Dear FAWWA members and friends,
We trust your writing is going well and you’ve been staying warm and cosy. Do you have writing news? Competition success? A new publication? Please email us at fellowshipaustralianwriterswa@gmail.com so we can share your news with our members.
Vale Andrew Burke
FAWWA was saddened to learn of the death of beloved poet Andrew Burke, pictured at right, who passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 23. Andrew was a long-time member of FAWWA who will be greatly missed.
Andrew served many times as a FAWWA office holder.
He is mentioned in the PhD thesis about the history of FAWWA submitted by Patricia Kotai-Ewers in 2013.
Patricia wrote that when Andrew was writer-in-residence at Tom Collins House in 1969, he was quoted in the Daily News as saying it was easy to “reel off poems in this house”.
Patricia also included an anecdote about when Andrew was one of the younger poets invited to read at the end-of-year FAWWA gathering, along with Nicholas Hasluck, Viv Kitson, and Ian Templeman.
“At times their creative approaches to writing and its presentation may have startled some older members. The first poem Andrew Burke read in Tom Collins House was written on a toilet roll,” she wrote.
In 1992 Andrew told reporter Emma Bladen from the Post Newspapers that he’d been FAWWA’s first writer-in-residence at Tom Collins House when it was in Servetus Street. That’s where most of his first poetry collection was written.
Andrew was the author of 13 works of poetry, the recipient of the Thomas Wardle Poetry Prize, and the 1977 Tom Collins Poetry Prize.
His work was anthologised in Western Australian and national collections, and he read his poetry to audiences throughout Australia, China, Singapore and the UK.
Earlier in his life he worked in advertising as a creative director and copywriter. He later switched to academia, earning an MA and a PhD in writing.
Andrew lectured in Australia and, with his wife Jeanette, taught at Shaanxi Normal University in China, before returning to Australia to teach children in the Kimberley.
All at FAWWA would like to extend our deepest condolences to Jeanette and to all who knew and loved Andrew.
Tom Collins House renovations
FAWWA is delighted to say that the painting of Tom Collins House is near to completion.
Sean McCloskey of Artisan Painting has been taking great care to paint the historic home’s interior and exterior.
The work was funded by a grant from the WA Heritage Council, which was matched by the City of Nedlands.
Heritage consultant John Tick has generously donated his time and skills to advise FAWWA on the project.
2023 Dorothy Hewett Award Shortlist Congratulations to author Vivienne Glance whose unpublished manuscript Semblance was shortlisted for the prestigious 2023 Dorothy Hewett Award. Her work, a crime novel, was described as a big-hearted eco-novel set within the battle to save the southern forests of Western Australia. It was shortlisted from more than 220 entries received from across Australia. For more information please click here.
Sundowner Sunday, July 16, 5pm
FAWWA members and friends are warmly invited to the FAWWA Sundowner at Mattie Furphy House on Sunday, July 16, 5pm to 7pm. The sundowners are the third Sunday of every month. All welcome. Please bring a plate and drinks to share, and a piece to read in the open mic. Please RSVP to Lynne on lynne.83b@gmail.com
Tony Gallagher book launch
Author Tony Gallagher is to launch his second book, A Little Time Apart: Lessons on Living from Eight Chinese Women, on Sunday, August 20 at Mattie Furphy House, 3pm to 6pm. Tony is also the author of On the Up: The Making of a Perth Boy. To RSVP please email Tony on mrtony@iinet.net.au. Copies of both books will be available for sale.
Write your life story
Join ghostwriter and life story mentor Rhuwina Griffiths at Mattie Furphy House in June and July to learn how to turn your memories into a book that others will enjoy reading. Please email rhu@thisisyourlifestory.com or click here for more information.
Sharpen your editing skills
The Society of Women Writers WA is running an Editing Workshop on Saturday, July 8 from 12.30pm to 5pm at Citiplace Community Centre. For details please click here.
Karrinyup Writers’ Club is turning 40
The Karrinyup Writers’ Club is turning 40, and calling all members past and present to come and help them celebrate. For more details contact the club on Facebook or by emailing them on karrinyupwriters@gmail.com
Congratulations Andrew J Harvey
Canadian Publisher Peasantry Press has just released the third book in Perth author Andrew J Harvey’s Middle-Grade Reader ‘Portal Adventures’ series Vortex on Vertu Prime. For more information about Andrew’s publications please click here, and for a sample of Andrew’s book please click here.
Sutherland Shire Literary Competition
Verse and short stories accepted. Entries close July 31. For details please click here.
Port Stephens Literature Award
Short stories accepted until September 30. Inquiries to kevin_colman@yahoo.com.au
Lane Cove Literary Awards
Entries are now open for the Lane Cove Literary Awards. Entries Close Wednesday, August 16. Categories for short stories, poetry, and theatre scripts. For more information please click here.
Happy writing,
The FAWWA Committee
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