Women’s Ink Giving Women Writers a Voice Autumn /March 2026 editor Jan Conway

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A new Women’s Ink has arrived in the mail.
Thank you to the Women’s Ink editor @Janette Conway

i am honoured to have my work included: my poem Perfect Pact
and my essay on the prolific Childrens’ writer Mary Grant Bruce
from my series I am writing on ‘Australian Women Writers on whose shoulders we stand.’

And very special to see our write up on the Di Yerbury Residency . Congratulations and very best wished to Christine Sykes  for a great Di Yerbury Residency in Enlands summer.

Thank you the indomitable editor, Jan Conway for a bumper edition and for your dedication to making the magazine
full of womens writing.

 

                                     

 

Mary Grant bruce was a prolific childrens’ writer.. Here are some of the Billabong Series  from my bookcase.

 

 

 

Ginninderra Press Celebration, Adelaide 2026

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It was an exciting visit to  Adelaide  for a Ginninderra Press Celebration. There was much to celebrate: –
30 year milestone of Ginninderra. Press,
launch of the Anthology  Telling Australia’s Truth, (Stephen Matthews final book before his untimely death.)
launch of Golden Days for Brenda Matthews (Eldridge)
and importantly to celebrate the life of Stephen Matthews AOM  who would’ve been 80 years old this weekend. 

Thank you and congratulations to Debbie Lee (Ginninderra Press) for her wonderful energy and enthusiasm
and all she did to help make the weekend the great success it was.
Thank you to Brenda Matthews for her presence and congratulations for the launch of her new book
written with Stephen AOM in his last year.
I felt very honoured to partner with Therese Corfiatis  to launch Telling Australia’s Truth, An Anthology in response  by 128 poets to the 2024 Referendum.
It was special to have Liz Newton  (President of The Society of Women Writers NSW.) over from Sydney.

       

The venue for our celebration was  most fitting . Spectacular. The Yitpi  Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Cultural Centre
( a new and exciting centre on the banks of the Port River in the heart of Port Adelaide )
I love  the welcome motto “Let us recognise the past, act in the present and build a better future.”

 Set in beautiful grounds  with natural playgrounds  and shady picnic spaces.

Adelaide was a buzz with festival energy. Autumn a true delight
bursting with colour and tranquillity.

                    

We strolled through the leafy mall and nearby streets  and into the Botanical Gardens and  sat under the golden hues of trees for a leisurely lunch.

    

The Art gallery is a bustle of wonderment . The Rodin sculpture i include in the photos

               

We loved the colour and sounds and smells of the multicultural food festival all the way along the mall.

              

Back story Ginninderra is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘throwing out little rays of light’, which is exactly what GP does, by giving voices to so many writers since its inception in 1996 in Canberra, reflected in its philosophy:

We believe that all people – not just a privileged few – have a right to participate actively in cultural creation rather than just being passive consumers of mass media.  Stephen Matthews

 Stephen Matthews, having graduated from Cambridge with a ‘fascination for books’, Stephen shared his journey into publishing, a path deterred by his career guidance counsellor who suggested teaching instead.  So after taking his advice, and from there into bookselling and eventually into editing, Stephen pursued his desire to ‘give manuscripts a place in our culture’.  He explained how getting published has literally changed peoples’ lives (I can vouch for that) and how print on demand has helped to secure the future of books, and indeed his workload.

A few past books discussed

Rays of Light: Ginninderra Press – the first 20 years compiled by Joan Fenney.

First Refuge launched by the former SA Premier and now ordained minister Lynn Arnold had this privilege and did so eloquently.  These poems from 88 GP authors explore social justice reaching into uncomfortable spaces – war, domestic violence, refugees, isolation – leaving nothing unearthed, resulting in a somewhat emotional journey when reading it from cover to cover.  To quote Ann, this is ‘a small book with big teeth, where language has power’.

Brenda Eldridge’s Golden Days navigates a gentle way through the journey of her husband Stephen Matthews’ fight with cancer and his choice to take the path of Voluntary Assisted Dying. In Brenda’s poem, ‘Silver Light’,she writes: I tease him about becoming a butterfly I want so much for him to be free.Brenda’s glorious and confronting poems explore a couple’s descent into illness; the helplessness and pain this inflicts. Her poems speak to an extraordinary love, full of tenderness, compassion, and the courage it takes to seek out golden days, as each day diminishes in hope.Her collection is a fitting tribute for Stephen Matthews, the man.

 

 

 

 

White Pebbles Haiku Group Autumn Meeting by Pip Griffin

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On Saturday 14th March, members Beverley George (convenor), Maire Glacken, Pip Griffin, Marilyn Humbert, Colleen Keating, and Kent Robinson met at our usual venue, the Gosford Regional Gallery, for morning tea before beginning our ginko in the ever-beautiful Edogawa Japanese Garden. The garden commemorates the sister city relationship between Tokyo’s Edogawa city and the New South Wales Central Coast city of Gosford.

