Neil Boyack arranged a billet with Jenny and Barry Lacey. Passionate gardeners, their garden has been open for the Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens and probably will be again. I couldn't have asked for a warmer welcome. www.festivalofgardens.org.The TATTOO began Friday night with SLEAZY STORIES at the Mechanics Institute. I couldn't make it till Saturday arvo - arriving at the end of THE FICTITIOUS WOMAN- just in time to catch Cate Kennedy. It was standing room only in the Dig Cafe. I knew I was in for a great weekend!
This is mate Anne E Stewart in her study in Daylesford looking very studious. Anne drove to Newstead on Saturday for FIRE STORIES. Neil made a massive bonfire by the racecourse. Folk appeared out of the dark to listen and share tales of all kinds. I can't believe I didn't take a pic - I was in my element and completely forgot. Ghost stories, love stories, horse stories, the eccentric and the strange - it was all there.
Sunday - it was HARD BALL - Stories and Footy in the Newstead Football Clubrooms. Starting with Martin Flanaghan who told us the story of his trip from Port Augusta to Darwin with Michael Long, we were then treated to Jo Bowers reading her story - The Return of Football from the Sleepers Almanac. A woman and pregnant in the mens change rooms!! I loved this story. Jo read deliciously - looking at us occasionally over the top of the book observing our pain as she took us through an agonising game between the Doggies and the Pies.
This is mate Anne E Stewart in her study in Daylesford looking very studious. Anne drove to Newstead on Saturday for FIRE STORIES. Neil made a massive bonfire by the racecourse. Folk appeared out of the dark to listen and share tales of all kinds. I can't believe I didn't take a pic - I was in my element and completely forgot. Ghost stories, love stories, horse stories, the eccentric and the strange - it was all there.
Sunday - it was HARD BALL - Stories and Footy in the Newstead Football Clubrooms. Starting with Martin Flanaghan who told us the story of his trip from Port Augusta to Darwin with Michael Long, we were then treated to Jo Bowers reading her story - The Return of Football from the Sleepers Almanac. A woman and pregnant in the mens change rooms!! I loved this story. Jo read deliciously - looking at us occasionally over the top of the book observing our pain as she took us through an agonising game between the Doggies and the Pies.This last pic shows Jo standing next to Paul Mitchell and Neil Boyack the master mind behind the Tattoo (he's the one who looks like the cat who swallowed the cream and so he should). At A PLEASANT SUNDAY MORNING Paul read A Grandfather's Reminder from his book Dodging the Bull of which I have a signed copy! Another superb read and I will be enjoying the rest of the stories during the week.
Many thanks to Neil and the team who organised a brilliant week end - I don't know who you all are but thankyou. And especially - thankyou for honouring the oral tradition on Saturday night. Nick Dattner, Phil McNamara, Georgie Dowell, Peter Tangey, Lauren Lee Williams, Anne E Stewart and Kenny Joe Blake - what a night!
Jo Bowers
http://www.sleeperspublishing.com/almanac.html
Paul Mitchell http://www.paul-mitchell.com.au/
Neil Boyack http://www.vulgar.com.au/auboyack.html
Newstead Short Story Tattoo http://nsst.org.au/
1 comment:
Sounds like a fab weekend. Looking forward to hearing all about it.
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