Varuna Writers' House Archives

Society of Women Writers April Meeting

colleen General April 23, 2019April 23, 2019Pattie Miller, Society of Women Writers, Sue Woofe, SWW, Var, Varuna Writers' House

A fresh Autumn morning . I set out by train for the city to attend the monthly gathering of the Society of Women Writers. ( SWW)

Each month it is held at the State Library of NSW over in the Dixson Room in the original Mitchell Library. And being a Friend of the Library I enjoy a coffee and some quiet space in the Friends room before hand

This month Pattie Miller lead the workshop .

and luncheon with the key note spesker as Pattie again on the topic of

and a very interest talk with Libby Hathorn and the first release of her new children’s book Miss Franklin .

It was a very pleasant gathering and Pattie as always very informative

One of the exciting unfolding pieces of information Pattie Miller held up the new Stella Award book An Erratic life by Vickie Laveau-Harvie . Pattie was excited as Vicki had been on e of her students . I was excited firstly for Vicky winning such a prestigious prize but that I had spent the week at Varuna

VARUNA WRITERS’ HOUSE – Poetry Residential Masterclass

colleen General December 16, 2018December 17, 2018Blue Mountains, Eleanor Dark, Katoomba, Poetry Masterclass, Shhh Quiet Zone, Shhh Writers at work, Timeless Land, Vanessa Kirkpatrick, Varuna House, Varuna Writers' House

Poetry Residential Masterclass VARUNA WRITERS’ HOUSE

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As I roll my car into the Varuna Writers Centre, a sense of tranquillity settles.

Leaving a hot, busy, noisy city and winding my way up into the Blue Mountains is in itself for me, a meditative journey, even inhaling the mountain air is a reminder of what breathing is all about.

My excitement hardly contained to have a one week writers residency.

The poet Vanessa Kirkpatrick is our convenor for the week, with four other committed poets we look forward to an enriching, rewarding time of learning, writing and sharing. Vanessa shares three stimulating WORKSHOPS, that make us think both of the structure and content of our poetry. Having two sessions of ‘one on one’ with Vanessa crafting our words helps us step up to a new level. Vanessa is so generous with her time and sharing her expertise.

For those who are not familiar with Varuna, this Writers’ House was the home of Eleanor and Eric Dark, who bought the land in 1923 and built their home over the next years with the piece de resistance – The Studio set in the garden built for Eleanor as her writing studio.

studio my desk in studio for a week

Varuna is surrounded by a mature rambling garden of a few acres in Cascade St near the beginning of the Katoomba Falls.

A bush walk takes you to a lookout to enjoy the falls and a vistas of The Three Sisters and the majesty and solitude of the Jamison Valley. The Scenic Skyway glides silently between cliff tops.

Eleanor was a prolific writer and Eric was a medical doctor .

DARK-Eleanor

Eleanor is best known for her trilogy The Timeless Land which was on the School Curriculum for some years and which was made into an ABC series Her books:

The Timeless Land (1941)

Storm of Time (1948)

No Barrier (1953) these 3 make up the trilogy

Slow Dawning (1932)

Prelude to Christopher (1934)

Return to Coolami (1936)

Sun Across the Sky (1937)

Waterway (1938)

The Little Company (1945)

Lantana Lane (1959)

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After their death, Mick Dark ( their son) established the house as a Writers’ Centre in order to protect the land from possible sub division and to allow the literary spirit of the space to continue. Writing residencies began in 1989 making next year 2019 the Centre’s 30th anniversary. It is a space of solitude, silence called for rom 6am to 6 pm and then writers gather to share their day and writing over a beautifully prepared meal by the wonderful chef Sheila. ( Her Varuna recipe book is coming out in the next six months )

I believe all places are filled for next year. How vibrant and healthy is our writing world .

Our writing world, our poetry world might be grass roots but that’s where the real growth begins and spreads. Thank you Eleanor Dark Foundation for your contribution to this.