economic imperatives but and tries out Arrernte language with Harvard University Press, 2015. language of whom you are speaking talked about at a government level out of social necessity. There is a them, her network thus extended. Carew, Margaret Louise. Personal communication, this frame it is held still within the July 2017. with correct; you might do this “by institution of English, an exhibit but this sentence – as a spell – says precariousness to this kind of activism The community around this project simply asking someone where they augments other existing alliances Derrida, Jacques. The Animal That Therefore designed for non-Arrernte people. that first people should be included and to maintaining an art practice I Am. Fordham University Press, 2008. https:// are from!” In clunky attempts to relate, And that is its purpose. But seeing a in our basic culture. A spell that is and there are so many ways in which but invites new people into these muse.jhu.edu/book/13230. (and “the point is to relate!”), new - frame like this, created by my hands, cast over and over in the rhetoric of a life can be precarious. I speculate affiliations, well that’s a business term, Eno, Brian. “‘Sometimes the Strongest Single Importance of a Work of Art Is the Celebration and even at times more established opens up the possibility of imagining power in the governance of this place, here about Mparntwe Alice Springs when Arrernte people are involved, it’s more likely to be framed as artweye of Some Kind of Temporary Community.’ - - settlers use the languages of other what it looks like unframed, or what reinforcing the frame that original people’s own senses of precarity; Brian Eno.” Tweet. @dark_shark, December peoples to greet or name; a violent names could be included within. I as colonized peoples, as settlers mape; as family. 11, 2013. https://twitter.com/dark_shark/ blanketing, a convenient othering. status/412661242441256961. hope for meaningful collaboration grappling with an uneasy belonging We had a debrief meeting after it was I think here of Derrida and his Gorey, Lorrayne. Apmere Angkentye-Kenhe for site names be heard on their own to country, as complex gendered all over and I fumbled around trying Debrief Meeting. Mparntwe, Alice Springs, 2017. consideration of animals and the word terms, hidden or made known where beings in a heteropatriarchy, as fragile to explain outside of art-language Hansell, Jessica. “What Would A Feminist ‘animal’. “For Derrida, the fact that we appropriate. minds in a world that stigmatizes how I conceived of what we did as Methodology Sound Like?” Westspace, refer to all living creatures that are Melbourne, 2016. https://vimeo.com/138442237. mental illness, as artists tasked art, Lowlee said “It’s art, I see art not human as “animals” is absurdly Sometimes art highlights a lack Higgs, Chris. “Notes on Derrida’s The Animal That with generating meaning from a everywhere, it’s the lights, it’s that TV reductive. He makes a good point. of something that people haven’t Therefore I Am.” Accessed September 11, 2017. contradictory collage of potential. thing there, it’s got language in there, http://htmlgiant.com/random/notes-on-derridas- Lumping together the cricket and anticipated they needed yet, maybe Judith Butler discusses precarity as it’s a piece of art, it’s got language in the-animal-that-therefore-i-am/. the whale, the mountain lion and the in an abstract sense (like maybe a potentially connecting principle there,” gesturing at different things Neale, Sylvia, Margaret Kemarre Turner, and parakeet, the giraffe and the marmot, that strange arrangement of wire Amelia Turner. “Angkentye Anwerne-Kenhe between groups who have been made in the room, “it’s got language in Impene Anthurre | Our Language Is Essential - seems lazy and dismissive” Likewise and paper you saw in a gallery that precarious for different reasons. The there. Art everywhere.” And then MK NAIDOC Public Forum.” Alice Springs, N.T, 2017. an atnyeme and an arlketyerre and pushed out a new little corner in different ways to be precarious are said: “Art is just when the movement’s Sofo, Charlie. “‘I Consider Everything I Say to Be an arripe bloom with their own your mind) and sometimes more a Spell and That Is Why I’m Very Careful about not all evenly weighted of course, and here too you know?” When we get specificity in form and in function, concretely. It was hard to explain to What I Say.’” Tweet. @_charlie, 2015. usually are operating intersectionally, a group of people coming in here, telling us more about the world we people what we were making in the Turner, Margaret Kemarre. “Angkentye Anwerne- but the point is they generate insight that’s like, art too…” And I think of Kenhe Impene Anthurre | Our Language Is live in than the generic ‘wattle’. lead up to Apmere but then once it for each other, or they can. what was declared to me as a point Essential - NAIDOC Public Forum.” Mparntwe, declared itself people said things like Alice Springs, March 7, 2017. of utmost sensitivity—that “English I am interested in a settler’s relationship “why wasn’t this here twenty years When MK asserted at the NAIDOC Iwenhe Tyerrtye: What It Means to Be an to the Indigenous languages here ago?” I think people get excited and forum that “those [fifty words] words is an Aboriginal language too” and Aboriginal Person. IAD Press, 2010. as an element of how we might say things like that when in fact things might live in sentences!” I think yes the fresh meanings that can be made Verwoert, Jan, Vivian Rehberg, and Marnie Slater. Cookie!, 2013. decolonise our being and our thinking like that probably were happening - words can be symbolic individual when language is remixed through and our doing. I’m interested in how twenty years ago but then ballooned items – but together their capacity for other ontologies—art is just when the meaning is exponential. Like us. Brian movement’s here too.

8 9 FEATURES Sharing Warlpiri Women’s Yawulyu Songs Written by Georgia Curran on behalf of the Warlpiri women from Yuendumu who attended the 2017 NT Writers’ Festival

Some people ask us ‘What are (Batchelor Institute Press 2017). You “This is how we stay ladies danced in. We told everyone other using finger-talk (Warlpiri sign Thanks to the Warlpiri women from yawulyu, what do these songs mean?’. can listen to the songs by scanning the about our jukurrpa - our songs and language). “What have you come here Yuendumu who attended the Festival For us yawulyu are an important part QR codes with your phone or from the strong into the future. our country. We also showed them for?” they say. “I’ve come to see you to launch their songbook Yurntumu- of who we are – they contain all the CD that comes in an accompanying We have been doing the films of us dancing in the bush my brother”. They will have a close wardingki juju-ngaliya-kurlangu yawulyu knowledge we have of our country, of boxed set. We also made a DVD which just near Yuendumu. connection forever, those two brothers Barbara Napanangka Martin our jukurrpa, and of our ancestors. comes in the back of the book – you this for a long time” from different places because they The festival theme was Iwerre-atherre Nellie Nangala Wayne can see us dancing yawulyu out at went through business together. For us, yawulyu are part of our identity – an Arrernte word which means ‘two Enid Nangala Gallagher Mission Creek, just out from Yuendumu, as women from Warlpiri country. Lots paths coming together’ and travelling We went back to Yuendumu that Ormay Nangala Gallagher last year. really special for us to share our songs of our younger girls have missed like this with other ladies from different together. For us, it is also important to afternoon, having shared a part of Ida Nangala Sampson out on learning about this part of When we were invited to come to Alice country. It was bitterly cold but we come together with different people ourselves with all the people who Audrey Napanangka Williams themselves but it is always there – it is Springs to present our book at the NT didn’t notice as we sat around a huge to share who we are. This is how came to see us at the festival. It is an Elsie Napanangka Granites always part of who they are because Writers’ Festival it made us feel valued fire singing and dancing into the night. we stay strong into the future. We honour to travel to share our yawulyu Alice Napanangka Granites they can trace their family links back for this part of our culture. We want to have been doing this for a long time. with others. We thank the Warlpiri Lynette Nampijinpa Granties The next day we went back to Alice to the country and jukurrpa. We want share these songs with people outside Our jukurrpa stories tell of different juju-ngaliya from the past, present Lorraine Nungarrayi Granites to teach them all this knowledge of Warlpiri country – to show other to get ready for the Writers’ Festival. groups of people coming together. At and future for always keeping these Violet Nampijinpa Marshall while there are still juju-ngaliya ‘senior people who we are as proud Warlpiri Saturday brought back the reality the festival, we told the story of the yawulyu strong and for continuing to Biddy Napaljarri White of town life. Family demands, sick business women’ around to tell the women. A big group of us came from Yalpurru-rlangu ‘two age brothers’. The share them. And also we thank the Maisy Napurrurla Wayne stories and sing the songs. Yuendumu for the festival and met relatives, where to sleep, what to two age-brothers meet each other. One Arrernte owners of Alice Springs for Marlette Napurrurla Ross up with other Warlpiri women who eat…. Sunday morning was hectic is from Minamina and one is from Mt having us on their country to sing, Peggy Nampijinpa Brown Nowadays it is a big effort to hold live in town. It was really important but we got everyone there to the Theo – both special places on Warlpiri dance and share our songs. Valerie Napaljarri Martin yawulyu. In the past, we used to hold to have so many juju-ngaliya come Olive Pink Botanic Gardens….cups country. These two are from different Dora Napaljarri Kitson them all the time. The old people used together. Nowadays this can be of tea, sweet cake, empty pannikans, places but they came together to go Ruth Napaljarri Oldfield to sing yawulyu at business time and really hard because everyone lives in red ochre, white ochre, phone calls…. through business, to become men. In Nancy Napurrurla Oldfield for fun because it made them feel different places. We sat outside in the morning sun our story they come and meet up with Wendy Nungarrayi Brown happy. Over the last year we have been whilst we painted up. A big group of each other again, they always hold this Angeline Nampijinpa Tasman putting together a book – a collection On the Friday night we all camped people gathered around to watch us special connection of going through of yawulyu songs with their words, out at Honeymoon gap. The Music Georgia Curran is an anthropologist and learn about our songs. We sang business together. When Warlpiri rhythms, stories, photos and links to NT mob had organised for us to stay who has for the last twelve years the Minamina ‘travellling women’ and ladies dance, they become these two sound recordings of the songs. This there. Some ladies from Borroloola also worked with a core group of senior Ngapa ‘Rain’ yawulyu, which we have age-brothers and they talk to each book is called Yurntumu-wardingki came and sung some of their songs written about in our book. Then we women from Yuendumu recording and juju-ngaliya-kurlangu yawulyu: Warlpiri from over in the gulf country. We also all moved in to the theatre and some documenting Warlpiri songs to assist in women’s songs from Yuendumu shared some of our yawulyu. It was their inter-generational transmission.

