The Reason

The reason I read is to feel,

The reason I read is to learn,

The reason I read is to escape,

The reason I read is to understand.

Whatever your reason know this,

Without the ability to read,

Without the words to read,

There would be no worthwhile existence.

Inspiration comes in all forms

I went to the Bendigo Writers Festival with one goal, well two actually, but one major goal and that was to meet the legendary, Australian author that my sister and I read constantly growing up and who inspired me to get fit and try acting, just because I wanted to bring his art to life. Although I didn’t pursue acting straight up, I did get fit. But back on track, I went there with the goal of doing an extra elective and meeting the legendary author John Marsden.

I would like to speak about how great it was to hear John Marsden talk all day and say how amazing and inspiring he was, but I am going to save that for another time and right now I am going to talk about the author and illustrator I had never heard of and how inspiring they are and how talented they are.

I will start with Alice Pung, author and lawyer who was up on the stage with John Marsden and host Sue Gillett during session ‘Crossing Over’. Sue asked creative and inquisitive questions and the answers came flowing. Alice sat there with her legs crossed, head bowed and hands clasped on her lap. She spoke quietly, confidently and sweetly.  I had never heard of Alice but I liked what she had to say. Her books draw on her experiences of growing up in her neighbourhood with her refugee parents. Alice teaches writing workshops, she is an ambassador for the ‘100 Story building Project’ an initiative that promotes literacy and literature to young people in the Western suburbs. Truly an inspiration to myself, she has encouraged me to try and achieve more and help people.

The Bendigo Writers Festival not only focussed on authors it also displayed some art work from one of the most talented illustrators I have had the opportunity to meet. Bruce Whatley is a very talented artist, what I love most about his work is not all of his pictures look the same. Sometimes his pieces look completely different to other pieces he has created; he is truly a versatile artist. Bruce started out in advertising as an art director and illustrator before publishing his first picture book in 1992 and since has had over 60 other books published. It is an impressive feet, but what is truly admirable about Bruce is ability to sketch and paint left handed.  I was blown away by the incredible and intricate work he created with his left hand. His teacher had encouraged him to work with his left hand at a very young age but Bruce chose to ignore that advice until 20 years or so later and he hasn’t looked back since. He has the ability to use both his left hand and right hand for the same pieces of work explains how all of his art looks so different from one piece to another.  Many aspiring illustrators were there to get inspired by Bruce as was I, although I am not an aspiring illustrator, I do enjoy creating art and his work was just as inspiring to me as it was to the illustrators around me.

Well done to the Bendigo writers Festival for not forgetting that writing is more than just words and for including incredible and passionate illustrators as well. Although these artists were unknown to me, they are now my newest means for inspiration.

Can the Historic meet the Modern?

The City of Greater Bendigo has pulled together another wonderful event, The Bendigo Writer’s Festival. The beautiful, historic locations in Bendigo that hosted the sessions of the festival were perfect for the event. Located in the beautiful art district of Bendigo, the Capital Theatre, Dudley House, the Old Fire Station, the Bendigo Art Gallery, the Trades Hall, La Trobe Visual Arts Centre were all venues that were utilised for this event but who could go past the Ulumbarra Theatre.

The Ulumbarra Theatre is the latest piece of art that has been created for Bendigo. Previously an old jail, the renovated building has retained its history while creating a new performing space for local and national artists. With the creation of the Ulumbarra Theatre it is expected that private and public performing art organisations will be drawn to Bendigo as a result of the new complex.

The way that the theatre brings together history and modern day is remarkable, the appreciation of this is clearly displayed on the faces of the visitors as they enter in and out of the old cells and look through the thick glass covering the historic spiral staircase that transferred prisoners from the jail to the court house. The large theatre itself seats 951 patrons and during the Writers Festival, many times it appeared fully booked.

 The Festival really utilised all of its incredible complexes to showcase such a wonderful pool of talent and gave many the opportunity to appreciate some of what Bendigo has to offer.

