1991
1991 was another busy year for the SA Writers' Centre. Our newsletter became monthly, sparking a naming competition, which saw it renamed 'Off The Block'. We hosted several top writers, including Iain Banks, Tim Winton and Keri Hulme and held plenty of exciting events, seminars and workshops, which you can follow the links above to find out about. We were also awarded a General Purpose Grant of $40 000 from the SA Department of the Arts.
|
events |
 |
Events
April 1991
Tim Winton visits the SA Writers' Centre
Acclaimed writer Tim Winton at a 'Meet the Author' session, hosted by the SA Writers' Centre.
 |
Tim Winton |
|---|
17 June 1991
Sex Night!
SA Writers' Centre presented 'Sex, Lies and Floppy Discs: Representations of Sexuality in Narrative' on this lively evening, with dinner, and guest speakers including:
Peter Goldsworthy
Anne-Marie Mykyta
Barry Westburg
Kay Schaffer
At Chesser Cellars, 29 Chesser Street, Adelaide.
 |
 |
Barry Wesburg; |
Kay Schaffer |
|---|
June 1991
A Foreign Affair
We were proud to play host to Keri Hulme, New Zealand writer and winner of the 1985 Booker Prize for her novel The Bone People. Keri came to Australia under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australia-New Zealand Foundation cultural relations programme.
To welcome her to Adelaide, we held a dinner and a Reading Exchange, with Keri as a special guest, at the Chesser Cellars, Chesser Street, Adelaide.
 |
 |
Keri Hulme at dinner at the Chesser Cellars |
A Reading Exchange |
|---|
October 1991
Riverland Trip
To encourage writing and public readings, this year our writers embarked on a tour of the Riverland.
 |
 |
Kurt Von Trojan, Chris Bagley |
…Elaine Barker, Kevin Crease, and Tess Brady |
|---|
1991
Feminist Book Fortnight
The readers pictured participated in the finale of this fortnight of Feminist Book Activities.
Attendees included Elizabeth 'Biff' Ward, Deborah McCulloch, Mij Tanith, Elaine Barker and Kate Jenkins.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Biff Ward |
Mij Tanith |
Deb McCulloch |
Annie Fox |
|---|
Publications
1991: the year the Newsletter went monthly. After producing three newsletters in four months, we decided to make it official!
This exciting development prompted the SA Writers' Centre to hold a 'Blank Space' filling competition, with namers and designers battling for the coveted prize of a $40 book voucher for the best title.
The competition was won by Andrea Rankin, with the catchy 'Off The Block'. The pictured designer Matthew Quick was then put to work designing the masthead.
 |
 |
The newsletter had a 'blank space' to fill… |
…Matthew Quick: writer and designer of the new-look newsletter |
|---|
Seminars & Workshops
February 1991
Freelance Writing Seminar
This seminar included Tony Love and Heather Britton.
 |
 |
Tony Love |
Heather Britton |
|---|
May 1991
Writing for Children Seminar
Speakers included:
Christobel Mattingley
Peter McFarlane
Gillian Rubinstein
Erica Irving: Penguin
 |
 |
Christobel Mattingley |
Erica Irving |
|---|
August 1991
The Business of Writing Seminar
Attendees included:
Chair: Di Brown, Tantrum Press
Keith Richards
Michael Bollen, Wakefield Press
Anne Brookman
Margie Fisher, Vitalstatistix
Christine Harris
David Harris
 |
 |
Margie Fisher |
Christine Harris |
|---|
October 1991
Writers and Law Seminar
Attendees included:
Chris Sumner: Attorney General
Ralph Bleechmore
Barbara Jeffries (ASA)
Robert Pullan (ASA)
 |
 |
Attorney General, Chris Sumner |
Robert Pullan |
|---|
Youth
June 1991
Young Authors' Night
The Young Authors' Night held by the SA Writers' Centre was extremely successful.
A total of 112 young writers from 21 schools participated, some of whom came from as far away as Yorketown, Port Pirie and Victor Harbor. With accompanying parents, around 400 people were present at the event.
The following published children's writers each lead a group of young authors: Max Fatchen, Gillian Rubinstein, Jo Croser, Eleanor Nilsson, Nigel Croser, Tess Brady, Elizabeth Hutchins, Peter McFarlane, Bruce Tanton, Phil Cummings, Mike Dumbleton and Matthew Quick.
Parents commented on the interesting mix of stories read on the night. Others expressed surprise at the large number of SA writers with published books. Many congratulated the Centre for its initiative.
 |
 |
The Bees Knees bookshop at the Young Authors' Night |
Max Fatchen leading a group |
|---|
Where We're At
Vital Stats
Membership: around 800
Chair: Barry Westburg
Dianne Brown, Pam Maitland, Adele Kipping, Helen Barker, Anne-Marie Mykyta, Kathy Clark, Kate Simpson.
Grant Success
1991 was the year we received a General Purpose Grant of $40 000 from the SA Department of Arts. $15 000 of the grant went toward capital expenditure (laser printer and fax machine), with $25 000 spent on programming, administration, and a full-time salary for the SAWC Coordinator.
 |
 |
Newsletter folding volunteers |
Patrick O'Connor and Brian Forte: |
|---|
Previous * Back to Our History * Next
The SA Writers' Centre is assisted by the South Australian Government through Arts SA, and the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory bodies.