10 11 Photography by Oliver Eclipse and 2017 NT Writers’ Festival Peter Raftos (left to right) Eunice Andrada; Arrernte THIS YEAR, ON THE CUSP OF THE DESERT WINTER, DIRECTED BY DANI songwomen led by Agnes Abbott at the Festival opening; Abe Nouk; Crosslines POWELL, THE NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL RETURNED TO ALICE SPRINGS. Poetic Picnic; Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis tells STORYTELLERS, SONGWOMEN AND WRITERS CAME TOGETHER UNDER a sandstory in Ngaanyatjarra; Tim Lowe & Dave Richards; Renee McBryde, THE THEME CROSSINGS | IWERRE-ATHERRE. Alex Barwick & Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis; Jodie Clarkson & Therese Ryder; Bruce Pascoe; Presentation of the Gulf Country Songbook: Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji Songs; MK Turner & Veronica Turner; Barbara Martin, Georgia Curran, Terri-ann White, Karin Riederer, Julia Burke; festival director Dani Powell. INTERVIEWS Delhi Walla bound for Darwin MAYANK AUSTEN SOOFI

He’s the Delhi blogger whose job. My only consolation was reading You took the photograph for the cover photographic work is on the cover novels. And because I would be of Arundhati Roy’s long-awaited second of Arundhati Roy’s long-awaited reading a lot, and there was no one in novel. How did that come about? second novel The Ministry of the hotel who cared for Toni Morrison “I think she is aware of my blog, Utmost Happiness, and has more and James Baldwin (my then loves) I The Delhi Walla, my photos and I than 18,000 followers on Instagram. just one day decided to start a blog was always present at her public (called Ruined by Reading)… and functions … and once she contacted Since 2007, Mayank Austen Soofi has started to share with some Unknown me to do the cover of her novel, I been collecting hundreds of stories Unseen reader my most private could not believe myself.” taking place in Delhi, through writing feelings about the books I loved. Later, and photography, for his acclaimed I am a great fan of God of Small Things I started my Delhi blog too. website The Delhi Walla. but apart from the novel, I am a fan What led you to write a non-fiction of the cover because it is a beautiful But Mayank Austen Soofi is also the book about the sex workers in Delhi? artwork. Even if you keep looking at it author of non-fiction book about the There have been hundreds of books for hours, you never get tired of it. sex workers of Delhi Nobody Can on Delhi’s present and past. But there Love You More, and his enthusiasm You’re also a big fan of Jane Austen was not even a single book on GB for literature encompasses James their rooms, watch Hindi film songs on and Marcel Proust? Do you have an Road, the red light. And it’s there Baldwin, Marcel Proust and Jane TV, read my book-of-the-day, or simply absolute favourite writer? right in the heart of the city! And Austen. In fact, he loves the latter so take a nap… and have many cups My heart is too big to have place for by the time I became an intimate of much, he adopted her surname. of tea, of course. I’m very grateful just one writer. I love many. Proust, the women there, I was already into that my relationship with the people Jane, Emily Dickinson, Arundhati Roy, As part of the NT Writers’ Centre my obsession about documenting depicted in the book did not end with and Shakespeare are some of them. South-East Asian Festival exchange, the changing life of a great city. So I the book. Maybe one day we may funded by the Federal Government, decided to write that book. And I’m Have you been to Australia before? cease to be friends but that is true of Mayank Austen Soofi is set to come to glad I wrote because GB Road is dying Never. I’m so excited! any friendship. (thanks to factors such as real estate) Darwin next year for the Wordstorm Have you read anything by an and soon it will cease to exist. You are prolific on social media. How Festival in May. Australian author? do you find the time? Wordstorm director Sally Bothroyd What’s the local reaction been to your I fear not many, though I did love I love being on Instagram, Facebook interiewed him ahead of his visit. book “Nobody Could Love You More?” Thomas Keneally’s Schindler’s List. and Twitter. And when you love I keep getting very sentimental Ah, I know, he is Australian but not You work in various creative areas: something, you don’t need to find the messages from readers about that the novel. photography, writing, journalism, time. And being on social media has book. They appreciate that instead of blogging … how do you describe expanded me as an artist, especially Are you working on a new book? focusing on the sensational aspects yourself? in experimenting with photography I see my blog, thedelhiwalla.com, as of a sex worker’s life, I gave a sense I see myself as a person whose life is and adding layers to my pictures with a book… as a city epic in which I keep of her more private life, which, as evolving through reading. I’m trying words. Last year I had an exhibition making additions day after day. So my it turns out, resembles my life, my to understand myself and my world of my Facebook posts in Venice. They answer will be… yes! readers’ lives and probably your life by reading books, mostly novels and were printed on hand-woven fabric. too. You see the usual loves, jealousies, The theme of the next Wordstorm poems. Everything else — being a heartbreaks, disappointments, Do you think you’ll ever get tired of festival is “The view of the outsider”. writer or a photographer or a blogger insecurities, hopes, and delights that photographing daily life in Delhi? “Outsiders” are a big theme in or a journalist — comes later. They are shape all of us. The book was widely It’s not really about Delhi. To me Australian stories. Do you think this just a progression of my reading life. reviewed and all the newspapers and photography and writing is a way of is true across all literature? If I don’t have writers and poets in my magazines seemed to like it except for understanding the world I live in. To To me, “Outsiders” are an important life, then I’m nothing. one reviewer who was very upset that get close to myself. So I will never element in the way of seeing and in How did you get started in blogging? I too had inserted myself in the book. be tired. And I know that even if I’m the way of writing. I try to look at I came to Delhi a decade ago as a obliged to live just in a narrow street the place I live in as if I’m an outsider, You became almost like family to some waiter in the Radisson Hotel. It was in Darwin, I would never be tired but when I’m in a place that I’m only of the workers. Do you still visit them? near the airport. I had no academic of documenting it. The world is like visiting, then I try to experience it like Yes, they are my friends and I am accomplishment. (I’m not even a a kaleidoscope. I keep seeing new an insider. theirs. Each time I want to relax, I just graduate). I lived in a slum behind things daily in the same old place. go to their establishment, lounge in For further announcements from the hotel. I was very unhappy in my Wordstorm 2018, keep an eye on our website ntwriters.com.au 14 15 INDUSTRY Writing Memoir Taking a Look at Batchelor PATTI MILLER Institute Press KAREN MANTON FOR BATCHELOR INSTITUTE PRESS

