Shortlisted poem in the 2023 Society of Women Writers NSW National Writing Competition by Colleen Keating

It is very excited to have a poem shortlisted in the 2023 SWW NSW National Writing Competition  Giving Women a Voice. Thankyou to organisers and judge Judith Beveridge

Dear Colleen,

Your entry, From the dust of stars in the Society of Women Writers NSW National Writing Competition is shortlisted. The winners are announced at the Society’s monthly event in the Dixson Room, the State Library of NSW on 8 November. Judith Beveridge, the Poetry Judge will be there to give her report.

Dear Colleen,

Your entry, From the dust of stars in the Society of Women Writers NSW National Writing Competition is shortlisted. The winners are announced at the Society’s monthly event in the Dixson Room, the State Library of NSW on 8 November. Judith Beveridge, the Poetry Judge will be there to give her report.

 Warmest Congratulations and best wishes

Maria

Maria McDougall

The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc.

womenwritersnsw.org

SHORT LIST  National Writing Competition 2023 – POETRY

 

PIPPA KAY FOR MARBLES

COLLEEN KEATING  FOR THE DUST OF STARS

LILY NASON FOR HOMESICK  ON A BALCONY SOMEWHERE IN PARIS

MARGARET RUCKART FOR CHROMOSOMAPERSON

JOANNE RUPPIN 

AND THE WINNER IS . . . . . . .  MARCKART RUCHART AND SECOND  PIPPA KAY

The photo is taken on

CONGRATULATIONS  TO THE WINNERS : I FEEL VERY HONOURED
TO BE SHORTLISTED WITH THESE GREAT POETS. I MISSED OUT BUT I AM PROUD OF THE POEM I WROTE

 

Judge’s Report – Judith Beveridge

Thank you to the Society of Women Writers for the honour and privilege of judging this year’s poetry prize for which there were 44 entries. I enjoyed the variety and vitality of the poems entered. Although most of the entries were in free verse, there was plenty of evidence that rhyme and stricter forms are not an entirely forgotten discipline. Whatever the form being used and with whatever success, I sensed honest voices dealing with real experiences. In judging the award, I looked for poems that made imaginative and inventive use of language, poems that showed a compelling engagement with subject matter, poems that had control over form and structure and poems that demonstrated masterful use of sound, imagery, lineation and rhythm to carry the meaning.

 

Winner: Chromosomapoem: I chose this poem as the winning entry because of the elegance and sophistication of language and subject matter. It addresses sex differences in a clever and witty manner. The linguistic quality is sustained throughout the poem as well as the use of form which enables the poem to embody and convey its thoughts in a memorable and powerful way. The poem shifts skilfully between historical and personal reflections on the biological and social realities determined by male and female sex chromosomes. The poem is a complex weave of humour and seriousness, executed with bravura and style.

 

Highly Commended: Marbles: This poem uses the highly challenging sestina form to excellent effect and has avoided the pitfalls of the sestina by being compact and economical. Form and content in this poem are beautifully married and generate an organic reading experience. The poem has as its subject matter the passing on of generational knowledge and experience – grandmother to grandchildren – thus the repetitions embedded in the sestina make it an excellent formal choice. The conversational style, in tandem with the poem’s formal requirements, create buoyancy and power. A tender and finally achieved poem.

 

Commended: Homesick on a Balcony Somewhere in France, no, not in Paris: This poem travels seamlessly through a wide range of feelings: humour, nostalgia, a sense of aloneness and displacement, as well as an acute awareness of time’s passing, both geologic time and personal time are juxtaposed to great effect. These tones and feelings are embodied in the movement and flow of the cadences and rhythms across the lines. This is a moving, engaging poem.


