What I'm grateful for March 5...

1. SUNRISE IN WOLLONGONG: I woke up dusty this morning having been on the road for a week. But a walk to the beach at sunrise presented me with the most stunning start to the day. From that moment on my day was wonderful. I am grateful for the Wadi Wadi morning welcome.
2. UWS: As an Alumnus (is that the correct term?) I headed back to the University of Western Sydney today for the launch of Manhattan Dreaming. I wasn’t nervous at all, until I got there and realised they’d made quite a fuss about it. The VC, the local paper, community TV, all the block students, staff etc. And then the anxiety set it. I was so pleased to see deadly artist R E A when she arrived.
R E A launched the book for me, but I was worried not having heard from her at all. I thought maybe she hated it. But no, she didn’t. Big sigh of relief! I’m glad she liked it, afterall, she’s IN it! I’m grateful for all the effort that was made by the mob at the Bankstown Campus, to Lorraine Effeturk for MCing, to Maree Graham for coordinating and to Uncle Greg Simms for the welcome to country. I’m also grateful to the bookseller there, and to the students who all came up and had a yarn as well. It was truly a special event.
3. GADIGAL: Gadigal Information Service is the premium arts/media organisation in New South Wales, dare I say, in Australia. I am proud to say I have been involved with the organisation since 1995 as a volunteer broadcaster and board member, and one-time Chair. I am grateful for all the work GIS / Koori Radio does for our community, and I was thrilled last night to receive the GIS / Yabun Award for Artist of the Year. Pic above of moi and Munkimuk – deadly muso! And one of moi, Mum and Mark.
4. OLD FRIENDS: I saw a lot of old friends yesterday at UWS and then at Gadigal. Special mention to Lorraine, Aunty Jean South, Cathy Craigie and Darrell Sibosado. I was grateful that my day was full of so many fabulous people, and the memories attached to them.
5. SALT’N’PEPPER SQUID: Still in search of the world’s best salt’n’pepper squid, my local at Maroubra remains in front. There’s something to be grateful for when you can have the best with your Mum on a Friday night just five minutes from home. Great way to end the week and then have a night in my own bed!