Sally Bothroyd spoke to Patti Miller, What tips would you give people With seventeen years working on An oral, ‘open’ version of the story the people who created and most use author of Writing True Stories (Allen embarking on the journey? language resources, Batchelor was recorded, together with related the works. Over the life of the press, & Unwin, 2017), on aspects of writing My approach is very much for jumping Institute Press has a growing list of songs, and artists produced traditional a range of new digital formats have memoir. in, so start without worrying about publications. Recent titles are a book artwork that also related the story. evolved. ‘People want digital records how to structure it. I advocate for most and poster on birds, by and in the All of these ways were needed to of these materials,’ says Maree, ‘which How is memoir different from other people what I call the “patchwork languages of the Ngarinyin, Worrorra, convey various aspects, levels and is why we produce current titles and nonfiction? quilting method”. You start making and Wunambal Gaambera People; content, as well as information about some from the past in digital formats, Memoir is an aspect of a life that might small pieces, 500 words. After a while and a new book on Marri Amu and Country and language. and now create e-books.’ limited by a particular time whereas a you might have 15 or 20 pieces, and Marri Tjevin plants and animals, by biography or autobiography is a story An extensive period of consultation Some digital versions are available you might see some colours emerging, Custodians of culture and language of a whole life. In a way autobiography followed as the books and audio were on the new website for Batchelor some threads connecting, and then from the Moyle River region. is more aligned with history, memoir is produced, designed, illustrated and Institute’s CALL* Collection you can start putting it together. more aligned with fiction in that it has Most titles are inspired and funded edited, and taken back and forth from (callcollection.batchelor.edu.au), an a specific structure and purpose. How difficult is it to sell a memoir to by Endangered Languages Projects the people, Country and community archive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait publishers? or specific programs, e.g. a ranger that owned the story, to ensure that Island language materials gathered How did you get involved in memoir? It is difficult. There’s no sugar coating program, and are requested by the finished materials fulfilled the over the past 40 years. It came from when I was teaching that, because many people are writing and created in collaboration with vision of the Elders, storytellers, artists, creative writing at university many The full catalogue list and online memoirs. There needs to be for most communities, including Elders, singers, cultural performers and years ago, and I noticed there were purchasing options are available on publishers something outstanding Custodians of language, story and language workers. always a number of people want the Batchelor Institute Press website at about it, in that it’s maybe a unique Country, language workers and to write from their own lives. So I For these and many other publications, batchelorpress.com.au. experience, or a common experience relevant advisors or participants. designed a course and offered it at Custodians of the story, artworks, songs with a new and original insight into *CALL — Centre for Australian Varuna National Writers’ House, and it ‘Communities, Clans or family groups and Country steer the project and the it, or it’s a topic that people are Languages and Linguistics, Batchelor filled up instantly. There were so many decide what they want and need,’ says interests of the Clan are paramount. fascinated by at the moment. If your Institute of Indigenous Tertiary people interested in it for reasons of Maree Klesch, publisher and founder ‘People don’t want individual authors book isn’t published, that doesn’t Education; CALL includes Batchelor exploring their own identity or for of the Press. ‘It’s community driven elevated above the Clan’s communal mean it’s not good. It really is based on Institute Press and a range of language healing, or for preserving social history. for the initiative of the project, the rights,’ explains Maree. ‘Often the Clan how many copies they think they can programs. The CALL Collection is part content, the way it’s produced and the name and knowledge is on the front Katherine writer Toni Tapp Coutts’ sell. There’s very few publishers who of the Institute’s Library. protocols surrounding it.’ cover, not the names of individual A Sunburnt Childhood is very much will publish something just because storytellers or artists.’ Karen Manton has worked for a social history, but she was also they think it is beautiful. From education, literacy and Batchelor Institute Press as an editor motivated by the desire to explore numeracy titles, to resources for This means Indigenous Cultural and Tell me a little bit more about your and publications worker. the enigma of her step-father. So language maintenance and revival, Intellectual Property (ICIP) interests recent book, Writing True Stories? there are complex reasons for the Press publishes across a range in the work take precedence and Other recent titles by Batchelor It’s arranged by topics and covers people to write memoir. of formats, including print, audio, sit side-by-side with copyright and Institute Press include: issues like getting started, or writing audio-visual, talking book, poster IP. Batchelor Institute Press delved What difficulties do you see people scenes, or trying to find your voice. and e-book formats. into ways of meeting both ICIP facing when writing memoir? What Then there’s lots of writing exercises and copyright during workshops are the traps to beware of? so you can pick the book up anywhere, ‘Visual, aural and oral literacies are as with lawyer Terri Janke to develop One of the main things is fear. People and try the exercises, and it’s graded important as written texts,’ says Klesch, a set of protocols for the Press, are afraid to get started because it’s from beginning writers to highly ‘You can’t just have a written work or and incorporate practices such as such a huge territory and it’s very experienced writers. story, there are other visual and oral including an ICIP notice regarding overwhelming to know where to versions that have to be there.’ Patti Miller has been teaching people customary law and clan ownership of start, but there’s also anxiety about how to write memoir and nonfiction Examples are the Marri Ngarr, Marri the material, in addition to the usual hurting other people ... and people for twenty-five years, and so far Amu and Marri Tjevin publications copyright notices that appear on a worry about being seen to be in a self- forty-four people who’ve taken one produced over a number of years. work. The protocols align with Janke’s indulgent activity. of her workshops have had a book Elders wanted to record language and True Tracks principles around benefit, published commercially, including cultural knowledge through Traditional community and Elder direction, Katherine writer Toni Tapp Coutts (A Knowledge stories for their children producing materials in collaboration, Sunburnt Childhood and My Outback and grand-children. They also wanted and ways to increase digital access. Life). Patti’s latest book is Writing True to share culture and language with Most of the publications are now Stories: The complete guide to writing others around Australia and the world, produced with both physical and autobiography, memoir, personal essay, to raise awareness and educate people digital versions, to enable access for biography, travel and creative non- beyond the community. 16 fiction, published by Allen & Unwin. 1713 INDUSTRY Children’s Authors How to: Submissions Conference: Networking, JACINTA DI MASE Knowledge and Inspiration MICHELLE COLEMAN Do you have a manuscript in your Read widely in your genre and always Guidelines bottom drawer? One that you read the acknowledgments taking Follow Them. promised yourself that you would note of the industry professionals Every publisher and agent has finish, polish, and get out to agents mentioned by authors. specific submission guidelines listed and/or publishers this year? Visit publisher and agency websites and on their website. Visit The Australian Now the year is almost over and read some of the titles on their lists. Literary Agents’ Association you’re keen to make good on that (ALAA) for agency listings and Follow industry professionals on If you write for children and feel as if talking to humans and unrealistic best-selling, award winning children’s New Year’s resolution and get it onto links to ALAA member websites: twitter and find out what they’re you’re working in a silo, I recommend elements to storylines). I took the author Jacqueline Harvey, best known someone’s desk before midnight this austlitagentsassoc.com buzzing about. adding the Children’s and Young Adult good and the bad on the chin—after for the popular Alice-Miranda and New Year’s Eve. How long is a piece of string… Writers and Illustrators Conference all, I was there to figure out what Clementine Rose series. She took Become a regular at an independent STOP! Writers want to know long will it (CYA Conference) to your calendar, at could make my stories sing. delegates through her own journey bookstore and ask questions about least once. from teacher and Deputy Principal take to read and respond to their While Penguin, Affirm and Harper Could there be a better time to make books in the same style/genre as your to one of Australia’s most successful submission: After writing children’s picture book Collins representatives were your submission? work. Who are the best publishers in authors, before presenting her take on manuscripts for two years, I had a thoroughly supportive, professional that category and why? Booksellers can In a successful and busy agency, the what makes a winning children’s story. Timing collection of stories that my daughter and helpful, there was one small offer a wealth of industry knowledge. priority is always the work for writers While her genre is primary and middle When you’re ready to send your new and her friends had enjoyed, and most independent publisher who had already on the agent’s list and that grade fiction, the principles remain manuscript or proposal out to agents Agent or Publisher? importantly that I was proud of. Yet I forgotten to print out my manuscripts, can be frustrating for those waiting the same. “When you brainstorm, one or publishers, think about what might Until recently it was hard to get your had no contracts and no feedback as yawned throughout the session while in the wings. or two ideas will stand out,” said Ms already be on their desk, what’s going manuscript to a publisher without an to why they hadn’t made the cut with reminding me that I was unlikely Harvey. “It’s the idea that scratches on in the industry at the time, and agent. These days most publishers Writers need to consider other busy the very few Australian publishers to succeed due to the competitive away and just won’t be left alone whether December is really the best have a regular pitch day so that times in the industry that might effect accepting unsolicited manuscripts in nature of the children’s picture book that’s the one to pursue.” time to get a good response to your unsolicited material can be submitted. response times: The Adelaide Festival this genre. So when I came across the industry (not entirely helpful for work. In Australia, Christmas and the in March, the Bologna Children’s Book However, decide whether you want CYA Conference in Brisbane, I jumped someone looking to improve their The conference concluded with long summer break combine to create Fair and London Book Fair in early to submit to agents or direct to at the chance to learn more and meet work but perhaps evidence of the a publishing panel, with a range the perfect desk-and-in-tray-clearing April, Sydney Writers Festival in May, publishers from the outset. Agents other aspiring picture book writers. competitive nature of the industry). of publishers and agents taking storm. I rarely make submissions Melbourne Writers’ Festival in August, Thanks to an Arts NT grant, half of my questions from the floor. Their prefer that you don’t submit your Tadaa Booksmiths offered free to publishers at this time of year and the Frankfurt Bookfair in October. costs were covered which made the main message was to do your work to agents and publishers at information sessions for authors because I assume that everyone is decision easier, and I knew I couldn’t background research before sending the same time. Most agents don’t I usually tell writers they will have to interested in self-publishing, providing as busy as I am. It’s hard to carve out find anything similar locally at the time. to a publisher or agent and tailor the have a problem with multiple agent wait between eight to ten weeks, but examples of book sizes, illustration any decent reading time, much less pitch. They want your cover letter submissions (as long as you disclose if I’m honest, it’s often much longer Held at Brisbane’s Southbank TAFE, styles, timeframes and pricing. Tadaa make considered judgements about to be simple and reflect who you the fact that you have sent your work than that. But, it can be worth the the Conference kicked off with is certainly one to watch if you decide manuscripts at this time of year. I are. Unfortunately, the panel session to other agents). But, it’s harder to wait because once you have an agent feedback sessions from publishers to go down this path. prefer to receive submissions from confirmed that there are many more represent a work that has already been championing your work we rarely give and agents ($110 per session). It was February through to October. The conference continued with some opportunities in primary, middle grade presented and rejected by publishers. up on trying to find a publishing home daunting yet exciting to present two inspiring presentations, including and young adult fiction than children’s Research – even if it takes several years as it did of my stories to the big guns of the Keep in mind that agents work with the story of Ben Long who was told picture books. This is great news if How do you find the right agent or for two picture books on my list: CBCA children’s literary industry, but as soon writers to prepare publishing proposals by publishers ten years ago that these are your genres. But for those publisher for your work? Honour Award winning titles With Nan, as I sat down with them I realised and polish manuscripts so that they his rhyming stories would never be of us persisting with picture book by Tania Cox and Karen Blair and Tea they were there to help and soaked Go to as many writers’ festivals and have the best possible chance of being published. Yet, quirky rhymes came manuscripts, we can take inspiration and Sugar Christmas by Jane Jolly and up their wisdom. Penguin’s Katrina industry events as you can. Attend accepted for publication. Agents naturally to Ben and he successfully from Ben Long’s story, who got there Robert Ingpen. Leham, Affirm’s Clair Hume and sessions where publishers and agents offer both editorial and commercially self-published two picture books that in the end with his persistence, talent Lisa Berryman from Harper Collins are presenting and take note of valuable advice and industry expertise. The Manuscript did so well, he landed a contract with and love for his writing. I for one was provided constructive feedback what they are publishing and which Agents target submissions so that your You already know this right? Make it Ford Street Publishing for his third heartened to continue this writing that I was able to pick up and apply authors they represent. Read industry work lands on the desk of a publisher the best it can be. picture book – Ready, Steady, Hatch! journey that still calls me. newsletters and magazines: take most likely to respond to your work. easily to the two stories I submitted. Jacinta di Mase is the president of the released in 2017. I walked away with out a short subscription to Books & Common threads began to appear Michelle Coleman is a Darwin PR Australian Literary Agents’ Association the inspiration to keep going doing Publishing magazine or newsletter (or in their assessment of my work, consultant who specialises in media and a committee member on the what I love and the understanding that share a subscription with your writing revealing what was working (in my advice and quality writing and research. Australia Council for the Arts Visiting rejections are just par for the course. group). booksellerandpublisher.com.au case, descriptive imagery and original She has been a board member of the International Publishers Program. ideas were praised) and what wasn’t One of the most memorable parts of NT Writers’ Centre since 2015. (anthropomorphism, that is, animals the conference was a master class by