2022    SO PROUD TO BE MENTIONED THREE TIMES IN THE SHORT LISTED

PROGRAM FOR THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS  COMPETITIONS 2022

SHORT LISTED IN POETRY BOOK  OLIVER MURIEL PINK

SHORT LISTED IN NON-FICTION BOOK OLIVE MURIEL PINK

SHORT LISTED IN NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION 2023 FOR PETAL  BY PETAL

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Members’ Book Awards 2022. Congratulations to the authors involved and thank you to our judges.
Alphabetical by author

FICTION JUDGED BY MARGARET WICK

Maureene Fries   Stones. Bones and Hollyhocks
Helen Lyne   Disappointment and Other Joys of Life
Catherine McCullagh   Secrets and Showgirls
Susan Steggall   The Heritage We Leave Behind
Julie Thorndyke   Divertimento
Kelly Van Nelson    The Pinstripe Prisoner

NON FICTION JUDGED BY SYBIL JACK

Valerie Clifford  Fijian Shadows
Jan Conway   Skimming the Surface – Expats in Kiribati
Robyn Elliott   Sing the Burnt Mountain
Kate Forsyth & Belinda Murrell   Searching For Charlotte
Colleen Keating   Olive Muriel Pink
Christine Sykes   Gough and Me

POETRY JUDGED BY CARMEL BENDON

Anne Casey   Portrait of a woman walking Home
Anne Casey   the light we cannot see
Antoinette M. Diorio   Attachments
Pip Griffin   Virginia and Catherine, the Secret Diaries
Colleen Keating   Olive Muriel Pink. Her radical and idealistic life. A poetic journey
Denise O’Hagan   The Beating Heart

CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULT JUDGED BY GAIL ERSKINE
SPONSORED BY CHRISTMAS PRESS

Libby Hathorn   The Best Cat the Est Cat
Libby Hathorn & Lisa Hathorn Jarman   No! Never! A cautionary tale
Pamela Rushby   The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin’ Castle
Pamela Rushby   Interned

THE SHORTLIST
National Writing Competition
We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the National Writing Competition 2022. Congratulations to the authors involved and thank you to our judges.
Alphabetical by authorsSHORT STORY FICTION JUDGED BY JENNY STRACHANAlexandra Dunn   Violet
Paulette Gittins   Forget it Jake
Meira Gorcey   Looking for Peace
Felicia Henderson   Gardens in the Rain
Julie Howard   Recipes for Sisters and Wives
Judith O’Connor   The Past is a Dangerous FriendSHORT STORY NON -FICTION JUDGED BY PAULA McLEANCarmel Bendon   Birds of a Feather
Pippa Kay   Fear Itself
Stephanie Phillips   Here, There and Everywhere
Judy Rowley   The Only Way
Sally Jane Smith   Blood and Gratitude
Gwen Wilson   Living in the Shadow of TitoPOETRY JUDGED BY EILEEN CHONG
SPONSORED BY GINNINDERRA PRESSAnne Casey   Architecture of Chronic Pain
Colleen Keating   petal by petal
Meira Kirkwood   Woman to Dog
Joanne Ruppin   Bright New Home
Josephine Shevchenko   Undying the Sea
Mocco Wallert   A Stranger in my house

 

 

 

 

Highly Commended in The National Writing Competition for her Poem, ‘petal by petal’

It is a feeling of affirmation to be awarded second place, highly commended  in poetry  in the National Writing Competition “Giving Women Writers a Voice” 2022.  My poem ‘petal by petal’  written from  loss, grief  and deep love, over several months  earlier in the year, is very special and gives me validation in my creative life. Thank you to all  involved.

The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc

National Writing Competition
We are delighted to announce the winners of the National Writing Competition 2022. Congratulations to the authors and thank you to our judges.
Short Story Fiction – judged by Jenny Strachan
Winner – Alexandra Dunn ♦ Violet
Highly commended – Paulette Gittins ♦ Forget it Jake
Commended – Julie Howard ♦ Recipes for Sisters and Wives
Short Story Non-fiction – judged by Paula McLean
Winner – Carmel Bendon ♦ Birds of a Feather
Highly commended – Judy Rowley ♦ The Only Way
Commended – Gwen Wilson ♦ Loving in the Shadow of Tito
Poetry – judged by Eileen Chong
SPONSORED BY GINNINDERRA PRESS
Winner – Josephine Shevchenko ♦ Undying the Sea
Highly commended – Colleen Keating ♦ petal by petal
Commended – Mocco Wallert ♦ A Stranger in my house
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Olive Muriel Pink by Colleen Keating, runner up and Highly Commended in SWW competition

At the SWW Gala Luncheon  on Wednesday I was  thrilled to receive two highly commended awards.