In autumn sunshine, it was a delight to wander in the gardens, to watch koi and ducks in the stream and groups of children, accompanied by parents, running about excitedly near the pavilion, enjoying the unusual wild life and beautiful surroundings. As usual, there was plenty to inspire our haiku: pink-flowering rhododendron bushes, sparkling raked white pebbles, glimpses of the blue, shining bay through the palisade fence, the little Japanese bridge and the gently falling waterfall. We sat at different spots, jotting down haiku ideas, before going back to our meeting room to talk about our published haiku and/or book launches we are preparing, to share a haiku from a poet that had impressed us, and read aloud the haiku we’d brought, triggered by Beverley’s prompt, ‘unpredictable summer weather’.

Marilyn shared highlights of her very recent trip to Malaysia and commented on our haiku, sharing her expertise. I shared a haiku recently published in Echidna Tracks. Colleen told us she has been invited to read from her just-launched poetry book Ring the Bells at Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival on the Central Coast. Beverley showed us a lovely handmade haiku book, Winged Ones –birds of four seasons, by Satoru Kanematsu. She and Kent are planning a book launch of their delightful new haiku collection, Interwoven. The book will be stocked by Books Plus in Bathurst.

After a very satisfying morning of reading and sharing ideas, our meeting finished at 12:30pm. Our next meeting will celebrate Winter on Saturday 13th June, followed by Saturday 12th September, celebrating Spring.

Pip Griffin

Photograph by Deb RobinsonLeft to right: Colleen Keating, Pip Griffin, Maire Glacken, Beverley George, Kent Robinson,Marilyn Humbert

Our Autumn Haiku Weekend 2026 and the Sensory garden at The North Entrance

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Our Autumn White Pebbles Weekend was an extended few days with Pip Griffin meeting us at Hornsby Station and our journey up the coast . We had a relaxing journey north as the traffic was light and driving along Tuggerah Lake reminded us we had arrived in this special area. We crossed the bridge and had morning tea at the Sensory Gardens.

We had devonshire tea  and a walk along the edge of the lake. It was a sharp wind that hindered  us from walking  as far as we wanted to.

Back at ‘Dolphin’ We settled in and worked on our haiku for the meet the next day. And enjoyed relaxing , the view and company.

 

  

The next morning we were greeted with a magnificent sunrise and set out for East Gosprd for our White Pebbles Meeting.Afterwards Pip shouted us fish and chips at the famous place at Woy Woy and came to an end a great time together.

   

 

Ginninderra Press Celebrting 30 years of Ginninderra Press by Colleen Keating

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Event update:
Celebrating 30 years of Ginninderra Press

We are looking forward to gathering with you on Sunday 22 March for the Ginninderra Press thirtieth anniversary celebrations in honour of Stephen Matthews OAM.

The afternoon at Yitpi Yartapuultiku will be a time to reflect on Stephen’s extraordinary contribution to publishing, celebrate 30 years of Ginninderra Press, and mark the many milestones that continue his legacy.

After-party details

Following the formalities, the celebrations will continue at the Largs Pier Hotel in Largs Bay, a short drive from Yitpi Yartapuultiku (see directions).

All attendees are warmly invited to join us for a relaxed after-party — an opportunity to continue conversations, reconnect with fellow writers and friends, and share a drink or early dinner together.

Date:
Sunday 22 March

Venue:
Yitpi Yartapuultiku, Aboriginal Cultural Centre

1300 Old Port Rd, Port Adelaide SA 5015


Arrive from:
1.30pm


Event:
2.00pm – 4.30pm

Please note: main access to the venue will be closed after 2.00pm.

RSVPs

RSVPs to the event are now closed. Please contact Debbie Lee if your attendance details have changed. We look forward to celebrating with you

Ring the Bells by Colleen Keating launch at State library NSW

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The Launch of Ring the Bells – a new poetry collection by Colleen Keating 

Cathedral bells chimed as Libby Hathorn held high my new poetry collection Ring the Bells and declared it launched. 
It is a delightful feeling to have your new work officially out in the world.

Thank you to the award-winning author and poet Libby Hathorn for the launch and for our  conversation,
poet to poet, about our passion for poetry, its efficacy and inimitable power. 

 I spoke of the four pathways into which my collection of poetry is divided: 
embracing light, embracing dark, embracing life, embracing love.
Also how poetry writing is my creative energy, my passion and daily sunrise.

 Thank you to all who attended. It was affirming to have a full house at our Society of Women Writers monthly meeting .

Thank-you to Debbie Lee and Ginninderra Press as publishers. Thanks to Rita Shaw for the chiming bells
at late notice and  thanks to my daughter Sarah  Little  for her help in the creative power point presentation . 

Our conversation finished with a word of advocacy for poetry.  Speaking mainly to writers 
I quoted the American poet Mary Oliver, who inspires us with her mantra:

“Pay attention, be amazed and write about it.”

Colleen Keating

“Bells tolling and poetry on the air– a wonderful launch of Colleen Keating unique poetry collection Ring the Bells  (Ginninderra  Press , The Society of of Women Writers NSW Inc at State Library NSW  – a tintintabulation Australian Colleen Keating 2025”  Libby Hathorn

A lovely catch up at the Society of Women Writers NSW  Meeting  at State Library NSW

          

             

 

Tolling Cathedral bells in the background.