18 19 INDUSTRY Makassar International Agustinus Wibowo: Writers Festival Impressions of Alice DEREK PUGH DINA INDRASAFITRI

The audience at the library was visibly “I think Australians in awe of Agustinus’ stories. Numerous take for granted that people asked him questions about his adventures, his take on the current people know what political situations in Indonesia and ‘dreaming’ means” his feelings about his identity as a Chinese Indonesian - one that caused conflicting emotions within that dreaming has a meaning that is himself for many years because of even deeper than an origin story.” the cultural discrimination faced by He was determined to make the most Chinese Indonesians in the Republic of of his time. As it goes in Alice Springs, Indonesia, particularly during the New one encounter led to another, and he Order era, from 1966 to 1998. managed to squeeze in a visit to the Mark and I discovered we had similar As the drums started the dancers Walking around the fort during the When he was young, for instance, his Akeyulerre Healing Centre, where he workshop plans so we merged. The Indonesian writer and photographer began to move. The five girls were festival was an interesting experience. father made him take Chinese language joined the healers’ gathering of herbs. lecture hall was large enough to Agustinus Wibowo was initially dressed in traditional checked There were workshops in several lessons. He had to attend them in accommodate the hundred or so scheduled to stay in Alice Springs He also participated in a smoking Makassan cloth with elaborate different languages, poets practising secret, because Chinese Indonesians eager, bright, young university students during this year’s NT Writers’ Festival ceremony and visited Emily Gap head-dresses over a black jilbub. for their performances, musicians, were not supposed to openly express who had turned up to listen, and we for a shorter while before jetting out accompanied by traditional owners. Large flat golden necklaces hung photographers, songwriters, puppet their cultural heritage. delivered the program in a mix of again to Darwin. from their necks like armour and shows, book stalls, the aromas of Agustinus is currently working on a English and Bahasa Indonesia. Many of “The conflict within me was enormous golden bands decorated their wrists. different foods and spices, and That plan changed almost instantly project focusing on Papua New Guinea the participants could speak English back then,” he said, “I have to adopt Their movements were carefully hundreds of young excited participants when he landed in the red centre. and Indonesia. From time to time, he well, and when we got to the part one identity that opposes the other – choreographed and they danced as from across the archipelago. goes on short travels to revisit the one. I saw each curl their fingers back when they were expected to write, “The weather was nice,” he said, “and, These two identities were constantly at The Makassans are aware of their long regions that had been featured in his and forth in tiny, identical, intricate several of them chose to write in wow, so many artworks depicting the war with each other within me.” association with the north coast of books. Along with other commitments motions and was in awe to think English. lives of Aboriginal people at the airport.” the Territory – their ancestors visited Thus, this year’s Writers’ Festival in Indonesia, where he is based now, he that such small, delicate, almost Amongst them were some very for hundreds of years in search of A few adjustments were made and theme: “Crossings” or “Iwerre-atherre” is leading a busy life. unnoticeable actions, were integral to talented writers. Indonesia has trepang. There is growing interest in Agustinus was able to stay longer in resonated with his own journey to their performance. But Alice Springs left such a strong thousands of islands waiting for Alice Springs. reconcile the two identities within him. rekindling the friendship between impression on him that he said he travellers, and travel-writing written for The girls were there to welcome us to Makassar and the Territory, and this is He was the main speaker at Crossings “It is interesting to see two nations in Alice would definitely visit the red centre Indonesians and by Indonesians, is a their university. My fellow Australian, one of the reasons Australia now has and Borders a Festival event held at the Springs: Indigenous and the settlers, who again—preferably for a longer stay. new, but growing industry. As we posed Mark Heyward, an accomplished writer a consulate there. We may soon see town’s library. Paired with local journalist are now the dominant ones, because it for dozens of photographs with groups “I have never experienced any other based in Jakarta, and I were to run a greater exchange of ideas and culture Glenn Morrison, he spoke of the journeys is a reflection of myself. Even within the of the students after the workshop, we festivals in Australia with so much workshop on travel writing as part of the – this year for example, Makassan he had made through mainland Eurasia, limited amount of time I have here, at hoped we had given some of them involvement from Aboriginal people, Makassan International Writers Festival potters are visiting Yirrkala artists, and captured in three books since: Selimut least I would like to see the crossings inspiration to join the push. or any other festivals with a deeper in Sulawesi. They ushered us inside, collaborating with them. The Makassar Debu (A Blanket of Dust), Garis Batas here, to represent my own questions throwing rice on the ground before us, International Writers Festival has been Indigenous perspective.” The festival was centred in Fort (Borderlines) and Titik Nol: Makna about identities crossing each other.” then led us into the lecture hall. an annual event for the past seven Rotterdam, a seventeenth century Sebuah Perjalanan (Ground Zero: In 2017, Indonesian travel writer, years, and my attendance was part of Within a short amount of time, he The Festival had brought writers from Dutch military fort which used to be When Journey Takes You Home). Agustinus Wibowo was an this growing alliance. tried his best to understand the the centre of Dutch rule in Sulawesi. It international guest of the NT across the world. Among numerous His journey is indeed worth telling. culture and strife of Central Australia’s has been renovated into what must be Writers’ Festival in Alice Springs. Indonesian writers there were other My presence there was thanks to Beginning in Beijing, where Agustinus Indigenous population. The effort one of the most picturesque venues for Dina Indrasafitri has worked for a Australians, French, a Brazilian, sponsorship by the NT Writers’ Centre studied Computer Technology, he involved some confusion and some a writers’ festival anywhere. Mark and I number of media outlets including Germans, Malaysians, a Moldovian (via a Catalyst Fund grant) and the initially had his sights set on South memorable encounters. and a number of others who would were part of a panel in one of the fort’s Australian consul in Makassar. Africa as his final destination. the Guardian, Radio Australia and the deliver workshops in a range of topics, ancient halls and we were also asked to At first, for instance, the word Jakarta Post. She is an experienced Derek Pugh is the author of several following the festival theme of Diversity. perform that night at a concert – and However, Agustinus did not make it “dreaming” got lost in translation. English-Bahasa Indonesia translator. travelogues, science, and history The Australian Consul-General, Richard Mark, a folkie from way back, with that far and ended up staying for much books. His book, Tambora: Travels “I think Australians take for granted that Image: Agustinus Wibowo at the 2017 NT Writers’ and his assistant Violet were active and original songs – put in a splendid effort. longer than intended in Afghanistan, Festival. Photography by Oliver Eclipse. to Sumbawa and the Mountain that people know what ‘dreaming’ means,” a representative of the National Library, I tagged along and accompanied him where his experiences included working Changed the World, won the Territory Agustinus said, “At first I did not from Canberra, was promoting her on a harmonica, and seemed to get as a journalist, nearly being robbed and Read Best Non-Fiction 2016 More understand what it meant, I thought it work as well. away with it. kidnapped by a taxi driver, and being online at derekpugh.com.au assaulted by policemen when he failed was just a dream, but here I discovered to present any identity documents on one very unfortunate day.

