State Library

SWW’s Final Centenary Committee Meeting: a celebration. by Colleen Keating

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Our final Centenary committee meeting was held last Thursday. We met in  The Library Bar atop the State Library of NSW .
It was a mild lovely Spring evening.
Maria McDougall, Amanda Mark, Jan Conway, Kylie Day, Colleen Keating, Anne Power and Elizabeth James.
Not a  meeting  to plan and work but one of celebration and joyful thanks for  a very enthusiastic year and an amazing Centenary lunch.
So many activities held to mirror 100 years of Women writing with the motto Giving Women a Voice.
Our song given to the Society by Libby Hathorn  WE ARE  100  YEARS STRONG.
To celebrate a year of great activity and continue what Libby H calls  a century of literary, advocacy, creativity, and community
We revisited some  Sydney women writers : our society being present at the Open Day in the gorgeous home of the author Ethel Turner,
walking the Playing Beatie Bow historic way in the Rocks area where Ruth Park wrote to portray life and struggles of early Sydney .
A Great Gatsby Evening was celebrated where many dressed in character. I will include a write up of our Centenary luncheon soon
which we held at NSW Parliament House  and attracted an affirming speech by the Premier Chris Minns in the middle of his very busy day.
And the food was delicious. We took some photos to remember our final meeting . I thought the view of the harbour,
in the distance was the best way to go, but Libby’s idea  of having the buildings in the background I now think gives our meeting
a wonderful sense of place. It portrays the heart of the city, and us on the roof of our State Library in the new bar  called  appropriately
THE LIBRARY BAR in the middle of our wonderful city. Thankyou to our convenor Maria McDougall who  generously organised
our evening celebration with  hors d’oeuvres platters and bubbly the perfect way to celebrate.

 

 

pastedGraphic.png               CENTENARY REPORT September/October 2025

                                               *100th Birthday Lunch in the Strangers Dining Room, Parliament House, 

    Sydney 10 September 2025

*Soprano, Camilla Wright and accompanist, Ruth McColl performed the National Anthem and Centenary Song. Both organised by Lanneke Jones who was unable to attend the day. Camilla’s beautiful voice carried through to the adjacent dining room outside the Strangers, where upon hearing the National Anthem, diners stood to listen and remained standing during the Centenary Song. Goosebump moments. 

*Playing alongside the dining area, Vanessa Proctor’s Lavanda Players performed a program ranging from Singing in the Rain to the tango from Scent of a Woman as guests arrived and later during the afternoon whenever time allowed. Huge contribution to the day’s success establishing a joyful and respectful mood.

*Unable to attend, Susan Steggall recorded a brief overview of the Centenary Anthology for the birthday lunch, congratulating the entrants and launching the anthology. Once launched the bagged books were distributed to the recipients by committee members on the various table groups. Sales of the anthology continued at the end of the day. 

*Following the lunch, anthologies were sent to all who indicated their addresses following the Trybooking postal cost message in enews.  Sue Steggall followed up the remaining list with emails and the Trybooking link. All anthologies ordered have been posted. Anthologies to remain available for collection or purchase. See the Anthology Reminder list attached. 

*As long-term member, Guest Speaker Libby Hathorn spoke about her reflections on SWW, the early days and her membership’s impact on her career, and eventual leading to the production of the animation and recording the centenary song. 

*NSW Premier Chris Minns spoke about the importance of women’s writing. He looked up in surprise when his words about Miles Franklin raised a laugh. SWW committee photo organised by his Staff. Thank you sent to Office.  

*Around 12:40, the Hon Jodie Harrison, Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, Minister for the Prevention of Sexual Assault, accompanied by one of her staff enjoyed lunch for about an hour. Minister Harrison spoke about SWW 100th birthday for 10 mins. Thank you sent to Office.  

* Hilarie Lindsay Writing Competition was announced. Andrew Lindsay spoke about Hilarie’s passion for women and social justice and read one of her poems. The media release for Hilarie Lindsay Prize writing competition was distributed and on the website on 23 October in preparation for the competition opening 30 October, closing 27 February 2026. Prize giving is after June, in the SL NSW as part of their bi centennial. Request sent to Richard Neville for the possibility of being part of the bicentennial celebrations. 

*General comments about the alternate choices of beef fillet or ocean trout fillet were favourable as were the remarks about the wines served. Reflections on the venue included appreciation in being in the room’s convivial atmosphere as opposed to the rain and wind outside. 

