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LICUALA WRITERS
Licuala Writers group (named after the Licuala Palm of the area) was established in 2004 by journalist James Keogh using a RADF grant. Since then a few of the founding members, such as successful local children's author Pam Galeano, remain but the group has been energized through the addition of new members who have been involved in writing a short play ALICE IN WATERLAND (2005), local poets breakfasts (2005-2007), the RIPPLE poetry/photography wall with lead-up workshops run by dynamic new coordinator Dr June Perkins (2007), and INTO ORBIT Library Reading (2009).
The group has members from Cardwell, Mission Beach and Tully. There is a regular emailed newsletter of opportunities for writers and a group blog. Licuala Writers are about to launch UNDER ONE SKY, the first anthology of writing from the Cassowary Coast area, with invited input from WINQ. The group has membership of the Queensland Writers Centre and is forming exciting networks with music and other arts groups in the local area. Licuala Writers currently has around 12 active members but the group grows every year and new members are always welcome.
Licuala Writers aim to: provide a forum for writers to meet and discuss their work, promote development of writers in the Mission Beach/Tully/Cardwell areas, encourage members to have their work published and enhance members' understanding of the writing industry. |
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UNDER ONE SKY: Voices of the Cassowary Coast
This anthology project was substantially funded by RADF and coordinated and established by Dr June Perkins with the assistance of Malanbarra Midja women's cultural group. The goal of the project was to establish a regular group/community publication reflecting local identity with global outreach. After 12 months intensive work and with the assistance of a working group - Pam Galeano, Tara Webster, Lydia Valeriano, Lima Robinson especially - the anthology is about to be launched. Over ten community sponsors have helped bring the project to fruition. Licuala Writers, through the work of the June's anthology group, has moved into the realms of book publishing.
In poetry and prose, including memoir, UNDER ONE SKY contains reflections on local identity and connections to the world by a diverse group of twenty people of the Cassowary Coast. It is edited by Dr June Perkins, Pam Galeano, Tara Webster and is superbly illustrated in black and white by Sal Badcock. Book layout and prepress by Daryl Dickson of Wildcard Art.
UNDER ONE SKY covers the breadth of the landscapes of the Cassowary Coast, from mountains to ocean, leaves to rain and coral to cane; all under the one sky. Stories and poems capture monsoons to humidity, crocodiles to geckos, a wide range of birds and plants, young love to everlasting love, the search for paradise and visions of where people have come from and where they are going. Just how do residents of the cassowary coast connect to Africa, China, Italy, Russia and Kiribati? Readers may be surprised.
**The anthology costs $25 and is available through Licuala Writers and at some local information centres and newsagents. |
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EXTRACTS FROM - UNDER ONE SKY
Butterflies flew in threes
And cassowaries knocked on doors
(June Perkins, Larry's Apology)
Pale sunlight filters through the canopy
Casts dappled patterns on the forest track,
The watcher, still shape sheltered by a tree,
Keeps silent vigil clad in coat of black.
(Barbara Bufi, Cassowary -The Rainforest Warrior)
Whenever we have a reasonable sized flood Joe ties up the old tinnie fishing boat to the concrete post near the front steps and, as soon as our two kids were old enough to be responsible we bought them a shiny red canoe so they could enjoy flood times and not drive us insane indoors. I vividly remember one local government election that occurred during a flood . . .
(From Pam Galeano's, Flooding Memories) |
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LICUALA WRITERS
BOOK CREATORS CIRCLE |
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