Past Special Events

An Afternoon with Professor Philip Mead

Held on Sunday October 18th at Tom Collins House

FAWWA congratulates Professor Philip Mead, the newly appointed Chair of Australian Literature at the University of Western Australia. He has recently completed a monograph study of Australian poetry, Networked Language: Culture and History in Australian Poetry and is currently editing, along with FAWWA Patron, John Kinsella, a collection of statements in Australian poetics. Professor Mead’s special interests include literary regionalism in Australia, poetry and poetics, Australian literature in education, national bibliography, representations of Australian space and Shakespearean heritage in Australia.

All members and friends are invited to meet Professor Philip Mead who holds the inaugural Chair of Australian Literature at UWA. This is only the second Chair for Oz Lit in the country (the other is in Sydney), so it was a great affirmation of the vibrancy of the literary world in WA to have it based here. RSVP 9th October. No charge but could members please bring a plate.

The Journey

although the road is lengthening, there is no need for sanctuary

although there is no need for sanctuary, the book is opening

although the book is open, history is hard to remember

although fiction is durable, our dreams are freighted with dreams

although our sleep is abstract, the map is in the brain

although the map is there, the journey is darkening around us.

Philip Mead

A Book in a Day keeps the Doctor away..

The ‘Smiley Team’ of writers from Tom Collins House in Swanbourne retreated to the Perth Hills in May to ‘Write a Book in a Day.’ to raise money for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

Smiley Team;L to R. Karen Dixon, Martin Chambers, Lynne DePeras, Glenn Hunting, Geoff Chambers, Yeeda Topham, Trisha Kotai-ewers.

The competition pits teams of writers against the clock, to create an illustrated story for 10-14 years olds around given characters and keywords. The finished books then go into the hospital library and a panel of judges decides the best entry.

Smiley Team leader, Martin Chambers of City Beach, said 'it really is a grueling task to produce a complete book when several writers are involved – they couldn’t even agree what brand of Chi Tea to take!'

'But I am amazed with the result,' he said, 'and Graphics Source in Jolimont have kindly printed 200 copies to be sold to raise more money for the PMH Foundation.'

The team's entry, ‘Didge Magic,’ takes the reader on a mysterious journey with a young botanist into remote north of WA ending up desperately lost, cold, hungry and thirsty. Just when all seems hopeless, she is rescued by a boy with a ‘magical’ didgeridoo.

‘Didge Magic’ was launched at an open function at the historic Tom Collins House on Saturday 4th July at 4.30pm. Graphics Source in Jolimont have kindly printed 200 copies to be sold to raise more money for the PMH Foundation.

We've nearly sold all the 200 copies printed free of charge and raised around $2,800 for the PMH Foundation! The price of $10 goes to the writers' centre and PMH. RSVP to Martin on 0400837157 or buy copies online at www.smileyfaceaustralia.com.