DYNAMIC DEADLYS: This QLD education program is aptly named
in that the amazing young Murri students involved are indeed deadly AND
dynamic. High achieving and incredibly talented in terms of the creative
writing and performance abilities, I had two days of intense workshops on my
first visit to sunny Toowoomba recently. Held at Newtown State School, I was
greeted by an enthusiastic team of staff, an energetic Aunty, students from the
local area and many from outlying areas including Roma and Dalby.
Within the first thirty minutes I saw eager students
standing at the front of the hall, no shame, reading out their newly created
characters from faraway places. At the end of each day we had Murri Idol where
small groups performed spoken word pieces created from a brainstorming session
on Indigenous Australia. I hope to publish some of their words here sometime in
the future. In the meantime, enjoy the pics above and below of the kids in
action. (Pics courtesy of Rhonda Hagan from the National Indigenous Times)
THE MURRI SCHOOL: For
some months now, Sharon Krippner - a volunteer at the Murri School in Acacia Ridge has been asking me to
swing by on one of my visits to Bris-Vegas. Finally, last Monday I entered a
friendly classroom, greeted by twenty or so fresh-faced, chirpy, attentive, and
I might add, gorgeous Year 10 girls. I yarned about my books and writing, the
difficulties of researching in places like Paris and Manhattan, and how
sometimes not having a boyfriend can be a good thing. “I’d have more grey hair
from the stress of a boyfriend,” I told them, half joking.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to visit the school and the
students pictured above, and for their VERY kind gifts of Lindt chocolate and
Toblerone brownies! Being a writer is a fattening vocation!
MEN ON THE HILL: Many of you will be aware that since March
this year I have been working with the lads from St Laurence’s in Brisbane as
part of a National Year of Reading project. (The first blog posts are here and here) We are now in the final stages of editing out short novel – a murder mystery
set in the local area – titled The
Tightening Grip. I am always grateful for my time at St Laurie’s because I
get to work with committed students whose ideas never cease, guided by a team
of staff and Principal Mr Ian McDonald, who are passionate about their students
producing this work.
From one author to another, I gave each student a copy of my
first book Sacred Cows as we await
patiently for the delivery of their
first book, which I am expecting them all to autograph for me.
** The word “Murri” is a generic term for Aboriginal people
in the state of Queensland. Hence, Murri-ville!
2 comments:
Anita - your energy is inspiring. Wonderful work.
Thanks Leesa - I get my energy from the kids. They are on full throttle all the time :)
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