A Poem for the Trees – saving nature with art

Last week, I had the pleasure of working with local artist-in-residence and forest ambassador Gloria Florez. As part of her six-month artist residency at the Eramboo Artist Environment, sponsored by Northern Beaches Council, she’s been using sustainable printmaking methods and unique handmade paper techniques to create an artist book and…

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How To Increase Your Community’s Creativity

Last week, I was at the Glen Street Theatre talking on a panel discussing community art and creativity. I was joined by fellow passionate community creatives: public artist Greg Stonehouse, architect and illustrator Miguel Gonzalez, and Aboriginal art advocate Aunty Clair Jackson. Our task was to read and comment on…

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When Death Snaps At Our Heels

Life can be over in an instant. Last Tuesday, I almost lost mine. If it wasn’t for a lucky moment or two, I would have smashed into the rocks at Manly’s South Steyne and drowned. Poetically, this was the same day I blogged about loving nature, because it helped me…

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The Importance of Place

In 2001, I immigrated to Australia for love. I didn’t realise how much I was giving up. The first year was the hardest. I lost friends. I lost family. My qualifications and experience weren’t recognised here. I had a degree with honours and two diplomas but found myself working menial…

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Are We Destined To Do What We Do?

Last week, my eleven-year-old daughter came home with the news that she’d been sent to the principal’s office. When she told me, I didn’t know how to react. The exact same thing had happened to me when I was her age – except for my daughter at least there’d been…

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Writing Rockface: The Over Blight

As well as writing amazing stories (he he!), I run a full-time creative support business, which includes editing, mentoring, teaching, book layouts, and other publishing support for authors and publishers. My last two posts looked at filter words and points-of-view, but today I’ve got what I term ‘Over Blight’ on…

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