Another Great PETAA Gig, Parramatta

At PETAA's conference day, Developing Creative and Confident Writers, I was really pleased to be asked to give the closing plenary I called Literature, Libraries and Love to an audience of 200 teachers. Whilst I spoke of poetry, my Anzac novel Eventual Poppy Day and showed some roughs of my upcoming picture book for the 2016 Somme commemoration, A Soldier, A Dog and a Boy, and also asked the teacher audience whilst honouring the 2015 CBCA short-list not to forget the Notables. I must admit a not-so-hidden agenda for my notable, 2015 picture book with Ritva Voutila, Outside. I arrived early and was lucky enough to sit in on Catherine Oehlman's (below) fabulous poetry workshop. I look forward to further contact with this teacher after my own heart, with poetry.

A River of Poetry with Eastside Radio

Based on my collection, The ABC Book of Australian Poetry: A treasury of poems for young people (Harper Collins,with its gorgeous illustrations by Cassandra Allen), Margaux Dombkins is featuring my poetry series Australian Poetry, Old and New as part of her regular arts program. This features a poet a month with a background of life and times and a reading of a few selected poems. Poets include Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar, Dame Mary Gilmore, Henry Kendall, Judith Wright and more. Our first session was Monday 8^th June and streamed on Eastside FM Website.

PETAA Conference and State Library of NSW Professional Development Day

It was a pleasure to connect with PETAA folk and to give the closing plenary (below) at the Grace Hotel Friday 29th May on Literature, Libraries and Love. From Poetry to Historical Novels, to enthusiastic teachers.

As it happens, in the morning of the same day at the State Library of NSW Professional Day, I spoke of Eventual Poppy Day and my upcoming picture storybook set at the Somme, A Soldier, A Dog and A Boy, showing some of Phil Lesnie's amazing artwork.