 

Libby Hathorn in conversation with Colleen Keating will launch Colleen’s poetry book,

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Guest Speaker

Colleen Keating: Ring the Bells – Book Launch

Power of Poetry
Libby Hathorn in conversation with Colleen Keating will  launch Colleen’s poetry book,

Ring the Bells. 

In Ring the Bells, award-winning poet Colleen Keating invites readers to listen closely – to the chimes of joy, the tolls of grief and the quiet notes of love that echo through our shared human experience.

Moving through four sections – Embracing Light, Embracing Dark, Embracing Life, Embracing Love – her poems ring with an acute awareness of the world’s beauty and its brokenness.

From intimate moments in nature to the great sweep of history and current events, Keating’s lyrical voice finds hope, tenderness and resilience in the spaces where light filters through the cracks.

Colleen Keating has published eight books of poetry including the best-selling Hildegard of Bingen: A Poetic journey (Ginninderra Press 2019)

She has won numerous awards, and her poems have been published both nationally and internationally. Her writing explores the paradox and wonder of nature, the realities of life, equality, justice and the increasing threat to our natural environment.

Colleen writes on Ku-ring-gai land in Sydney and Darkinjung land on the Central Coast.

 

 

St. Patricks Day 17th March 2026. We remember the blessing of John O’Donahue

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Beannacht/Blessing

—John O’Donohue, Ireland (1956 – 2008)

For Josie, my mother

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets into you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue,
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

Sláinte agus beannachtaí dár ndomhan, gach lá!

Health and blessings to our world, every day!

Thank you for reading today’s sublime and sublimely Irish poem/blessing.

On this most Irish day, with our world starving for blessings, how could I not return to the soul nourishment

that John so richly, richly offers? And that we can offer to one another?

 

John O’Donohue was an Irish poet, author, priest, and Hegelian philosopher.

He was a native Irish speaker, and as an author is best known for popularising Celtic spirituality.

My favourite book of his is Anam Cara

Our visit to the Katherine Mansfield House & Garden in Wellington New Zealand.

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Katherine Mansfield

Today I  honour Katherine Mansfield — a New Zealand literary icon ( 1888-1923)
Her words shaped New Zealand’s literary voice on the world stage.

She is  living tribute to her brilliance and the her shared heritage.

She is best known for her Modernist short stories . 

She spent time living in Europe and mixed with many progressive and well known writers, artists. poets etc.

Her work was admired by fellow 20th century writers, including Virginia Woofe , D.H. Lawrence.,Thomas  Hardy, and Elizabeth Bowen.

Her journals and letters evoke a passionate individual, dedicated to her craft, whose life was tragically cut short by tuberculosis aged 34. 

On our Anniversary-holiday, where we cruised around the South Island of  New Zealand we had the exciting  opportunity to spend the time while berthed in the Capital Wellington, to revisit Katherine Mansfield House and Garden. We walked  with our given map to  25 Tinakori Rd, which was about 15 mins  from the Quay. (It took us half an hour, but we did wander and enjoy the journey.)

Unfortunately a motor way now races beneath the preserved house, but at the house and garden we forgot about the business and noise. where she was born and lived her early years. It has been preserved and beautifully restored. I felt the love and dedication given to this beauiful place. 

The house and garden gives us a glimpse into the home of a fashionable colonial family, what life was like for Mansfield  Katherine Mansfield as a young girl living in Wellington and the life and writing of a woman far away from her first home. 

The first view was of the garden, which was beautifully cared for and was connected with Katherine’s writing..

Michael and I after our walk and discovery of the  House & Garden.

My favourite sign as I love roses and there were many roses not in bloom at the moment

Inside the house we were amazed at the  detail and the ways it has been restored. An honour  

for Katherine that it is here and cared for lovingly.

  1. Dining room 2. Sitting room  3. A stunnin 4. A stunning period chair 5. Michael with the Grandfather clock.
  2. The last two bring back memories of the old days with the traymobile  and the fuel stove that my Nanna had.

 

One of my connections with here is my favourite story called The Doll’s House.

A short story that shows inequality and the hard reality of life where the children pull our heart strings so wistfully.

And here is the Dolls’ House that inspired the story.

Summary:   The story explores the theme of class distinction and cruelty in society.

It is set in rural New Zealand and based on Mansfield’s own experiences growing up.
The story follows the Burnell children receiving a doll’s house as a gift. While Kezia wants to show it to the poor Kelvey sisters,
her sister Isabel refuses due to their lower class. Later, Kezia secretly invites the sisters to see it, but they are dismissed.
The doll’s house and its lamp symbolize hope for overcoming social discrimination.
To read The Doll’s House  hopefully click below  or google as there is  a PDF of the story 8 min read.

https://susannahfullerton.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/THE-DOLLS-HOUSE.pdf

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I mention again the award-winning book, Virginia & Katherine: The Secret Diaries by my friend Pip Griffin (Pohutukawa Press 2022)

that was being sold at the Shop and now I discover it is sold out.

 

Some flowers in the Katherine Mansfield  Garden