Randolph Stow 1935 –2010
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The Story of a (Post)Colonial Boy
The Story of a (Post)Colonial Boy Roger Averill n many ways Randolph Stow was a solitary figure, someone I content with his own company, happier in silence than in small talk. The fact that he published five novels and two volumes of poetry and had won the Miles Franklin Award before he was 30, and that after turning 50 he more or less maintained a writerly silence, means his life was also strikingly singular. While acknowledging the obvious importance of these intensely individual elements to Stow’s character, in writing his biography I am aware that these are only part of the story, that his life must also be understood in the context of a collective, a clan. What follows is a discussion of Stow’s colonial heritage, how this influenced his sense of self, framed key experiences in his early life, and is reflected in his representation of indigenous- settler relations in two of his most widely read novels, To the Islands and The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea. When, over ten years ago, Stow and I first corresponded about the possible shape his authorised biography might take, he admitted to being ‘a bit of a genealogy-nerd’ and suggested the book include ‘a short introductory section on family history; not everyone’s cup-of-tea these days, of course, but I think, in the case of colonial 126 Roger Averill families, it’s interesting to know where people came from…’ 1 I was not surprised by this suggestion, because by then I had already come to understand the importance of Stow’s colonial heritage to his sense of self. -
Randolph Stow: a Memoir
Randolph Stow: A Memoir Tony Hassall first encountered the work of Randolph Stow in 1965. I had I arrived at Monash University to tutor in English after an Honours degree that included a wide range of English and American literature, but no Australian works. Dennis Douglas was teaching a pioneering subject in Australian Literature and The Bystander was on the reading list. I bought a copy — for 11 shillings and threepence — and was immediately taken by its evocative power. Some years later I found The Merry-go-Round in the Sea remaindered for $2.14 in a Newcastle bookshop and, recognising the author, bought a copy. It was love at first reading. I was captivated to an extent that very few books, Australian or otherwise, have engaged me in a lifetime of reading. Set in the West, on the other side of the continent, it resonated in an unforgettably rich and poetic manner with my own childhood. Having written about it at length elsewhere, I will only say here that after a quarter of a century of teaching The Merry-go-Round in the Sea to undergraduate students in subjects from first year to fourth year Honours, I don’t recall a single one who didn’t enjoy it, and I have never tired of revisiting its graceful construction, familiar images freighted with poetic significance, and emotional poignancy. 120 Tony Hassal Not long after it was published, The Merry-go-Round in the Sea was prescribed for study for the NSW Higher School Certificate, and I gave talks on it to teachers and students for the English Teachers’ Association. -
Genealogy and Homographesis in the Fiction of Sumner Locke Elliott
‘The Writers’ Picnic’: Genealogy and Homographesis in the Fiction of Sumner Locke Elliott SHAUN BELL University of New South Wales I wanted to begin this essay with a well-known anecdote recounting the dinner party Patrick White and Manoly Lascaris held in their Martin Road home for Sumner Locke Elliott. Elliott’s biographer Sharon Clarke suggests that this anecdote is ‘told so often . some have declared it fiction’ (‘Writing Life’ 239).1 As with a fictional event, there are conflicting interpretations of the evening—Clarke called it ‘a great success,’ yet David Marr’s biography of White doesn’t mention the evening at all. White had greatly admired Elliott’s third novel, Edens Lost, calling it ‘marvellous,’ noting the ‘atmosphere and place, tone of voice, and the characters—above all the characters’ (Altman, ‘Crushed’). White had said as much to Elliott’s friend and fellow New Yorker Shirley Hazzard but despite this, the admiration and affection Elliott expected were absent; second hand accounts suggest that it was a ‘quiet’ and ‘awkward’ evening, and Elliott felt ignored. The punchline (as it were) of the anecdote sees Elliott leaving the party dejected. He recounts: After saying our goodbyes, with Patrick standing at the top of the stair, I began walking back down and I heard him cry behind me: ‘Come back! Come back!’ As I was returning to New York within the following days, I thought he meant to Australia and perhaps even to visit with him and Manoly again. So, with my back still to him, and wanting to immediately reassure him, I also called out my reply. -
Three, Four, Five Civil Liberties Groups Emerge in WA