Music A Must

As much as I love books, I could read them for days and days; we can’t forget to talk about music. Yes, it is hard and almost impossible to imagine an existence without books, but could you imagine a world without music? What would it be like to have no words to move or listen to? Music is more than just the written words; it is the musical notes that speak to the soul as well.

Sometimes the words will speak to us, we can hear the passion, we can see the emotion on the faces of the listener, we can see how the words and the story affect those deeply who are going through something so similar. Sometimes music speaks louder than any person can speak. Sometimes the only way to get a message across is through music.

The notes in the song can speak just as loud as the words. You can YouTube a baby listening to music that they can’t understand the words to, but can feel the emotion in the musical tones. That is how loud the musical notes can speak.

So let us embrace the music as much as we embrace the books, let us appreciate all the different kinds of music, Rap, Hip Hop, R’ n’ B, Country, Classical, Heavy Metal, whatever you hear or listen to, even if you don’t particularly like it, just appreciate it and appreciate a life with it.

Let's not forget the Library

Today I want to give a shout out to the Bendigo Library. Located in the heart of Bendigo, it has been designed for comfort, a spot for locals to meet up, performers to create in the performance space, locals to meet up for writing groups and for someone to sit and have a read. The staff are helpful and willing to go out of their way to assist in any way possible.

The library was used for a location to host part of the Bendigo Writers Festival and was successful in doing so. Its space was bright, welcoming and appropriate for the event and the recent renovations to the Library created a welcoming, warm and hospitable space.

Well done Bendigo Library, keep up the good work! 

Without them we're no-one

The words were inspiring.

The passion was real.

The authors are out there,

They make us all feel.

To take us away,

To make us learn,

To hide away,

To feel a burn.

Tell your story,

It’s best you try,

It is unique,

To your own life.

Your reasons may vary,

So may your tastes,

But take your time reading,

There is no need for haste.

The words that they speak,

The stories sad and fun,

Without them who are we?

Without them we’re no-one.

Bendigo Writers Festival- G 'n' Tea Show

Well, what a day. I knew it was going to be good, but I  didn't realize it would be amazing.
From the 'Welcoming and opening' session this morning to the 'G 'n' Tea' poetry session this evening, every moment was full of passionate reflection and inspiration.

I would like to talk about the 'G 'n' Tea' session I attended this evening. I am not generally a follower of poetry, I don't read it, I don't write it and I don't listen to it, however I do appreciate music and I guess in a way they can be one and the same. When I arrived to the session, I was greeted by a small yet cosy group of fellow students, poets and poetry admirers; many seated with wine in hand waiting with anticipation for the introduction of three wonderfully talented poets.

Gena Mclean, the lively and lovely host of the evening, seated in her brightly coloured arm chair opens the session with enthusiasm and goes on to introduce her first guest John Holton. John has published many news and magazine articles but his real passion lies in the form of short poems which he creatively displays in his tiny, handmade poetry books, which, might I add, are absolutely gorgeous.

The beautiful Bronwyn Lovell is introduced next, Bronwyn speaks so thoughtfully, it isn't just the words she says but the way she says them that draws the viewer and listener in. She also brought 90% of the audience to tears with her reading of  "Dogs death" by John Updike, I am quite sure I let out a sob and had the tears flowing down my cheeks, as did everyone beside me. I am also quite sure she has a number of crushes in the audience now, myself and the girl I was sitting next to included, not because of the dead dog poem, but because she was just absolutely lovely.

Bruce Oakman is the third person introduced to the audience, he takes his seat and listens intently as each person takes their turn, expressing their ideas and poems. He takes us through his poems and the poems he enjoys.

What I enjoyed most about this session was being introduced to poetry again, as I earlier mentioned I never read it and haven't since I had to when I was in primary school. But even then, it was the classic poems by Henry Lawson or Banjo Patterson, pages of poetry, not the short but sweet poems that I got a taste of this evening. Listening to the speakers tonight, along with acoustic sounds provided by the two person band, I could relax and appreciate poetry in its finest form spoken by some of the finest poets I have been introduced to and I look forward to the next 'G'n'Tea session at the next Bendigo Writers Festival.