Roderick Waller: I was born in Yorkshire in 1948 to a working-class family of ship-builders. In 1971, I immigrated to Australia. I’ve worked as a jackaroo, a UN economist, and a consultant in developing Asia/Pacific countries. Two passions are nature and creative writing. I’ve read my writing publicly at The Wheeler Centre, Yorkshire Winter, Apollo Bay Writers Festival, and Roomers Magazine events. Founder of the Port Vila Poetry Society (Vanuatu), I am gregarious by nature and inherited from my father the dry wit of Yorkshire humour. A staunch AA member, I’ve had four years of happy sobriety.
Bob Love: I am 75, raised in Blacktown in Sydney’s west, a blessing in itself. My life has been a series of ups and downs. The ups: the love of two women, a conscious belief in not damaging people, the ability to earn money when I needed to, and an inherent conviction that you are who you are, and I am who I am. The downs: an inability to learn, but the ability to use my own personal skills to my best advantage. The belief that I was not good enough for other people, then the realisation that if I was good enough for me, that would do. I traveled Australia for some years, then settled in Melbourne. From 2004–2015 I traveled the world: my dreamtime.
Helen: Hi my name is Helen and I am a secret acapella diva. My experience of surviving trauma has provided me with insight, and the ability to share my experience through creative pursuits. Recovery is central for me to do this, and the support and feedback I receive is invaluable. I hope my writing inspires the reader and reminds them they are not alone. Life is a rollercoaster, with challenges at every turn, but I would not be here without them.
Andrew Bairn is quite reserved and generally keeps himself to himself; he is quietly spoken too. Don’t get me wrong, he is very friendly and quite funny. He says he is from Scotland but he speaks like a New Zealander. You can tell he is quite smart coz he reads books. Not sure what he does for a living; I’m pretty sure he told me he was homeless for two and a half years. He is about 50 and has messy hair. Keeps to himself… What the neighbours always say about serial killers and folks who write…
Paul South is an animal rescuer and devolving poet. Previously from Melbourne, he now minds houses across rural Victoria. Paul published a book of poetry titled Rats Live on no Evil Star in 2012, and was the 2013 Winner of the Malthouse Theatre Award for Excellence in Creative Arts. He is currently working on his first novel.
Patrick McAnelly the writer is 57 years old, and has read and written since his earliest memories. The reading outstripped the writing, and living and feeling outstripped both. Now, at the age of slow memory and clear answers to life’s complexities, the writer wants to try and record living, feeling and thinking. Most of all he hopes to record the wonderful familiarity and connection with the people of this place, no matter where or how they live. Equality and compassion, spread wide in language and life…if he can, he will.
Sue Tan…
Alice Star…
Marika Rothbaum…