The first for my book Olive Muriel Pink, awarded the Highly Commended in the Society of Women Writers Poetry Award 2022

The second is a Highly Commended Award for my poem in the National Womens Writers Competition for Poetry. Giving Women Writers a Voice

 

 

 

After so much research, reflection, writing, editing and critiquing with my poetry groups and later with the publisher Ginninderra Press to bring my epic poem Olive Muriel Pink to the world it has finally been given the Highly Commended Award in the Society of Women Writers Poetry Award: a prestigious award and no small feat as it was up against many deserving books Short Listed.

Congratulations to all who made the short list , and especially big congratulations to the winner, my poet friend Pip Griffin for her well deserved book, The Secret Diaries . Virginia and Katherine.

It is a long lonely journey to get a literary work to this point and everyone deserves the recognition that comes their way this day at this rewarding and affirming Gala Luncheon

A great turnout of many amazing fellow female writers for the Gala Luncheon with the key note address given by researcher and writer Anne Summers. A sobering address in which Anne gave us much of the detail of a recent research paper she has researched and written on  Domestic Violence titled,

≠ Violence or Poverty;

The dire choice faced by nearly half a million women

   

 

JUDGES REPORT 

The  Society of Women Writers NSW   Biennial Poetry Book Awards 2022 

 Highly Commended

Colleen Keating’s Olive Muriel Pink: her radical and Idealistic life.

A poetic journey transforms meticulous research into vivid images 

and crisp, engaging writing, bring to light an extraordinary pioneering 

Australian woman’s life and achievements in this substantial 

biographical poem. 

Colleen Keating’s biographical poem brings to fresh attention, and in a new form the life and work of an extraordinary Australian, an anthropologist, committed to working with and bringing to the awareness of colonial Australia, the deep knowledge and connection to the land of the Warlpiri & Arrernte peoples. During her life, Olive Oink worked to disturb the ‘Great Australian Silence’ about the Aboriginal people and Keating’s engaging work restates and re-envisage this important work for modern day Australians.

This biographical poem is a sustained accomplishment. It is a complete narrative, rich in detail and authenticity that captures not only the board and more nuanced details of Olive Pink’s life, but also the landscapes and people in which /with whom she moved. In addition, the poem is a skilful evocation of the times (including both world wars), of loss, of prejudice, of misogyny, of dedication to a cause /a belief. Always lucid in detail, at times the blank verse lines are like sketches and paintings that Pink loved – accurate, but sparse like the arid desert in which she moved – and imbued with the vivacity and splashes of colour that characterise Australia’s land/outback.

Thank you, Colleen, for the opportunity thread your poetry .It was a privilege. Best wishes with your work in the future.

Dr. Carmel Bendon

Dr. Carmel Bendon is a writer and presenter  on  “all things medieval, “ lives in sydney, Australia. She has a 
phD in MedievalLiterature and lectures in English  literature, Medieval Studies and Spiritual. She is ye author of Mysticism and Space , Grasping at Water and more recently  The Mystics Who Came to Dinner.

 

 

“Celebrating women who write ” Newsletter of Society of Women Writers.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SHORT LISTED. I FEEL PROUD TO BE NAMED AMONGST SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF WOMEN. THANK YOU. I AM HAPPY FOR OLIVE PINK THAT HER STORY IS OUT THERE FOR ALL TO KNOW THIS WOMAN WHO WAS LOST TO HISTORY FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS 

MEMBERS’ BOOK AWARD

CELEBRATING WOMEN WHO WRITE

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Members’ Book Awards 2022.
Congratulations to the authors involved and thank you to our judges.
Alphabetical by author

FICTION JUDGED BY MARGARET WICK 

Maureene Fries   Stones. Bones and Hollyhocks
Helen Lyne   Disappointment and Other Joys of Life
Catherine McCullagh   Secrets and Showgirls
Susan Steggall   The Heritage We Leave Behind
Julie Thorndyke   Divertimento
Kelly Van Nelson    The Pinstripe Prisoner

