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Two events are listed in this email:
David Marr & Mirandi Riwoe,
October 24
Tony Birch & Melissa Ashley,
November 15 |
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Reginald Uhr as a young man wearing a Native Police uniform, seated between two Aboriginal troopers |
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David Marr
in conversation |
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Maleny Community Centre
Tuesday October 24
6 for 6.30pm
Tickets $25, student $18 |
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When David Marr set out to research the life of his great-grandmother the last thing he expected to find was a photograph of her father, dressed in the uniform of the Native Police.
As he writes: ‘I was appalled and curious. I have been writing about the politics of race all my career. I know what side I’m on. Yet that afternoon I found, in the lower branches of my family tree, Sub-Inspector Reginald Uhr, a professional killer of Aborigines… and his brother D’arcy… also in the massacre business.’
That curiosity, and the sense of being appalled, led him to research the activities of the Native Police, and, from there, to the writing of his new book,
Killing For Country.
David is the author of a remarkable slew of books, which include his wonderful biography,
Patrick White, a Life;
Dark Victory (with Marian Wilkinson), and no less than six Quarterly Essays. He has written for
The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Saturday Paper and
The Monthly, and was a reporter for
Four Corners. He is the winner of three Walkley Awards and two honorary Doctorates. He is one of this country’s most esteemed journalists and authors. We are more than simply thrilled he’s coming to Maleny for a conversation about his new book.
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David's book,
Killing for Country, is already attracting a lot of attention. David had a very forceful piece in the Guardian here, and a long and fascinating article in the Good Weekend, here. |
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And, Introducing,
Mirandi Riwoe
Speaking about her new novel,
Sunbirds
Sunbirds is set in Java during the Second World War - at the time of Japan’s inexorable move southwards - it depicts the intricate web of identities and loyalties created by war and imperialism, the heartbreaking compromises that so often ensue. Mirandi’s previous novel,
Stone Sky Gold Mountain, won the 2020 Queensland Fiction Book Award and the inaugural ARA History Novel Prize. It was shortlisted for the 2021 Stella Prize and longlisted for the 2021 Miles Franklin Literary Award. |
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Our November event will present
Tony Birch
in conversation
Wednesday November 15
Maleny Community Centre
6 for 6.30pm
Tickets $25, students $18 |
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Tony Birch is the acclaimed author of four novels, including
The White Girl and
Ghost River, two books of poetry and three short story collections. Most recently his short story collection
Dark as Last Night won the New South Wales Premier's Christina Stead Prize for fiction, the Queensland Literary Award Steele Rudd prize and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's literary prize. He has previously been awarded the Patrick White Literary Award for his contribution to Australian literature.
Professor Tony Birch has recently been appointed the third Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne. Tony will be the third to take up the mantle previously held by two other literary greats, Richard Flanagan and Alexis Wright.
It is 1965 and Joe Cluny is living in a working-class suburb with his mum, Marion, and sister, Ruby, spending his days trying to avoid trouble with the nuns at the local Catholic primary school. One evening his Aunty Oona appears on the doorstep, distressed and needing somewhere to stay. As his mum and aunty work out what to do, Joe comes to understand the secrets that the women in his family carry, including on their bodies. Yet their pleas for assistance are met with silence and complicity from all sides.
Women & Children is a novel about the love and courage between two sisters, and a sudden loss of childhood innocence.
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And, we are very pleased to introduce:
Melissa Ashley
Melissa is the best-selling author of
The Birdman's Wife, which won many awards, including the Qld Premiers/University of Queensland Fiction Award and the Neilsen Bookscan Award.
Her new novel is
The Naturalist of Amsterdam.
At the turn of the 18th century, Amsterdam is at the centre of an intellectual revolution, with artists and scientists racing to record the wonders of the natural world. Of all the brilliant naturalists in Europe, Maria Sibylla Merian is one of its brightest stars.
For as long as she can remember, Dorothea Graff’s life has been lived in service to her mother, Maria: from collecting insects to colouring illustrations for Maria’s world-famous publications. While Dorothea longs for a life that is truly her own, she constantly finds herself drawn back into her mother’s world – and shadow.
From the jungles of South America to the bustling artists’ studios of Amsterdam, Melissa Ashley charts an incredible period of discovery. With stunning lyricism and immaculate research,
The Naturalist of Amsterdam gives voice to the long-ignored women who shaped our understanding of the natural world – both the artists and those who made their work possible. |
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ABOUT US
Outspoken is organised by Steven and Tyyni Lang.
All authors are in conversation with Steven Lang.
Events commence with a fifteen to twenty minute interview with our 'introducing author'. This will be followed by approximately one hour of conversation with our headline author, including time for questions.
Please visit our website for more details and a list of our programmed events.
Maleny Community Centre will be running a bar so please come from
5.45pm to enjoy a drink.
Proceedings start at 6.30pm sharp, all finished (except book-signing) by 8pm.
These are one-off events and tickets will be strictly limited. If you would like to attend please make a booking as soon as is convenient. Please also tell anyone else you think might be interested. |
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This initiative is supported through the Creative Industries Investment Program and is jointly funded by ArtsCoast through Sunshine Coast Council’s Art and Heritage Levy and the Regional Arts Development Fund in partnership with Queensland Government.
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We very much appreciate the support of our local bookstore, Rosetta Books. The new owners, Lee and Rob, will be selling both of the author's books on the night |
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We are also very grateful for the support of our local newspapers |
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