In the world of titanic battles almost everyone loves a David, with the understandable exception of Goliath, and his supporters. When David, in the form of a local progress association beats, Goliath, in the form of an international mining giant, the natural order is upended. Change is needed to restore order. Late last year the …
Shirley Fitzgerald is a freelance public historian, based in Sydney, with an interest in Huskisson and Shoalhaven. Shirley has just written a review of my book, Beyond Fear and Loathing: local politics at work. * Just finished reading Graeme Gibson’s Beyond Fear & Loathing: Local Politics at Work. Well worth a read. The ‘local’ in this …
Undoubtedly due to some of my life’s experiences, I’ve long been interested in those people who are prepared to take a stand on what they believe in. I took some time to get to know something about a couple of these people, which led to the following essay. IN DEFENCE OF USUSAL SUSPECTS AND VOCAL …
In July and August 2013 Meg and I travelled through western NSW, presenting writing workshops along the way. We were invited back to Bourke, in September which was a quick turn around, to present more workshops and join the annual Poet’s Trek, which follows the footsteps of Henry Lawson and other poets. A story I …
Always the Stories (the annual Poet’s Trek in NW-NSW) Read More »
In August 2013 I gave a keynote address at “Communities Shaping The Future,” the annual conference of the Local Community Services Association,” the peak body for neighbourhood houses and community centres in NSW. I opened with: “I’m going to tell a story about local democracy and how it relates to community engagement and then try …
The environment has always provided inspiration for the arts. Always has, always will. Reading the Land is a project bringing artists and environmentalists together. It took place in Huskisson on World Environment Day, in June 2013. Reading the Land is supported by Shoalhaven Landcare. It’s planned for other areas of the Shoalhaven in 2014. Let …
I wrote about this in July 2013. ABC Radio National have now included it in their “Trees I have loved” project. You can listen here: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bydesign/trees-ive-loved/5083038
I’m riding my bike along a fire trail in the bush. Suddenly, there’s a brown snake on the trail, close ahead. Very close. Large, about one and a half metres, (five feet) with plenty of girth. I’m nearly on it. It holds its ground, lifts its head and upper body, at least 30cms (one foot) …
In July 2012 the Illawarra News was established as an on-line site for citizen journalism with a focus on news, public affairs and community in the Illawarra and South Coast. In June 2013 awards were presented in five categories: Community Advocate, Journalism and Media Advocacy, People’s Choice, Outstanding Elected Councillor, and Panel’s Commendation for Community …
In 2012 Meg and I built a house. This meant we had to remove three Eucalypt trees but we went through quite a saga trying to save one other tree – growing on the block next door. In April 2013 I wrote about this and posted it on ABC Radio National, The Pool, which was …