NON FICTION JUDGED BY SYBIL JACK

Valerie Clifford  Fijian Shadows
Jan Conway   Skimming the Surface – Expats in Kiribati
Robyn Elliott   Sing the Burnt Mountain
Kate Forsyth & Belinda Murrell   Searching For Charlotte
Colleen Keating   Olive Muriel Pink
Christine Sykes   Gough and Me

POETRY JUDGED BY CARMEL BENDON   

Anne Casey   Portrait of a woman walking Home
Anne Casey   the light we cannot see
Antoinette M. Diorio   Attachments
Pip Griffin   Virginia and Catherine, the Secret Diaries
Colleen Keating   Olive Muriel Pink. Her radical and idealistic life. A poetic journey
Denise O’Hagan   The Beating Heart

CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULT JUDGED BY GAIL ERSKINE 
SPONSORED BY CHRISTMAS PRESS

Libby Hathorn   The Best Cat the Est Cat
Libby Hathorn & Lisa Hathorn Jarman   No! Never! A cautionary tale
Pamela Rushby   The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin’ Castle
Pamela Rushby   Interned

NATIONAL WRITING COMPETITION 2022

GIVING WOMEN A VOICE

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the National Writing Competition 2022. Congratulations to the authors involved and thank you to our judges.
Alphabetical by authorsSHORT STORY FICTION JUDGED BY JENNY STRACHAN   Alexandra Dunn   Violet
Paulette Gittins   Forget it Jake
Meira Gorcey   Looking for Peace
Felicia Henderson   Gardens in the Rain
Julie Howard   Recipes for Sisters and Wives
Judith O’Connor   The Past is a Dangerous FriendSHORT STORY NON -FICTION JUDGED BY PAULA McLEANCarmel Bendon   Birds of a Feather
Pippa Kay   Fear Itself
Stephanie Phillips   Here, There and Everywhere
Judy Rowley   The Only Way
Sally Jane Smith   Blood and Gratitude
Gwen Wilson   Living in the Shadow of Tito

POETRY JUDGED BY EILEEN CHONG
SPONSORED BY GINNINDERRA PRESS

Anne Casey   Architecture of Chronic Pain
Colleen Keating   petal by petal
Meira Kirkwood   Woman to Dog
Joanne Ruppin   Bright New Home
Josephine Shevchenko   Undying the Sea
Mocco Wallert   A Stranger in my house

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colleen Keating is Winner of two SWW Book Awards

Colleen Keating is Winner of two SWW  Book Awards

Colleen Keating is the winner of two awards. Her recently published Hildegard of Bingen: A poetic journey, has taken out two awards at The Society of Women Writers NSW Biennial Book Awards. This was held at the State Library of NSW on Wednesday 10th February 2021.

SWW Poetry Book Award  2020
SWW Non-fiction Book Award

The judge for the Poetry section, highly acclaimed poet  Margaret Bradstock  wrote:

‘Keating plays with language, uses nouns as verbs, creative imagistic parallels to enhance emotional states. Poetic descriptions such as ,

‘The Rhineland moon/ edges the icy road or dawn-crackle of ice . . .erratic shivers of the horses/with huff of dragon smoke ‘ ,

to quote just a couple, vividly evoke the scenarios the poet wishes us to experience. . . it was Keating’ employment of figurative language, of subtle metaphor that determined Hildegard of Bingen to be the winning title. ‘

The judge for the non-fiction section,  renowned writer and editor for reviews at Women’s Ink, Judith O’Connor wrote:

How wonderful and fitting that Colleen has chosen the poetic form. Her narrative and style never miss a beat – almost racy at times, bounding along with passion and action against a backdrop of the beauty of nature as seen through Hildegard’s eyes. Lines like,

‘Her body knows what she wants
… as honey birds know
the most succulent flower
and geese
instinctively migrate (p.51)

The book speaks with the voice of a writer truely inspired, immersed, seeped in the knowledge and spiritual understanding of this far-away woman who lived to a remarkable 82 years of age. Colleen takes us on the outer, physical journey of Hildegard’s life but also the rich and spiritual inner journey. Harsh at times but always compelling.”

 

Thank to all for this awards. Thanks to the shortlisted poets and especially Pip as runner-up.  Jan Conway, President of the SWW  and the committee.