20 21 LOCAL BOOKS

Refining Grief into Her multi-veined exploration of yapa antics of Violet Sunset, the character and kartiya relationships, especially performed by Mahood under Lofts’ through their understandings of direction, as well as the mime figure, Meaning: Kim Mahood’s country, overlaying and jostling against again played by Mahood, dragging a one another, is the great achievement boat across a dry lake. What I took as of her book. Behind the making of playful, humorous, parodic is revealed each map she delivers a rich mix of in the book to be more complicated Position Doubtful writing: there’s first person recounting in the making, and coming at some – anecdote that is warm, honest, often personal cost to Mahood. funny, and description that is finely KIERAN FINNANE The work with the mime figure, she balanced between intent observation writes, “lifted something from me, and and poetic evocation; there’s reflection laid in a piece of grit around which and investigation – historical, scientific, much of our subsequent friendship philosophical, artistic. There’s oral history, was formed”. including an account of a little-known massacre by the son of a survivor. And of Violet Sunset: “Apart from the feminised and theorised aspects of the The son is the artist Boxer Milner; his person, I feel subtly coerced to discover brother was a witness to the massacre; something through the medium of their father, a survivor. The detail is Violet that I prefer not to know.” scarifying – recalling methods of the holocaust, yapa were forced to dig But if this sounds like it might be The remote pocket of country centred As much as the cultural and political When I go through my notes on the their own graves before they were heading towards fuller disclosure, on Kim Mahood’s childhood home landscape was rapidly changing for book I am almost daunted by the shot and their bodies burned. Such that is not what Mahood does. She is in the Tanami holds her in trust Aboriginal people, so it was for non- sheer number of its forays. For many are the historical memories people not a confessional writer. Rather she while she’s away, as she writes. The Aboriginal people. The restoration readers what will stand out will be the carry with them, whether or not they offers the reader the opportunity to Her grief somehow allows her to relationship with Alice Springs, where of Aboriginal land under Land Rights accounts from the little-known world can be corroborated by other records. join her, as we might in the passenger draw together all the book’s disparate she also spent some childhood years, along with growing Aboriginal of the Walmajarri in Mulan, a tiny Mahood offers some reprieve in seat of the Hilux, dog in the back, threads and to reconcile herself to her may not be as compelling but that political voice and strength forced community in WA, not far, in desert telling us of a moving contemporary making camp along the way, in deep complex history and unusual, often ‘in trust’ idea seems to fit. There’s a the old romance of ‘The Outback’ to terms, from where Mahood grew up. ceremony of apology. conversation but not inside her head solitary life course. There are a number constancy to Mahood’s place here: she recede. Non-Aboriginal people were Since 2004 she has been working or heart in spelled out revelations. She of moments of epiphany towards steps in and puts in and although she (and are) struggling with the meaning Woven through these explorations there for half of each year, among her goes so far, then opens up the rest as the end of the book, all of them steps out, when we next see her … well, of living here, with the weight of are her reflections on her own life many tasks coordinating the making she might in a visual work: meaning fills experienced alone in the desert. there she is, as we expected. this history and politics and all that and creative process. Between Craft of large-scale maps as tools for inter- out in the space between us. is playing out from it. And there for Dry Lake and Position Doubtful, “What is she searching for out there A place doesn’t love you, Mahood cultural understanding, layering in was , a deeply there have been her essays, most To do this you have to write with poetic among all the salt and the sand?” she writes, it can only reflect back what Craft for a Dry Lake the overlapping knowledge systems personal story written right into that particularly the lauded and widely read power and Mahood does, particularly asks herself in the third person. And you put into it. Again, she is thinking of the Aboriginal locals and the many experience, embedded in it more Kartiya are like Toyotas, in which so in the company of her beloved, Lake then she answers: of that tract of desert way out visitors to their land – archeologists, profoundly than most through her many who have lived and worked in Ruth / Mangkurrupa: west, beloved to her. But thinking anthropologists, linguists, scientists, remote communities have seen their “She’s not looking for new lands to inhabit, family’s background in the pastoral “I’ve seen it bone dry, crisp and brittle about Mahood and Alice Springs, I land managers, artists. (We saw some experience mirrored, often hilariously but for somewhere she knows already, industry, on country that has been with a crust of silver weed … Once it certainly see a reflection back, a of this work in the exhibition Desert in a rueful kind of way. But Mahood some place she’s been in her dreams.” restored to its traditional owners. This was a still blue dish on which a dozen very appreciative reflection for what Lake, staged at Araluen in 2013.) has also returned to us in Alice Springs The dreams aren’t those of longing context actually makes her book a swans arched their question-mark she has put in – writing, teaching, formally in a number of exhibitions, or memory, they scare her into key stepping stone between an earlier Maps are a key motif in the book, necks … When I was young I saw it exhibiting, returning. all of which have taken us right into knowledge of “a future that isn’t yours, generation of Outback literature, to prompting Mahood’s forays into newly filled, the colour of milky tea.” I can remember the excitement which Mahood’s own mother, Marie the past via the maps inherited Position Doubtful territory. or anybody’s, if things keep going the This is where she returns, year after way they are.” in town back in 2000 around the Mahood, contributed, and the writing from her father, products of the I have already mentioned Desert Lake, year, it feels safe and nurturing. It is publication of her first book, Craft for of a new generation of which Kim exploration and colonisation that which is centred on Mulan and Paruku This summons our collective ‘position where she goes in grief at the end of a Dry Lake. This was not only about Mahood was at the vanguard. is her family heritage. It was from (Lake Gregory). But for many of us, doubtful’ but Mahood doesn’t stay there. the book. its scope and poignancy, its multi- these maps that she took the because Mahood’s physical person At the end of Craft for a Dry Lake She finds what she is looking for, or has, faceted story-telling and the quality ‘Position Doubtful’ of her title. This she writes, “My own journey affects featured in it so prominently, the Grief impelled this book, just as it did and imparts a sense of it – “stretching to of the writing. These were obviously was the honest enough marker of nothing but my own life.” But by exhibition Obscured by Light stands Craft for a Dry Lake. Then it was the the horizon, silent and new. appreciated elsewhere, as shown in ignorance in earlier expeditions into giving it form in the way she did, it out. Until I read Position Doubtful I too death of her father, now it is the death of the major awards it won. But there the desert. For Mahood it has lost “Not even the birds had found it, blue affected the lives of many of us. It readily and neatly described this as a Lofts and of other women, from Mulan, was a sense here of it being written none of its metaphoric potency. She as an eye, curling round the rim of the was helping make our place, putting collaborative work by Mahood and the whom we’ve come to know in Position for us, in that a place needs to be uses satellite technology for her world.” flesh onto our cultural bones, even late, deeply missed Pamela Lofts. It is Doubtful’s pages – Margaret Yinjura “made after a story” and her story had mapping work in Mulan, but still for if that flesh is pocked by ever more one of the many rich offerings of the Napurrula Bumblebee, Dora Mungkina Such a beautiful opening to what lies arrived in a cultural landscape that kartiya (whitefellers), she writes, “our questions, ever more doubt. Which book, the account of their friendship Napaltjarri, Patricia Napangarti Lee ahead – for Mahood and for all of us, to was sparse from a non-Aboriginal position in relation to the remote brings us to her much awaited and the journeys and creative and Anna Nakamarra Johns. Mahood make meaning of. point of view. parts of the country is more doubtful endeavours they undertook together, second book, Position Doubtful. dedicates the book to all five. Her than it has ever been” and she’s not and finally, of Lofts’ death. loss engenders the responsibility to This is a slightly edited version of Kieran referring to getting from A to B. remember. And in remembering, she Finnane’s speech at the Alice Springs The photographs that made up “refines grief into meaning”. launch of Position Doubtful, held in the Obscured by Light showed the Red Kangaroo bookshop, 3 July, 2017.