Chapter 8 – Western Australia Three, four, five civil liberties groups emerge in WA The first mention of a civil liberties body in Perth came in an article in a local daily newspaper in September 1936: “The establishment of a Council of Civil Liberties in Perth was advocated yesterday by Mr. C. Bader (sic), readers’ counsellor under the adult education scheme of the University of Western Australia. Mr. Badger made the suggestion when discussing the action of the Customs Department in seizing 17 books from the Perth Literary Institute last week. “In view of the general tendency to interfere with the free circulation of books, and especially the tendency of the Federal Government to devolve its powers to irresponsible departments, said Mr. Badger, one felt there was a great need for a body in Perth affiliated to or parallel with the Council of Civil Liberties in Melbourne. This council, in its own way, was a development of the Council for Civil Liberties in England, whose president was Mr. E. W. Forster, the author of ‘Passage to India’. “It was a saddening fact that the battle for liberty, which people were apt to regard as having been won for them by their ancestors, had to be fought anew in each generation. “Despite the ample powers which governments had to suppress overt sedition and treachery, continued Mr. Badger, democratic governments still found it necessary to pass Acts like the Crimes Act, which were contrary to the whole tradition of British law and justice.” 1 Badger (photo), then just starting his career, went on to become the first Director of the Council of Adult Education in Victoria, a position he held until 1971. -
The Sorrows of Young Randolph: Nature/ Culture and Colonialism in Stow’S Fiction
Kunapipi Volume 34 Issue 2 Article 3 2012 The sorrows of young Randolph: Nature/ Culture and colonialism in Stow’s fiction Paul Sharrad Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi Digital Par t of the Arts and Humanities Commons Commons Network Recommended Citation Logo Sharrad, Paul, The sorrows of young Randolph: Nature/ Culture and colonialism in Stow’s fiction, Kunapipi, 34(2), 2012. Available at:https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi/vol34/iss2/3 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] The sorrows of young Randolph: Nature/ Culture and colonialism in Stow’s fiction Abstract Helen Tiffin has worked consistently around the possibilities of dismantling the structures and habits of thought of colonialism. In doing so, she has investigated possibilities of counter-formations: to literary canons, to the assumptions underlying canons (1993), to history and its narrative modes (1983), and to colonialist discourse (1987). As her work has progressed, the demolition job on prejudicial boundaries between self and other has shifted direction from place to race to gender and thence to examining the boundaries between humans and nature, people and animals (2001). Throughout, her literary focus has been consistently on the Caribbean, but she has also analysed aspects of the Australian writer, Randolph Stow, notably Tourmaline (1978) and Visitants (1981). Her interest at the time was in texts that worked to undo Eurocentric colonialism, but if she revisited his work now, she might well look at how Stow’s work shows connections between post/colonial cultures and problematic relations between humans and nature. -
A Bibliography of Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia'
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Flinders Academic Commons A Bibliography of Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' compiled by Lyn Jacobs and Rick Hosking Cover illustration : Pobasso, a Malay chief Flinders Library William Westall, 1781-1850 Pencil; 27.7 x 17.6 cm Publication Series: No. 2 National Library of Australia Reproduced with the permission of The Library, the National Library of Australia Flinders University Refer to the Appendix B for details Adelaide 1995 ISBN 0-7258-0588-9 Contents Acknowledgments South East Asia (cont.) About The Authors Thailand Poetry Introduction Short Stories Novels Asia (general) Timor Poetry Poetry Short Stories Short Stories Novels Novels Plays Plays Vietnam Poetry North East Asia: Short Stories China Novels Anthologies Poetry Short Stories Plays Novels South Asia Plays Anthologies South Asia (general) Hong Kong Poetry Poetry Short Stories Short Stories Novels Novels Bangladesh Plays Poetry Japan Novels Poetry India Short Stories Poetry Novels Short Stories Plays Novels Korea Plays Poetry Nepal Novels Poetry Plays Short Stories Taiwan Novels Poetry Pakistan Short Stories Poetry Short Stories South East Asia Novels SE Asia (general) Sri Lanka Poetry Poetry Short Stories Short Stories Novels Novels Bali Plays Poetry Tibet Short Stories Poetry Novels Novels Plays Papua New Guinea Burma Short Stories Novels Cambodia (Kampuchea) Poetry Poetry Short Stories Short Stories Novels Novels Plays Indonesia Poetry Appendices Short Stories Appendix A - Tables Novels Appendix B - Cover illustration Plays Laos Poetry Short Stories Novels Malaysia Poetry Short Stories Novels Plays Philippines Poetry Short Stories Novels Plays Singapore Poetry Short Stories Novels Plays Acknowledgments This bibliography was compiled with the assistance of a grant from the Flinders University Research Committee. -
Biographical Information