*Birthday Cake was enjoyed by all as chocolate cake dessert. Cake cutting by Di Yerbury, Liz Newton and Pippa Kay. Icing in clever titles of women’s publications covered the cake in the shape of a row of books.

*The centenary logo gold lapel pin was attached to the presentation folder.  Included was a card, either the photo image of the waratah or book stack, and a poem card with Libby Hathorn’s centenary song lyrics on one side and Hilarie Lindsay’s poem on the reverse.  

*A collection of SWW reflections by past presidents and long-term members were put on the website for general viewing.

*Centenary Bumper Issue of Women’s Ink! sent to members in July. Centenary edition, open to members’ contributions. November Women’s Ink! has follow up highlights of the centenary year with a report on the lunch.  

Despite the rain, the day was a fitting tribute to all the women writers upon whose shoulders the Society stands. Pleasing to see were the 124 attendees many from interstate and regional areas. Patron, Di Yerbury attended with an assistant. Bhavna Khanna accompanied former SWWV President, Caroline Webber travelling from Victoria.  Members can look forward to the next 100 years with excitement and anticipation following the work of the Society and its expanded opportunities for their writing. Women’s words matter. 

With appreciation for the unfailing support of Presidents Liz Newton and Pippa Kay, and huge contribution by past presidents Sue Steggall, Gwen Bitti and Jan Conway with Libby Hathorn, Kylie Day, Amanda Mark, Anne Power, Elizabeth Hunter, Colleen Keating. All fabulous women. 

Centenary support from members and all committees involved over the last 5 years is appreciated. So many donations and sponsorships, fundraising hampers, and silent auction prizes along with the hosting of morning tea and wine dinner parties were invaluable.  Friendships were established and memories created. A special mention for the SWW current committee for their help and endorsement for the centenary lunch, namely Liz Newton, Pippa Kay, Christine Sykes, Amanda Mark, Anne Power, Jane Carrick, Julie Thorndyke, Rita Shaw, Teresa Petersen, Liz Shaw and Maria McDougall.  

When women are together, wonderful things happen. 

A Summer City Walk by Colleen Keating

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A summer city walk

We might live up in the hills amongst the trees and birds
but a pleasant train trip has us in the heart of the city
in just on a hour

Our walk into Hyde Park past the Pool of Reflection
through the War Memorial past the Mary McKillop tribute
along Macquarie Street to our first coffee stop

 

like a Narnia cupboard our State library
is a portal to another world.
we begin with Cafe Trim for a morning coffee

Had to smile how famous is this cat Trim *
statues in his honour in England and here
books written and now a cafe in its name

a quiet walk through the displayed collection
one painting catches my attention
Maria Little c. 1895 worthy of a poem *

across into the Botanical gardens
where the same tree pulls us up every time
its presence so grand that one’s memory

cannot hold it as such and so each time
we meet it one stops and sighs deeply
as if in its presence for the first time

the Calyx was where we walked and sat
amidst a kaleidoscope of colour
plants and passion

close up of the Wollemi Pine
had me in adoration before nature
its early place in evolutions

looking close up at its binary nature
a tree that lived and survived before
even insects evolved

used wind only for pollination
needing the updraft from valley floors
to secure its continuation

Hildegard would’ve given her approved nod
to The Green Wall
and its 18.000 plants

with shades of green in great variety
and spelling out the word Diversity
this ambience gave us a restful vibe

Further on we walked in a wild English garden
mesmerised by the colours
and enterprise of bees and butterflies

 

a shady spot midst sandstone outcrops
and sparkling vista of a busy harbour
our picnic tasted delicious

 

  • TO THE MEMORY OF
                  TRIM
    The best and most illustrious of his race
    The most affectionate of friends,
    faithful of servants,
    and best of creatures
    He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
    which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
    delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers
    Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat
    Memorial donated by the North Shore Historical Society
  • Maria Little    c. 1895  by Tom Roberts.
    This captures my attention..
    Who is she really? What is she hiding?.Is she just shy?
    What sadness she knows!
    what has the invasion of our civilisation
    done to her peeopls !
    Archivists from the historical Yulgilbar Castle in the Clarence Valley Northern, NSW have recently identified the woman to be Maria Little , a local Bundjalung woman, who worked  in the laundry at the Ogilvie family’s Yulgibar Homestead. Maria’s mother, Queen Jinnie Little, also worked at Yugilbar, along with many other Aboriginal people from the near by Baryulgil Comminity