Special thanks to Stephen Matthews AOM and Ginninderra Press for affirming my work and beliveing in Hildegard and publishing my verse novel.it

 

Splash, Slither, Squawk ed.Michele Bomford and Julie Thorndyke

It would be 40 years ago when Michael and I went for picnics along the Bell River near Wellington in western NSW and enjoyed finding good river bends to spot platypus. The thrill has been an enduring memory for us. We have always  hoped that our grandchilren will have this opportunity as well. Hence there is great excitement and pride to be included in The Society of Women Writers NSW new and celebratory Anthology  ‘Splash, Slither, Squark’ created for young people empowering  them to advocate for our wildlife and planet. It is full of hope for our future  and the proceeds  go to helping to restore our unique flora and fauna especially our wombats and our Bush Fire service.

Children including three of our grandchildren (during their homeschooling term) have  joined in illustrating the stories, poetry, articles and adding their voice to this anthology.

The home of  Society is The State Library Of NSW. Chief Librarian John Vallance is an amazing advocate of children’s book and we are proud of his support of the anthology.

Margaret Hamilton Wombat Care Bundanoon, NSW Rural Fire Service Lithgow, New South Wales Society of Women Writers Victoria Fans of SCBWI City of Sydney ABC Sydney Christmas Press Picture Books  The Children’s Bookshop ALT Media Jackie French City Hub Sydney RSPCA Australia Lisa Berryman HarperCollins HarperCollins Books Australia Pat Simmons Jacqui Brown Writer Tory Gervay

Buy a copy to save our wombats & support the bushfire appeal –

Splash, Slither, Squawk!

Edited by Michele Bomford and Julie Anne Thorndyke

ISBN  978-0-9808407-5-9 RRP  $20 https://womenwritersnsw.org/

Credit Card or PayPal: https://www.trybooking.com/BKXWO

To celebrate our 95th birthday The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc – the oldest association of women writers in Australia has collaborated to create Splash, Slither, Squark, and  anthology to empower our children to be advocates for the future of our planet.

.

 

 

Book Review: Hildegard of Bingen: A poetic journey by Colleen Keating

Hildegard of Bingen by Colleen Keating is, as the author subtitled A Poetic Journey based on the life of the saint Hildegard von Bingen (1098 – 1179).

 

BOOK REVIEW      Women’s Ink Magazine  www.womenwritersnsw.org

Hildegard of Bingen – A Poetic Journey

COLLEEN KEATING

Ginninderra Press

ISBN 978 1 76041 766 6

Reviewed by BEATRIZ COPELLO

For those who do not know about this saint’s life, let me tell you she was an incredible and fascinating woman who lived in the Middle Ages in Germany. She lived an intense life dedicated not only to religion but also to science, art, music, politics and philosophy. Hildegard founded two monasteries and maintained active correspondence with kings, emperors and popes. During all her life this mystic had visions which she attributed to divine inspiration. 

In the forward of Hildegard of Bingen, Keating says she fell in love with Hildegard when she read a book lent to her by a friend. That love is evident in each page, in each poem, in each line. Through Keating’s poetry we get to know Hildegard, her life unrolls like a magic carpet. Poem by poem the reader finds out about her dreams, hopes, aspirations as well as her frustrations. 

Keatings’s poems come alive with sensory experience, her words are confident in range and depth and they are utterly clear and articulate. The poet could have been a witness in Hildegard’s life, she knows her, she breathes her, she has a familial intimacy with the philosopher. The author undertook a journey into the mediaeval world, the poems are factual and the events meticulously researched. They contain very vivid descriptions, we can see in our mind’s eye what Hildegard saw, like in

 

‘Arrival’

Disibodenberg, high in the forest
sprawls in the clouds.
The last mile steeply uphill
Secluded. 

A white butterfly dips and lifts.
Hildegard’s gaze follows it up
catches the glint of the sun
on the first stone wall.

Stoic buildings unfold
cloistered around a cobbled garth.
Their Benedictine monastery.

A monk in cinctured black robe
walks from signposted infirmary.
From beneath his blinkered cowl
he extends a welcome.
They dismount
Jutta falls on her knees in gratitude.