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ADAMS, Glenda (1940- ) b Sydney, moved to New York to write and study 1964; 2 vols short fiction, 2 novels including Hottest Night of the Century (1979) and Dancing on Coral (1986); Miles Franklin Award 1988. ADAMSON, Robert (1943- ) spent several periods of youth in gaols; 8 vols poetry; leading figure in 'New Australian Poetry' movement, editor New Poetry in early 1970s. ANDERSON, Ethel (1883-1958) b England, educated Sydney, lived in India; 2 vols poetry, 2 essay collections, 3 vols short fiction, including At Parramatta (1956). ANDERSON, Jessica (1925- ) 5 novels, including Tirra Lirra by the River (1978), 2 vols short fiction, including Stories from the Warm Zone and Sydney Stories (1987); Miles Franklin Award 1978, 1980, NSW Premier's Award 1980. AsTLEY, Thea (1925- ) teacher, novelist, writer of short fiction, editor; 10 novels, including A Kindness Cup (1974), 2 vols short fiction, including It's Raining in Mango (1987); 3 times winner Miles Franklin Award, Steele Rudd Award 1988. ATKINSON, Caroline (1834-72) first Australian-born woman novelist; 2 novels, including Gertrude the Emigrant (1857). BAIL, Murray (1941- ) 1 vol. short fiction, 2 novels, Homesickness (1980) and Holden's Performance (1987); National Book Council Award, Age Book of the Year Award 1980, Victorian Premier's Award 1988. BANDLER, Faith (1918- ) b Murwillumbah, father a Vanuatuan; 2 semi autobiographical novels, Wacvie (1977) and Welou My Brother (1984); strongly identified with struggle for Aboriginal rights. BAYNTON, Barbara (1857-1929) b Scone, NSW; 1 vol. short fiction, Bush Studies (1902), 1 novel; after 1904 alternated residence between Australia and England. -
University of Canberra Matthew Ricketson The
Ricketson Writing interior monologues University of Canberra Matthew Ricketson The perils of writing interior monologues in narrative journalism Abstract: The interior monologue is perhaps the most controversial element of what is variously called narrative journalism, literary journalism, creative non-fiction or narrative non-fiction. Many practitioners and critics argue it is impossible to accurately convey a person’s innermost thoughts and feelings while some say that it is possible, if difficult. A small minority are unconcerned by any issues that may arise in journalists and other non-fiction writers writing interior monologues for the subjects of their stories. There is certainly no consensus on the issue. This paper examines what it is about the interior monologue that makes it so contentious. It draws on a review of contemporary practice and criticism, including an analysis of views offered by 19 leading practitioners interviewed by American scholar Robert Boynton and on interviews conducted by this paper’s author with leading Australian practitioners: John Bryson, Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper, Malcolm Knox, David Marr and Margaret Simons, and on analysis of the work of another, Estelle Blackburn. This review of contemporary practice is presented as suggestive rather than conclusive. It finds only seven of the 26 practitioners have written interior monologues. Biographical note: Dr Matthew Ricketson is an academic and journalist. He has worked in the Australian news media, at The Australian newspaper, Time Australia magazine and, most recently, as Media and Communications editor for The Age. He ran the journalism program at RMIT between 1995 and 2006 and in 2009 was appointed inaugural professor of journalism at the University of Canberra. -
Estelle Blackburn
EVENING SEMINAR BUTTONHOLING JUSTICE: THE STORY BEHIND BROKEN LIVES WITH ESTELLE BLACKBURN, JOHN BUTTON & TONY COOKE 24 November 2003, 7.30 pm, Niche Lotteries House, Hospital Ave, Nedlands (cnr Hospital Ave & Aberdare Rd, near St John Ambulance depot) Estelle Blackburn OAM is a Perth journalist and the author of Broken lives, the book that exposed an injustice and led to last year’s quashing of John Button’s 1963 manslaughter conviction. Estelle’s 10 year long justice crusade also brought her the prestig- ious Order of Australia and the Golden Walkley Award for journalism. Her book won the Ned Kelly Award for the best true crime story in 2001 and the WA Premier’s Award for non fiction in 1999. Estelle will speak about the events that prompted her interest in John Button’s case and how she maintained her determination to see it through. It is a compelling story about miscarriage of justice, perserverance and the impact on the lives of many people, including 11 unknown victims of attempted murder. John Button was convicted in 1963 for the hit and run killing of his 17 year old girlfriend Rosemary Anderson and for which he served five years in prison and a further five years on strict parole. Rosemary’s death occurred during a tumultous time in Perth with a series of murders by Eric Edgar Cooke, who was convicted and hung for these crimes. In 2002 the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed John Button’s conviction, largely as a result of the research for Estelle’s book,. In 2003 John Button was awarded $460,000 as compensation for his wrongful conviction and imprisonment for Rosemary’s death. -
