1996
1996 continued the Writers Centre's tradition of great events, fantastic guests, and popular seminars and workshops: follow the links above for details. We enjoyed the company of Dorinda Hafner (pictured with board member Helen McKerral) at our Annual General Meeting. Writers also added their share of fun to the Adelaide Fringe festivities, with a host of activities including the very popular 'Red Hot Writers at the Fringe' event.
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Events
February-March 1996
Fringe events: Red Hot Writers at the Fringe, & Information Table
Writers joined the Fringe Festivities over six popular afternoons, held upstairs in the Villa Borghese, in the heart of the action on Rundle Street.
Events included 'Blast Off' compared by Wayne and Juice Newton, 'Writers in the Net' compared by Cyberia, 'The Welcome Mat' compared by Fij Miller, 'Spill' compared by Jack Kerouac, 'Script Naked' compared by Elizabeth Mansutti, and 'Beyond the Pale' compared by Lady of Easy Virtue.
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From advertisment for |
Writers Junice Direen, Maureen Vale and Administrator Mary Combe host provide a wealth of information |
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March 1996
Writers' Centre Cocktail Party
The Board of The Writers' Centre threw a cocktail party to celebrate the success of Writers' Week, coinciding with its conclusion.
The event brought visiting writers and publishers back to the East End, showing off our wonderful facilities, and bringing together the Fringe, official Festival guests and all members of the Writers' Centre.
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Beate Josephi chats with an attendee |
Children's author Steven Measday speaks with a guest |
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March 1996
Poets on Popeye
Two sessions of this ever popular event were held in March, and sponsored by Rockford Wines. The first session featured Paul Muldoon, Ania Walwicz and Steve Evans. The second trip included Fred D'Aguiar, John Forbes and Ann Timoney Jenkin.
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Ann Timoney Jenkin |
Irish Poet Paul Muldoon |
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June 1996
New Writing Performed
This event featured special interstate guest Christos Tsiolkas, author of Loaded, which has been described as 'brutal, raw and confronting'. Local guests included David Cookson, Pamela Rajkowski and James Morrison.
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Christos Tsiolkas |
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October 1996
Readings and Reminiscences: Max Fatchen
Members enjoyed a Sunday afternoon with one of Adelaide's funniest and best-loved writers on Sunday 20 October. Adelaide born and bred, Max had a prestigious journalistic career, before beginning writing for children at 46. His novels have been translated into five languages, and two have been made into TV films and series.
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Max Fatchen |
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December 1996
New Writing Performed: Carmel Bird
Carmel Bird, author of The White Garden, Automatic Teller and Dear Writer, was the special guest of December's New Writing Performed. Also reading were local writers Ben Winch and Rae Sexton.
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Carmel Bird |
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December 1996
St Lucy's Party
What would the end of the year be without the SA Writers' Centre's annual St Lucy's party? A great time was had by all.
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Partygoers Joanne Petitedemange (publicist), Mary Combe (Administrator, SAWC) and Lidija Simkute-Pocius (writer and member). |
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Seminars & Workshops
February 1996
National Conference for Writers' Centre
SA Writers' Centre welcomed our Writers' Centre interstate friends when we hosted the National Conference for 1996. Participants included Susan Hayes from WA, Robyn Sleeham from Queensland, Irina Dunn from NSW, Anne-Marie Britton from ACT and Chris McKenzie from Victoria.
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Susan Hayes and Robyn Sleeham. |
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July 1996
Editing Sessions: Jenny Lee
Visiting professional editor Jenny Lee ran workshops in 'Editing Your Own Short Story'; 'Editing Newsletters and Magazines' and 'Autobiography / Biography' late in July.
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Jenny Lee & Ruth Starke |
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August 1996
Meet the Publisher and the Writer
HarperCollins editor Clare Forster and writer Susan Errington discussed everything attendees had ever wanted to know about getting published, on Thursday 29 August at the Writers' Centre.
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Clare Forster |
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November 1996
Soliciting for Success: the Agent, Publisher and Writer
This session, held on the afternoon of Sunday 17 November offered a wealth of advice to attendees. Will an agent improve your chances for success? If so, how do you get an agent? What is the relationship between agent, publisher and writer? These questions and more were addressed.
The event featured agent Fiona Inglis and editor Bryony Cosgrove (both pictured left).
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Bryony Cosgrove, editor for Penguin Books. |
Fiona Inglis (agent with Curtis Brown) |
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Youth
December 1996
dB Young Writers' Night
Our annual youth oriented event was renamed to recognise the contributors to, and success of, the dB Young Writers' Page. Over 400 writers contributed to the page, and were invited to enjoy free food and drinks, and compare stories at the Writers' Centre.
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Tim Sinclair |
James Morrison |
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Where We're At
Vital Stats
Membership: 1200.
1000th member: Carol Hoban.
Chair: Peter McNamara.
Helen Chryssides, John Emery, Marguerite Hann Syme, Elizabeth Mansutti (stepped down), Bill Marsh, Helen McKerral, James Morrison (tem), Glen Murdoch, Ruth Starke.
Thank you! - Bruce Macky: Dymocks
996 marked an exciting new sponsorship agreement with Dymocks Books, who agreed to sponsor eight of the Centre's 1996 events. Pictured is Bruce Macky, Dymocks owner.
Welcome: Stephanie Luke
The Writers' Centre was pleased to welcome Stephanie Luke to the fold. She commenced on 6 Februrary as a part-time Administrative Assistant. This followed 18 months volunteering for the Centre.
Volunteers: thank you!
The Writers' Centre has always depended on the kindness of volunteers… Newsletter folders were duly rewarded for their hard work with pizza and red wine. The Writers' Centre also thanks qualified librarians Silvia Muscardin and Stephen Bull, who organised the Resource Centre, arranging better shelving and display areas.
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Left wing of the committee… |
…Right wing of the committee |
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Bruce Macky: Dymocks owner: thank you! |
Stephanie Luke: welcome! |
Newsletter folding volunteers: Rob de Kok, John Howard, Richard Hillman. |
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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.