In Hildegard’s life the days pass coloured by monotony and sainthood and as the days pass so is her strong and determined personality developed. Poem by  poem the reader becomes wrapped in a mantle of words, words that tell us of revelations, mysticism, determination and sainthood. Keating puts herself in Hildegard’s shoes and cleverly she is able to recreate the angst, the bravery and the defiance of this incredible woman. We enter her abode, her orchard, we get to know the sisters and her godly visions. We hear two strong voices Hildegard’s and Keating’s the poet. Writing is a labour of love, the writer not only poured her love for Hildegard in the poems but also her skills and knowledge.

Intuition, growth, earthiness, inner strength, passion, justice, wisdom, art are all words that describe what emerges from Keating’s poetry. What a great way to learn through reading poetry! The poet has not spared any detail about the life of Hildegard neither has she left out information about her sources. This fascinating book contains an Epilogue, a Chronology, a Glossary, Notes and a Bibliography. In the final notes Keating says: ‘A Poetic Journey seeks a middle ground between an accurate scholarly presentation of Hildegard and a personal interpretation of her story.’

I believe the writer has achieved her purpose offering us  the opportunity to get to know a mediaeval feminist of extraordinary creativity. Colleen Keating has created a masterpiece. 

Women’s Ink! Magazine   www.womenwritersnsw.org    March 2020 p19

A Book Review of One Woman’s Journey by Ramah Juta

 

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It is a tradition for members of the Society of Women Writers NSW to send their published books to the Editor of Women’s Ink (Judith O’Connor),for review. I was honoured to have my poetry collection Fire on Water reviewed by Judith in the Winter Edition. Now I have been invited to review Ramah Juta’s book One Woman’s Journey Published in the Summer Edition Women’s Ink November 2018

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A REVIEW BY COLLEEN KEATING

Women’s history has been almost invisible. Up till this century, the stories of women were seldom included. Virginia Woolf opened doors for women by telling her stories – she helped women to get in touch with the impact of being marginalised, exploited, and invisible. She said “As a woman I have no country. As a woman my country is the whole world”

So it was with delight I received Ramah Juta’s book ‘One Woman’s Journey’ for review.

The King Protea filling the cover with its soft pink-grey petals caught my attention. This incredible flower from South Africa is an apt symbol , its name coming from one of the gods of the sea. Ramah’s story captures the reader. Through her personal story of grit and resilience, she weaves the history of a disturbing and inspiring time – the final upheaval of India, and Gandhi, the British indentured Indians to Africa, ‘Passenger-Indians’ to South Africa, Indian brides, apartheid and the hope of Mandela on the horizon, finally migration to Australia.

J. K. Rowling says : “ There is always room for story that can transport people to another place” And Ramah transports the reader of her journey with rich detail.
As a young Indian bride in South Africa she writes of her mid-wife,
‘A deep vertical furrow ran down the centre of her forehead. Wrinkles fanned out from the corners of her eyes and curved on to her cheeks. A good set of teeth was stained from chewing betel leaf. Prominent veins snaked their way down her forearms to her hands. She smiled, held my hand in her rough work-worn palms.’

We are present in India, in her formative years and also in South Africa with her sensual descriptions of colours, sounds, smells and tastes.
“ . . the green of the mango contrasting against the reddish, yellow oil. The smell of the spices lingered in the air for nearly a week.”

“I took a big sharp knife and cut the formidable fruit. i peeled its free knobbly skin , cut it into cubes with gravy, frying the onions in oil, adding tomatoes, spices, ginger and garlic. Then i added the jackfruit and let it simmer. Kripa guzzled it down.”

“Chaya flitted around in the kitchen plying him (Taroon) with fluffy dokra which he gorged with dollops of tongue tingling tamarind chutney”

I always find cultural and religious words add colour to a story and ‘One Woman’s Journey’ is no exception. The glossary at the back is valuable.

Raman quotes Khalil Gibran,
‘The entire earth is my homeland and the human family is my clan’ 

And this is as it is. With the slow transformation of the closed world of the family as the younger generations embrace a wider world – yet a rich chameleon of culture and religious ways are still embedded deeply in the psyche. An important reminder that new arrivals must never be discouraged from being their unique selves as they embrace the land of the bight red King Protea, the Waratah .

Colleen Keating is a published and award-winning poet.