22 23 LOCAL BOOKS Short Reviews

WRITING HOME: WALKING the contradictions embedded in the The book records the gradual shift LITERATURE AND BELONGING IN writings of influential Europeans who in the cattle industry, as modern AUSTRALIA’S RED CENTRE have used the concept of frontier to “conveniences” like air-conditioning and SONGLINES AND FAULT LINES: EPIC explicate intercultural difference. His heli-mustering are introduced, so Toni’s WALKS OF THE RED CENTRE critique of Arthur Groom’s overly life as a young mother is not quite as Glenn Morrison romanticised post-WWII depiction rugged as that of her mother June. Melbourne University Press, 2017 of Central Australia as wilderness is (After all, as we learned in A Sunburnt particularly insightful. Childhood, there wasn’t even a house Review by Megg Kelham Importantly, Morrison does not when June went to live with Bill Tapp I first met Glen Morrison, author of two restrict his analysis to European on Killarney Station.) recently published accounts of the storytellers. In what he claims is a But life is still pretty tough, and there way walking literature has shaped our literary first, he also casts his critical are sad – and frightening – times, but understandings of Central Australian gaze on a local ancestral tale which, also funny moments, like when Toni’s society, on a one-day off-track walk somewhat intriguingly, he compares young daughter is forced to drive the which followed, almost literally, in the to a European pilgrimage. As all car home from a campdrafting event footsteps of the first European to walk good books do, Morrison’s account because Toni’s foot is so swollen from a on Centralian soil. Morrison was in the challenged some of my own pre- centipede bite. early stages of exploring why so many conceived ideas. I no longer, for newcomers, including ourselves, feel example, view tribal boundaries as The books ends when Shaun and Toni so at home in Australia’s desert heart. the rigid delineators of geographical decide to retire from the cattle industry, The answer to his question, re-framed space I had long presumed they were. and they return to Katherine just in time as an exposition on what prevents for the 1998 floods which devastated belonging, is the subject of his recent Glenn’s books’ provide an importantly the town. publications. His thesis is relatively critical counterpoint to those many My Outback Life captures the simple. In his own words: “persistently Australians whose sense of belonging pioneering spirit of the Northern representing Central Australia as a is troubled by the taint of invasion. Territory’s “outback” dwellers, and her frontier prevents Australians from To these people I highly recommend memoirs have won Toni Tapp Coutts reimagining it as home”. Glenn’s work. many fans around Australia. In both Writing Home: Walking Glenn Morrison is an Alice-based As well as continuing her writing work, Literature and Belonging in Australia’s writer and journalist. Megg Kelham is Toni Tapp Coutts is on the Katherine Red Centre and its less academic a local historian currently undertaking Town Council. She’s also on the NT cousin, Songlines and Fault Lines: Epic doctoral studies at the University of Writers’ Centre board. Sally Bothroyd Walks of the Red Centre, (Melbourne Western Sydney. Her topic is a history of is the Executive Director of the NT University Press 2017) Morrison punishment in Central Australia. Writers’ Centre. explicates his idea using the tools of literary criticism. Focussing his gaze MY OUTBACK LIFE on six emblematic Centralian walks – To n i Ta p p Co u t t s CROCS IN THE CABINET covering the breadth of the region’s Hachette Australia, 2017 Ben Smee and Christopher A Walsh long history – Morrison simultaneously Hachette Australia, 2016 demonstrates both the ubiquity of Review by Sally Bothroyd the frontier metaphor and its many Review by Linda Wells Hot on the heels of Toni Tapp Coutts inadequacies. No matter their cultural best-selling memoir A Sunburnt The most recent reign of the NT background, Centralians have as many Childhood comes a second memoir cowboy in government, the Mills /Giles commonalities to share as differences by the Katherine author. attempt of 2012 – 2016 deserved to to argue about. Not the least of these be documented clearly and concisely. commonalities is the shared practice My Outback Life begins about the time Ben Smee and Christopher A Walsh, of walking. of Toni’s marriage to Shaun Coutts, and political journalists from the NT News, chronicles the couple’s life together, Without denying the sins of the colonial have done this in their terrific little managing a huge cattle station in the past, Morrison illuminates some of guide to what went on and what went Gulf country. wrong: Crocs in the Cabinet. Living in Alice Springs throughout the

25 LOCAL BOOKS

time in question, I knew things were DEW AND BROKEN GLASS GILRUTH: A COMPLEX MAN In this book, Egan has attempted to her violent partner Ben. It’s a raw The stories in this collection are awry. I guess I didn’t pay full attention Penny Drysdale Te d E g a n give a balanced account of a man who and very real account of an abusive generally well placed – not in that to the extent of the corruption or Recent Work Press 2017 Ted Egan Enterprises 2017 has been harshly treated by history. Yet relationship that is sadly too familiar predictable way that covers up the conflicts of interest, the misspending Egan was determined “not to be an and echoes Rosie Batty’s comments not-so-good stories, but in a way that of public money, the scandals and Review by Julie U’Ren Review by Craig Bellamy apologist for him.” Egan, who freely that ‘domestic and family violence heightens the theme of the story from dirty dealings that were paraded Alice Springs is the setting of Penny This biography examines the life and admits to being a “social commentator” does not discriminate’. the one before: symbolic architecture for governance at the time and rather than an “historian”, has succeeded builds from one story to the next Drysdale’s debut poetry collection, times of Dr John Anderson Gilruth Her collective experience to this point constantly threatened to tear the in this objective. While the book throughout the whole work. For Dew and Broken Glass. A book who was the Northern Territory’s leaves the reader wondering how government apart. certainly portrays some of Gilruth’s example, hands on a ball in one story exploring what it is to be touched and first commonwealth government McBryde has had the strength to get faults, including his tendency to be become hands on a bell in the next. An There was Tollner and his acts of changed by the people with whom appointed administrator. through but characters like her ‘lioness’ strong willed, overall the book achieves early explorer chronicles letters to his physical and emotional brutality; the she lives and works in the place she Nan paint a picture of vigor across the As author Ted Egan states, Gilruth’s a balanced account of this man and the daughter, while the story before writes dirty leadership coups; the Tokyo now calls home. Her poems capture generations, a kind of deep-rooted term as administrator “was challenging times he lived in. of the premature death of a six-year- Cabaret Club Incident featuring the vividly the responses of someone open optimism despite the chaos. controversial, tempestuous, fraught old Indigenous girl. ‘Minister for Foul Language’ Matt to examining the complexities of living Ted Egan AO is a folk musician, author, with disputes and vitriol, even violence.” The House of Lies is an honest, raw Conlan; the scandalous high profile in Central Australia. Here’s a poet also and was Administrator of the Northern That said, Giacometti delves into While Gilruth was probably the most first novel from McBryde as she affairs; the defection of the bush bloc unafraid to laugh at herself. ‘running as Territory from 2003 to 2007. Craig dangerous territory regarding disliked administrator the Northern makes herself vulnerable in the pursuit to Clive Palmer’s aptly abbreviated if my life depends on it…I have to get Bellamy is a modern history PhD who can and cannot represent Territory has ever had, Egan points of helping others learn from her PUP party; the wild overseas jaunts to the bookshop before five’ candidate at Charles Darwin University. Indigenous characters in writing. out this was largely a product of the experience. One hopes it has been a that Ministers were treated to from He is also an avid reader of Northern My abbr.d life portrays a fictitious The sense of place grounds this turbulent times in which he ‘ruled’ cathartic journey for her too. the public purse; the curious incident collection firmly in country: a ‘piece the Territory. This was a period when Territory history. Indigenous community and is of of the Palmerston Hospital Hole of bark splits from a blistered trunk,’ many of Australia’s young men were Renee McBryde is a community course not representative of all Cover-Up; and of course the selling services worker in Alice Springs. House Indigenous people. If readers take into ‘spinach cooks still rooted in the earth,’ fighting and dying overseas in the THE HOUSE OF LIES of TIO which Smee and Walsh identify of Lies is her first book. Alex Barwick is consideration his subsequent stories and ‘an old car decaying in clay.’ ‘Great War’, a time when Darwin was Renee McBryde as the point at which Territorians experiencing an increasingly strong a radio broadcaster and freelance writer of ‘explorers’, we understand perhaps The detail with which she captures Hachette Australia, 2017 finally turned their backs on the Giles union movement and when the White living in Alice Springs. the more complex conditions of our the beauty of a claypan, whistling Government. There was much, much Australia Policy ruled. social landscape: that there is more Review by Alex Barwick more which is all laid out, along with fireworks on Territory night, than one story. This story does not MY LIFE & OTHER FICTIONS relevant newspaper articles that were playfulness of children at an outdoor The book understandably concentrates Renee McBryde wears an open, start on the first page of My Life & Michael Giacometti printed at the time and some of the film, a tragic death, a funeral, and the on Gilruth’s time in the Territory as welcoming smile on first meeting and Other Fictions, but through the real Spineless Wonders, 2017 more memorable NT News headlines. weight of forgiveness has immediacy. this is the period for which he is best it’s one that doesn’t fade over time. life accounts from Indigenous people, known and the period that Egan Throughout the collection Drysdale missing in this country’s abbr.d history. ‘The paper isn’t just crocodiles and sought to better explain to readers. Having interviewed first-time author Review by Adelle Sefton-Rowston returns to the violence that separates quirky front pages’ Smee and Walsh However, it is somewhat disappointing McBryde on several occasions there’s Michael Giacometti’s stories and lives of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Michael Giacometti is this year’s winner tell us towards the end of the book, that little is written regarding Gilruth’s an inner strength and hard-wired poems have been published in Meanjin, people in the town. ‘a police van purrs of the NT Literary Awards Poetry having amply demonstrated this time spent working as a veterinarian positivity that belies her complex, Island, Wild and several anthologies. He up the mall’ She also celebrates her prize. On the evening of the award, throughout the earlier pages. in New Zealand or his post-Territory unstable and violent past. has twice one the NT Literary Awards friendships with local Arrernte women, Giacometti admitted his winning poem, life working with the fledgling Poetry Prize. Adelle Sefton-Rowston ‘A script of high farce, a fall-of-Rome who’s presence is felt from afar in a But, as she says in her memoir The In the soft light of dawn was a piece Australian Council of Scientific and has a PhD in literature and lectures at epic of backstabbing and buffoonery.’ return visit she makes to the city. ‘I House of Lies, it’s the only life she carefully created over four years. I’m Industrial Research (CSIR) which was Charles Darwin University. It’s an excellent rollicking tale, entirely see the old ladies have come with me’ knew growing up so ‘when it’s your hesitant to ask how long it has taken readable and gobsmacking. It would established in 1927 (the CSIR was life you really just don’t notice’. him to craft his equally poetic collection be sort of funny if it was fiction. As a debut collection, this is a stunning the precursor to the Commonwealth of short stories: My Life & Other The House of Lies sees McBryde lay ALICE SPRINGS: FROM SINGING work with a bold and powerful voice. Scientific and Industrial Research Fictions. Although a poet, Giacometti bare the heavy weight of carrying WIRE TO ICONIC OUTBACK TOWN Ben Smee won a Walkley Award in Organisation (CSIRO) of today). has successfully grasped character, plot Penny Drysdale is a poet who has family secrets, murder, sexual assault Stuart Traynor 2014 for his coverage of NT politics and theme by generating rhythmic worked on social justice and cultural Other features include a detailed index; and domestic violence. As she Wakefield Press, 2016 during his time with the NT News. flowing prose. My favourite line for projects throughout her varied career. a useful bibliography; a time chart of untangles the web of lies and half- In 2015 he was the NT Journalist of example speaks to what Giacometti’s Julie U’Ren is a writer of flash fiction significant dates and events during truths from family members around Review by Craig Bellamy Year. Christopher A Walsh was also writing achieves: “Dark ink snakes and short stories based in Darwin. Gilruth’s time in office and up to the her she simultaneously shares a This book goes well beyond the last a political reporter with the NT News. across the page, leaving a river turned period when he appeared before the coming-of-age story as she tries to ‘Alice story’ given in Doris Blackwell and Linda Wells is the author of Kultitja: to salt by my spittle and tears, and Royal Commission; and an impressive work out who she is in it all. Douglas Lockwood’s Alice on the line Memoir of an Outback Schoolteacher a large blot, shaped like a question (Ginninderra Press 2016). list of ‘primary sources’ of ‘old which was first published in 1965. Territorians’ whom Egan interviewed. McBryde acknowledges she has a or a decision. Already dry.” He writes These three-and-a-half pages, while cracking memory. Her recall of early honestly and fervently of the landscape, The European history of the township not alphabetical, read like a who’s-who events and secret conversations is revealing new meaning of old clichés of Alice Springs goes back to 1870 of significant Territorians. detailed and compelling, yet she kept and allowing a contemporary reader and the early establishment of Alice no diary. not only to encounter place, but to as a communications link along the Of interest is a twenty-six-page question its harshness as something Overland Telegraph Line – hence the As a young adult she takes you inside literature review where Egan evaluates potentially more beautiful. ‘singing wire’ reference in the title. the bloodied hotel room in Thailand the previous efforts of other authors However, the area has been inhabited where she lies smashed apart by writing about Gilruth. These include by the Arrernte people for thousands of Douglas Lockwood, Ernestine Hill, years. Stuart Traynor writes of the town Professor Alan Powell amongst a host and its surroundings and its peoples of other authors. both black and white.

