Hi and this is to let you know that both this Saturday (28th May) and the following one (4thJune leading to WA Day), 101.7 with Tony Howes and Dale James will play a different short story each day. The stories are usually just after 11.00 am. The first one is called “If you Dunno, you Arks” while the second is termed “Really Useful Knowledge”. Both occurred in my time in Kimberley as the regional director of education and both are light-hearted. The second one, however, still carries a fairly profound message. Again, both are read by Paul whose capacity in voice makes me feel lucky, and at the same time, proud of what he can do and has achieved. His ability to carry of the intonations and pidjin are wonderful. By the way, the tune he uses to introduce each story is one he wrote and plays. He has an album of recorded songs, some of which are up on iCloud. Between he and Drew, whose group, Karnivool are about to record Album number four which should go gold like the other three, and Karen on the piano, there’s not much musical space left in this family.

If you get a chance, listen in to 101.7 and, as usual, one of the two published novels will be available as a prize for a lucky listener.

 

 

 

I saw the news below on the ABC yesterday. I wrote to my son, Drew, who posted the article on his facebook, saying it mirrors my latest novel, “Turn on a Light” which is set in the 1974 in and around Kalgoorlie. While my story is fictional, it is based in a story I was told about a community in the Northern Territory during and after the Second World War. The community was ordered to relocate to an old gold-mining site east of Alice Springs around 1943. While my story is fictional, I have little doubt that contaminated water, as is often found around many mining sites, was as much a threat in that community as it is in the community I have created for my third Aussie Yarn. If that is accurate, I have no doubt the people of Pandanus Park face the same threat.

I also said to Drew when I responded to his post that, as I wrote “Turn on a Light”, I kept wondering how much things have changed for Aboriginal people in our remote communities. Reading the novel when it is released will, no matter how fictional the characters and the story, create a perspective that will make people think hard in the light of the story below.

WA Government urged to fix contaminated water supplies in remote Indigenous communities

Hi good people

Just to let you know that we’ll be having the launch of Dave’s third novel, “Turn on a Light”, in early July. Brett Walker who owns and manages Mr Walker on the Mends St jetty has offered us the use of the restaurant area between 5.00 pm and 6.30 pm tentatively on Monday 11th July. Thanks so much Brett for your support.

Immediately to the right is a photo of Mr Walker in all its splendour.

So, for those who can make it, there will be an early evening Perth Skyline view and then a view of the lights.

Even for non-readers, the venue makes a visit a must. We will be providing light refreshments, and we’re sure Brett would love people to stay on later to have a magnificent meal.

Here are two photos of the view, one of the outlook during the day and the other of the view at night.

Confirmation of the date will be in a couple of weeks, but if you’re interested, even just to visit and have a good look, pencil that date in your diary.

When we confirm, we will be asking people to let us know if they’ll be attending so we can manage the evening properly.