From the Art Lazaar Papers

For those who like a little lighter reading, THE NONSENSE OF AB-SENSE is a critical review of a book that doesn’t exist by JACK STRAW, an author who has never been seen.

It observes the Australian Legend from a ficto-critical perspective and the mythic proportions it has taken on in order to help carve out a niche for Australia’s place in the world, examining the wakes of a number of literary, sporting, business and political heroes as the water folds back over their paths. Art Lazaar makes an incidental, but important, appearance in the commentary, harking back to days when his poetic performances went completely unnoticed until they didn’t.

The Nonsense of Ab-Sense

Gina Rinehart and the reality of entitlement

I want to say this to Gina Rinehart and others who continue to ply this 'tirade of entitlement'. First up, Ms Rinehart, my grandfather knew your father, quite well I believe, and although he did not particularly like the man, I'm told he held him in some regard as someone who had a vision and the balls to solicit substantial government assistance to realise it. I know this because the relationship between the two men was of entrepreneur and government minister responsible. They talked often.

Gina Rinehart and Australia's debt - or is it?

I am so glad, Ms Rinehart, that you raised the 'debt' issue. Debt is a dirty word isn't it? Australians deplore debt because debt implies that we are shackled to the lenders, debt makes us slaves to the bankers, debt imprisons us in a life of drudgery, debt is expensive. And the last thing a government should be is in debt. After all, look at the financial meltdown in Europe all because of debt. At least that's what you would like us to think.

Write Sabah July 2014

I’m excited: A writing tour like no other

Am I barking up the Wrong Tree?

This year marks my tenth year as a teacher of a specific brand of creative writing, the Born Storytellers. The Born Storytellers is primarily directed at school students, beginning with upper primary students, but fairly quickly engaging middle years high school and even adult programs.