26 27 LOCAL BOOKS

Lesser known histories are recorded SUMMARY OF SMALL THINGS book teaches its readers is a new word Children as Authors in the book, including chapters on Carol Adams which I definitely feel applies to this ‘The Bungalow’ and the effects of the Ptilotus Press, 2017 work, ebullient, which means happy, Second World War on the town. The joyful, energetic and enthusiastic. SALLY BOTHROYD text is well written and is supported Review by Alice Woods Often during the period I was reading by several maps and thirty-eight this book I consciously remembered photographs. The chapters often have I started reading Carol Adams’ Adams’ words and used them as an tantalising titles such as ‘A positive Summary of Small Things, published encouragement to be more mindful and and popular man’ (referring to Charles locally by Ptilotus Press as a part of take more time to enjoy the world and To d d ) . their new Inland Writers Series, just before taking a week off work. I took my place in it. I even bought a notebook Traynor describes the harsh living her message as a challenge; enjoy the (which I drafted this review in). conditions and hardships of living in Going into publishing is not for Illustrator Joan Andropov was another “He was also inspired by small things. I will always thank her for a moment, Central Australia, including the lives the faint-hearted, but one Darwin “find” from the Essington school family. sitting in my garden trying to dig academic research on of the Overland Telegraph Line staff I am a great fan of local literature educator has launched a whole David Cannon had noticed some out buffel, the wind blowing, getting and Christian missionaries and many and other forms of creativity and series of picture books … with results paintings of native animals done by the how writing can help covered in blossoms and simply other characters. He also looks at am constantly overwhelmed by the surpassing his highest expectations. retired nurse, and asked if she’d help children reach a higher seemingly disproportionate number thinking ‘this is beautiful’. I suspect that out with the book project. another aspect of white settlement David Cannon is the principal of The of skilled people in Alice Springs. many others who have read this book standard of literacy than of Australia’s vast interior – the role of Essington School Darwin. “She was very timid about her abilities,” For this reason I was already so keen have been similarly inspired and urge all women. An array of female characters David said, “but the results have been reading alone.” to be charmed by Adams’ book. I who haven’t already read it to do so. With a depth of knowledge about are included here, including Atalanta outstanding.” Joan did the illustrations was far from disappointed. I loved literacy and learning, he was inspired Allchurch, wife of the Telegraph Station The Alice Springs version of hygge. for all ten of the initial series – showing Adams’ writing style and her simple to fill what he saw as two holes in the manager Tom Bradshaw, and the a fine eye for bringing out the descriptions of daily life and her Carol Adams is a music teacher, painter market when it came to picture books. legendary and intriguing Olive Pink “character” in the animals. inner thoughts, which are at once so and writer originally from South (whose name lives on in the Olive Pink “There aren’t a lot of books featuring universal while also being so uniquely Australia. Alice Woods is the Special David Cannon did quite a large print Botanical Garden in Alice). Australian animals – particularly animals ‘Alice’. Adams talks about her work in Collections Librarian at the Alice Springs run of the first ten books – aiming to from Northern Australia,” he said. “And This softcover book has many other the garden and on her roof, her job, her Public Library and is passionate about sell them over a five-year period – but there aren’t a lot of published books fine aspects including a detailed index, creative process, as well as important Alice Springs and the wealth of local says he’s now worried about running written by children.” an extensive bibliography, informative things about love, laughter, grief, aging literature and other creative outlets. out. The books are for sale online at chapter notes and even a time line of and so much more. She does so in He was also inspired by academic the Museum and Darwin Bookshop in significant events for the town of Alice an unselfconscious way that makes research on how writing can help the mall. They’ve also been picked up Springs from 1860 to 1960 readers feel like they already know her; children reach a higher standard of by an outlet in South Australia, and a The book won the 2017 Chief Minister’s already like her. literacy than reading alone. school buyer in Queensland. Northern Territory History Book Award. Adams’ sweeps her reader up with He decided to trial a program for upper The second series of ten books is set to An enjoyable and educational read. vivid descriptions and her clear joy in primary age children, to allow them to be launched in December 2017, and the the small things; finding beauty in the work with a mentor, author Joanne van next project is to translate five of the Stuart Traynor lived and worked in mundane or in things just beneath the Os, to write a picture book featuring a books into Indonesian, Japanese and the NT for several decades, and after surface. Amongst other things that the particular animal. Chinese. retiring, spent eight years writing this book. Craig Bellamy is a modern David Cannon knew Joanne van Os as David says his “mass market” approach history PhD candidate at Charles a parent, but also through the school’s may not be for everyone, but these Darwin University. He is also an avid holiday writing program, and he knew days, there’s no reason any school can’t reader of Territory history. she’d have the patience and knowledge make an in-house book and print off at to work with the young authors. least a few copies. But David Cannon said he was totally “The exciting thing for me is that all blown away by the results. He thought of these kids have a book published,” maybe one book would be of high said David. “And I firmly believe that at enough standard to be published, but some stage in their lives, they’ll publish Congratulations to Darwin writer Johanna Bell in the end they decided to publish all other things.” ten as a series. and Tennant Creek illustrator Dion Beasley. Their book Go Home Cheeky Animals was named the 2017 Book of the Year in the Early Childhood section by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.

