Local sista Sha who came along to Waurn Ponds librar\y!
I had no idea Geelong was so deadly! It wasn’t until I
cruised there last Monday for a yarn with locals about identity, that I even
realised it was coastal! Taking the wrong turn (I was apparently heading to the
wrong destination altogether), I found myself on the stunning shorefront of the
town an hour outside of Melbourne. Had I known that it was so gorgeous there I
would’ve packed my bikini and stayed a few days. Alas, I only had a couple of hours
to fall in love with Wauthaurong country, and I did.
This is just a short list of what I am grateful for following that
visit:
WAURN PONDS LIBRARY:
Yes, Waurn Ponds Library is that funky building right next door to the
fabulous LeisureLink Aquatic and Recreation Centre. There’s no signage because the space is so hip it doesn’t need it. Inside the
venue it’s vibrant and friendly and aside from a wonderful collection of
resources, it also hosts a series of events including the Open Mind Lecture
Series, of which I was part. I will remain forever grateful to Maryanne Hyde
(Manager Lifelong Learning) from Geelong Libraries Corporation, for the
invitation to help celebrate the National Year of Reading and deliver a talk on Aboriginal identity in the 21st
century, the subject of my memoir Am I Black Enough For You? That invitation, extended over a quick chat at the ALIA Conference in Sydney
last July, lead me to a place and a community who welcomed me immediately.
LOCALS: Now,
Monday night in Waurn Ponds appeared to bring out the best locals as 70
‘open-minded’ readers and thinkers came along to join in the conversation. I
wanted to take them home with me – not literally – what I mean is I wanted to
take them on thh road with me because as an audience they were warm, engaged,
and they laughed in all the right places (and some other places too but that’s
okay!). It’s the most fun I’ve had in a library and /or on a Monday night in
the longest time. Who would’ve thought the place to be on a Monday night was
Waurn Ponds library?
LOCAL KOORIS: It
made me smile to see a large group of local Koories, Noongars from WA and two
women from Gurindji country (NT) there to support, enjoy, and affirm my work on
the Monday night. It’s great to see Indigenous reading audiences growing and
participation in literary events on the rise. I remain grateful for so much
local support (and from those who drove some distances to be there!). The photo
above also shows the First Nations mob helped demonstrate the diversity of
identity – and what Aboriginal people actually
look like – by standing up during my presentation. The point being, we come in
all different shapes and shades. Thanks you mob, you rock!
PATONS BOOKS: A
shout-out of gratitude also to Patons Books who came along to sell my novels
and memoir on the night. I appreciate
the support of all booksellers but also the work of independent booksellers
many who support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation also.
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