 

Note below my gorgeous blue monarch butterfly

 

So that was my day in the city and here is another interpretation of the same day

Saturday 21st January 2023

from the diary of  Michael Keating

Today we set out for a solid walking tour of the city. I took the Fizan Explorer Walking Pole. We drove to the station and just missed a train. It is so good to get off at Normanhurst on the return journey and have the car waiting for the last 300 metres of up hill. There were plenty of people on the train and in the city.
The Lunar New Year brought a wide range of people into the city. Many were in fancy dress (Rabbits Ears for Year of the Rabbit) and groups were chasing Pokémon type targets. Colleen was amazed by the range of women styles, fabrics and designs.

We alighted at Town Hall and used the Woolworths vintage escalators to make our way towards Hyde Park. We misread the changed pedestrian conditions towards Hyde Park and chalked up a few extra criss-crossing steps. We did the full stretch of Hyde Park. We walked down to and through the Anzac Memorial and around the  Pool of Remembrance. Colleen took a photo of myself reflected in the pool. We were at either end and I was standing in front of the Anzac Memorial. The Anzac Memorial deals with WWl specifically with various acknowledgements of later encounters.

There are four sections of wall where mention is made of  every town, village, suburb from where men signed up to join the various Armed Forces together with samples of soil.

It was intriguing to wander along and note places of interest – Coonamble, Moonan Flat, Wanaaring (Paroo), Quirindi, Bega – amongst hundreds of others. The Cooee trail is iconic in NSW legend. Since I was last there, they have  added a significant water feature on the southern side (Liverpool St) of the Memorial.

From the main steps of the memorial one sees all the way to the Archibald Fountain at the northern end of Hyde Park. We walked down  the Hyde Park Avenue and made a detour past St. Mary’s Cathedral. The sculpture of Mary McKillop drew our attention. I would have liked to have wandered inside the Cathedral but I had a hat and was unable to disentangle mask, sunglasses, hearing aids, hat cord. We walked down Macquarie St to the NSW Library where we had a cup of coffee.  Thence took some time in the Portrait Gallery. It is interactive and I always like to wait for some inspiration from someone gazing down at me and then doing some basic interactive research. Today the subject was Maria Little – the  indigenous daughter of ‘Queen Jinnie Little’. Colleen was quite intrigued.

From the art gallery  we walked through the Botanical Gardens. We spent some time at the current Calyx flower exhibition. One of the Volunteer Guides was very pleased to answer our queries.

We had taken some food for lunch. As we walked down through The Gardens we kept a lookout for a shady seat. We are beyond just looking for shady grass. We were almost at the Opera House when we managed to find a seat. It was a great spot and we watched  a wide variety of boats. There were no Cruise Ships in today.

We walked around to MCA to use the bathrooms. This enabled us to have another look at some of our current favourites. Colleen did have to take a rest at  MCA and then we were on the Light Rail to Town Hall, through Woolworths and thence to Normanhurst via Hornsby.

Evening meal was a mixture of selective cheese, leftovers and a Lite’n’Easy meal.

We watched a French film called Amour. The film was from 2012 and had taken out some awards for that year. It was typically European film with subtlety and tension. The ending was both unexpected and predictable.

Thanks Michael, such a gorgeous day we both enjoyed. The venue 5 star. The company 5 star.

Fire on Water: Highly Commended in SWW Awards 2018

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The SWW  Book Awards were announced in the Historic State Library at a packed Literary Luncheon on Wednesday.

I am thrilled to announce Fire on Water has won the Highly Commended Award in the Society of Women Writers Biennial Poetry Award  2018.   Thank you to the SWW of NSW Inc. for running this Competition . It is very affirming to be acknowledged and i felt very proud to be standing on the podium with a group of talented poets and writers. Congratulations especially to Susan Fealty for her book Flute of Milk that was the 2018 Winner and to the other runners up, my friend Beverley George for her Tanka collection Only in Silence  and Kathryn Fry for Green Point Bearings. 

Thanks to the  acclaimed  poetry and children’s author Judge Libby Hathorn, and especially thank-you to Stephen Matthews and Ginninderra Press,  who must be very affirmed by Ginninderra’s achievements in this Competition.  Thanks to Family and friends who have wished me the best for Fire on Water and all who are buying this well Awarded book through Ginninderra  Press.

 

 

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