28 23 FICTION Can you hear the beating of the drums? SYLVIA PURRURLE NEALE

Australia 1956. A nine-year-old The girl is about to go through a timber bench with one end propped Another world, another time, another Victor Hugo wrote his story during a I have kept my mother’s exemption Arrernte girl is living in Giles Street. catastrophic upheaval – an event which up by a kerosene tin. She is always late place. People screaming for justice, time of great upheaval and political card. Still it reads, ‘This certificate may Eastside, Alice Springs. The time of will haunt her for the next 50 years: the for school and sneaks out early so she freedom. The right to live. unrest. Faraway France. First published be revoked at any time by the Director the big drought. A small two-bedroom death of her mother. can catch the next episode. in 1862. of Native Affairs’. Still she can’t let go. asbestos home, shuttered windows She has always been a very shy girl. The week after the funeral she goes 1950s Australia and we, the Indigenous 155 years on, 17,000 kilometres away, which were always open to allow the *** She doesn’t know how to connect to back to school. The nun is out the front. peoples of this place, were living under Victor Hugo’s extraordinary story found occasional breeze or dust to squeeze people. She feels separate from them, She is questioning the children about I was in my forties. In Perth, Western the control of the Aboriginal Act. We me and has followed me for 50 long itself through; dirt floor, always sprayed invisible. It seems there is always a their permission forms and money for Australia; in a theatre. Watching a were seen as part of the Flora and years on my journey through life – but with the hose to keep the dust down. space between herself and the world a school excursion. ‘Where’s your form live performance, a musical. I felt I Fauna – not as human. The irony is that especially in the heart of this place, this A very small wood stove, one large around her. and money?’ The class is still and silent. knew these characters. I knew them they were right – we do belong to the sacred place. wooden table, one kitchen chair and Everybody else knows. The nun asks well. All through the performance I earth, the country, all; animals, trees, Her mother is her protection. Her Here I am, still yearning for peace, bench – one end rested on top of an again. She points her finger at the girl. kept thinking Why do I know all these rocks everything, we are one with our stability, her safety. Her mother can struggling for justice. empty kerosene tin. The young girl ‘Where’s yours?’ people? Why do I know all of their world. But that was not how they saw us. see her. Her mother encourages and knows how to approach the stool, names? I took a deep breath. I was ‘Can you hear the beating of the drums?’ supports her in her never-ending The girl is unable to speak, unable to There was no freedom; no freedom unlike the Catholic priest who lands overwhelmed with emotion; it was search for the knowledge that will open move, the teacher waiting; silence, icy to live our lives, to marry whom you Sylvia Purrurle Neale is an Eastern on the dirt floor, newly dampened that story that had entered into my windows into worlds outside her own. silence. Then another student speaks, wanted, to care for your children in Arrernte woman born in Alice Springs. especially for his visit; his nice white consciousness all those years ago, on a friend. She tells the teacher what’s a way that was your way. To live and Her writing is published in Voice from shirt and smart black trousers ruined. The girl buries herself in books. She that old radio in my kitchen in that happened. The teacher softens. She practice the ways of our ancestors. the Heart (1995) and This Country Her and her sisters had burst out listens to the serials on the radio. She house in Giles St, in Alice Springs. bends to touch the girl. Don’t touch me. Restrictions ruled our lives. Anywhere Anytime (2010). Sylvia read laughing, much to the priest’s disgust; knows storytelling. It is part of her She flinches. She pulls back. Never let Same story but with music this time. a version of this piece at the NT Writers’ still they noticed dad holding his culture, her way of learning. Listening If you found a way out that met their people see you cry. Never! She holds Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Festival, Alice Springs, 2017. breath, trying not to laugh. to stories, telling stories. back the tears and runs. She stumbles. approval you were given a card to say In a song, I heard the line: ‘There’s a you could work and live your life in the Photos: (opposite page) From Flickr, Vintage Evening, the sweet smell of burning On that old brown radio that looks like She runs home. She doesn’t go back. grief that can’t be spoken’. And it took wider community. You could even go to Table Radio by Joe Haupt. https://www.flickr.com/ wood floated throughout the house a box with buttons – that needs to be photos/51764518@N02/34864423846/ After her mother dies she withdraws me back – back to that terrible day in the pub. You could be seen as a human and already she can taste the hit every now and then to get it going. (this page) Sylvia at the NT Writers’ Festival, Alice further and she runs. She keeps on 1956. When I was nine years old. being albeit an honorary one. Springs, 2017. Photography by Oliver Eclipse. kangaroo stew, potatoes, carrots and In the kitchen with the fire burning on running. onions and on top, fat soft dumplings; the old wood stove. The tea boiling. The mum and big sister always found a smell of curried sausages. Her old older It is during this time of grieving that way to make even the most meagre of sister cooking. Served with perfect rice. she first hears a story on the radio, on meals taste heavenly. She always cooked perfect rice. the ABC – a story that resonates in her. She can’t understand why at the time. She sits on the bench and listens. The But she can’t let it go. 30 OPPORTUNITIES The Australian/Vogel Literary Award HARLEQUIN BOOKS AUSTRALIA Closing: May 2018 General email submissions The Australian/Vogel Literary Harlequinbooks.com.au/submissions Competitions are also listed on our Award is an Australian literary website ntwriters.com.au MILLS & BOON award for unpublished manuscripts Accept general postal submissions by writers under the age of 35. Millsandboon.com.au/submissions DECEMBER 2017 HARPER COLLINS Nakata Brophy Short Fiction and AUGUST 2018 Wednesday post Poetry Prize Wednesdaypost.com.au Opens: 1 December 2017 The Scarlet Stiletto Awards Closing date: August 2018 PAN MACMILLAN The Nakata Brophy prize recognises Submit manuscripts on Mondays A national award for short stories, the talent of young (under 30 years) Panmacmillan.com.au Indigenous writers across Australia. written by Australian women and The prize is $5000, publication featuring a strong female protagonist. PENGUIN in Overland’s print magazine, and a Several categories, and prize money Monthly Catch (first week of each month) three-month writer’s residency. on offer. Penguin.com.au/getting-published RANDOM HOUSE AUSTRALIA The Griffin Award Hard Copy general submission only that OCTOBER 2018 The prestigious Griffin Award are separate from Penguin. recognises an outstanding play ASA Emerging Writers’ and Randomhouse.com.au/about/ or performance text that displays Illustrators’ Mentorships manuscripts.aspx an authentic, inventive and Closing date: October 2018 contemporary Australian voice, with LACUNA PRESS the winner receiving a $10,000 prize. Each year the ASA runs a selective Hard copy submissions only mentorship program for unpublished Lacunapublishing.com writers and picture book illustrators. XOUM JANUARY 2018 Scribe Nonfiction Prize Online submission form The Maurice Saxby Creative Closing date: October 2018 Xoum.com.au/submissions Development Program The Scribe Nonfiction Prize is a WOMBAT BOOKS Closing date: 31 January 2018 developmental award for writers aged Unsolicited picture books only through This program offers emerging 30 and under working on long-form online submission form children’s writers and/or illustrators a pieces or their first nonfiction book. wombatbookscom.au two-week mentorship in Melbourne from 17th Aug – 2nd Sept in 2018. AFFIRM PRESS Finch Memoir Prize General email submissions Closing date: October 2018 Affirmpress.com.au/submissions The Finch Memoir Prize is an annual FEBRUARY 2018 publication prize for an unpublished PANTERA PRESS General email submissions The Text Prize for Young Adult and memoir of between 40,000 and Panterapresscom.au/fiction-and-non- Children’s Writing 80,000 words. fiction-how-to-submit Closing date: 2 February 2018 The $10,000 Text Prize aims to Open Submissions TEXT PUBLISHING discover incredible new books THE BIG ISSUE Hard copy submissions only. Textpublishing.comau/manuscript- for young adults and children by The Big Issue is an independent Australian and New Zealand writers. magazine that publishes informative submissions The prize is open to published and and entertaining articles on a huge BLACK INC unpublished writers of all ages. variety of subjects including arts and General email submissions, not entertainment, street culture, lifestyle accepting unsolicited poetry or and personal profiles. children’s books. MARCH 2018 VOICEWORKS Blackincbooks.com/submissions The Chief Minister’s Northern Territory Australia’s newest literary talents are TICONDEROGA PUBLICATIONS History Book Award filling the pages of Voiceworks right General email submissions Closing date: March 2018 now. Submissions open quarterly for Ticonderogapublications.com/web/ This annual award is for the most young Australian writers. index.php/about-us/submission/novels significant historical book about the ALLEN & UNWIN GIRAMONDO PUBLISHING Northern Territory published in the last The Friday Pitch Online submission form 12 months (January to December). Allenandunwin.com Gironomdopublishing.com/contribute BLOOMSBURY SPARK FINCH PUBLISHING SYDNEY MAY 2018 Bloomsbury YA digital imprint Finch Publishing accepts manuscript General email submissions proposals on Thursdays on the The NT Literary Awards Bloomsbury.com/au/bloomsbury-spark/ following subjects: parenting, social Closing date: May 2018 submissions issues, child health, memoir, family The annual Northern Territory Literary HACHETTE AUSTRALIA relationships and mental health. Awards celebrate the achievements of General email submissions They will also consider biographies. emerging writers and are run by the Hachette.com.au/information finch.com.au Northern Territory Library.

32 33 Word storm NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL DARWIN MAY 24‐27 2018

Artwork by Pennyrose Wiggins: Kingswood Country, 2017 acrylic and oil on found car boot.