Sun Books an Exhibition of Sun Books Publications from the Monash University Library Rare Books Collection 1 June 2005 – 31 Au
An exhibition of Sun Books publications Sun Books from the Monash University Library Rare Books Collection 1 June 2005 – 31 August 2005 Exhibition room, level 1, ISB Wing, Sir Louis Matheson Library, Clayton campus Sun Books logo, designed by Brian Sadgrove. Image from the cover of item 39,The Salzburg Tales / Christina Stead (Melbourne, Sun Books, 1966) cover credits thanks Item 7. Artwork for the design of the Sun Exhibition and catalogue by Richard Thanks to Brian Stonier, AO, co-founder Books logo / by Lawrence Daws. Overell, Rare Books Librarian, Monash and Managing Director of Sun Books, for This shows the development of the University Library, Box 4, Monash opening the exhibition and providing the design, with Brian Sadgrove’s fi nal version University, Victoria, 3800 Australia. answers to my many questions; and to also included. A PDF version of this catalogue, and John Arnold, of the School of Political and “virtual exhibition” featuring a selection Social Enquiry, for arranging the donation of highlights from the exhibition, is of the material and being the driving force available at the Monash University Library behind this exhibition, as well as writing the website. Virtual exhibition prepared by Iris introduction to the catalogue; to Rare Books Carydias. Assistant, Lorraine David for organisational work; to Jan Gill for her assistance, particularly at the opening; and to the Marketing and Communications Manager, Kerin Bryant for her design skills. www.lib.monash.edu.au/exhibitions/ Sun Books, the first twenty-one years, 1965-1986. Sun Books was founded on 4 June 1965 by Brian Stonier, Geoffrey Dutton and Max Harris as an independent paperback publishing company. -
Wrongful Convictions in Australia
University of Cincinnati Law Review Volume 80 Issue 4 Article 16 September 2013 Wrongful Convictions in Australia Lynne Weathered Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.uc.edu/uclr Recommended Citation Lynne Weathered, Wrongful Convictions in Australia, 80 U. Cin. L. Rev. (2013) Available at: https://scholarship.law.uc.edu/uclr/vol80/iss4/16 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by University of Cincinnati College of Law Scholarship and Publications. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Cincinnati Law Review by an authorized editor of University of Cincinnati College of Law Scholarship and Publications. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Weathered: Wrongful Convictions in Australia WRONGFUL CONVICTION IN AUSTRALIA Lynne Weathered*† I. INTRODUCTION Australia’s criminal justice system is modern and sophisticated. A combination of common law and legislative provisions in each state aims to find an appropriate balance between police investigative powers and individual liberty. Similarly, many mechanisms exist in an attempt to ensure the fundamental right to a fair trial in Australia’s adversarial system. Appellate avenues enable consideration of potential errors at trial and judges are concerned to correct miscarriages of justice. The system is good, but it is by no means perfect. One of the areas where the Australian criminal justice system lags behind the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway and the United States is in facilitating the effective investigation and correction of wrongful conviction. While a relatively small number of demonstrated wrongful convictions have occurred in Australia, there are undoubtedly others yet to be uncovered and rectified. -
Randolph Stow in Harwich
Randolph Stow in Harwich Sam Dutton knew Randolph Stow as Mick — a family friend who sent us a I Christmas card each year and wrote ‘The Ghost at Anlaby’ about the house where I grew up. My parents got to know Mick in Adelaide in the 1950s and, as I understand it, helped him out a few times over the years. I met Mick when I was a kid, loved his book Midnite, and visited him when I moved to London in the 1980s. I still remember the striking impression he made in person and in photos: a handsome man with a strong face and a black jacket. He never said more than he had to, despite his great turn of phrase and a wonderfully mellifluous speaking voice. In 1994 Mick kindly agreed to do an interview with me to talk about his life and work. I caught the train to Harwich and spent most of the day with him in the pub and at his house. He did his best to help: gently reminding me to pace myself in the pub and warning that others had tried to interview him, from various angles, without much success. I didn’t manage to winkle much out of Mick that day, but he was amiable and — occasionally — quite candid. Here are the results of that 1994 interview. 143 Westerly 55:2 By the age of 23, Randolph Stow had already published a book of poetry and three novels, including To the Islands, which prompted the critic Francis King to compare him with Patrick White and Thomas Keneally as one of a trio of Australian novelists who make most of their English counterparts seem trivial and anaemic.