Centenary of the Society of Women Writers

Ink Centenary Edition 2025 Society of Women Writers Inc by Colleen Keating

colleen Poetry, Poetry Awards , , , , ,

I am very honoured to have two poems in the INK Centenary Edition . It is the 4th Edition.  

And is a collection  of the winning poetry, non-fiction and short stories – entries in the SWW

writing competitions 2021 – 2024.

Thank you to the editor,  Susan Steggall  and congratulations to all the entries .

Great to be amongst  such wonderful names. 

The two poems of mine that are honoured in the SWW Poetry competition 

Petal by petal                        short listed  2022

From the dust of stars       short listed 2024

It has been a decade hiatus since the 3rd edition  of INK was published for  the 90th SWW 

INK 3  90th Anniversary Edition   a collection of the winning entries in SWW 2015 -2016 and am proud to say I had my poem,

In Search of Hildegard of Bingen included. ( The incentive for my book that followed )

The past two editions of INK 2015 and 2025   collections of the winning poetry, non-fiction, and short stories  in the SWW Writing Copetitions.

 

      

At ‘Woodlands’ remembering the woman writer Ethel Turner and Celebrating the Society of Women Writers Centenary

colleen General , , ,

The Society of Women Writers, as part of their centenary celebrations had a booth at the recent open day of the National Heritage house ‘Woodlands’ in Killara the home where the woman writer Ethel Turner lived for some years and  where she wrote the famous Seven Little Australians. We could stand and be inspired in the  house, in the room, the corner, the desk, where she wrote at least 3 of her many books.   

It gave the Society an opportunity to advertise the Society and to talk about writing and how Ethel was an early member of the Society. 

 Ethel Turner lived at a time in the late 19th century, when women would start earning recognition for their works and perhaps start to get their seat at the table alongside their male contemporaries more than ever before, even if there was still a lot of gatekeeping.

Albert and Eva Lin who bought the house in 2017 realised ‘Woodlands’ was included on the State Heritage Register  and they decided to learn more about Ethel Turner.

Realising althought her iconic novel was still available, Ethel herself had been largely forgotten, they immediately set about  to rectify that. In conjunction with local historians and the local council, Albert and Ava set about restoring both home and garden to their former glory days.  Although keen to modernise the home for their young family,  they have restored part of the house to reflect its 1890’s inspiration for Turner’s imagination including a library of her complete works .  As Albert says:

‘Woodlands’ has been around before I existed. It will be  around long after I cease to exist. As its present custodian, if i do not do this that I am doing, who else?

Albert Lin Private owner of Woodlands with two of his five daughters

who has restored his home ‘Woodlands’ into the period of history of Ethel Turner’s time.