When The Camera Stopped Rolling | Dir: Jane Castle | ★ ★ ★ ★ It wasn’t an accident that Jane Castle became a cinematographer. When her mother was pregnant with her, she was filming a wildlife film which was one of the 40 films she directed in her lifetime, at a time when there was little recognition […]
The Guncle by Steven Rowley Simon & Schuster Guncle (gay uncle) Steven Rowley, who resides in Palm Springs with his husband, has dedicated his latest book to his five nieces and nephews, who have no doubt been inspirations for his third novel. At the centre of the tale is Patrick O’Hara, an out of work […]
Navalny | Dir: Daniel Roher | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny made the news all around the world. In August 2020, the outspoken Navalny, who is the only real challenger to Putin, was flying from Siberia back to Moscow when he became violently ill. The plane made a detour to […]
A Place Near Eden by Nell Pierce Allen & Unwin Matilda (Tilly) was eleven when her parents fostered thirteen year old Sem. There were heated arguments between her parents as Tilly’s father was against the addition to the house. “Dad had a special voice that he used when he talked about Sem. It was a […]
Abracadabra by Robert Dessaix Brio Books Currently living in Hobart with Peter Timms, his partner of 40 years who is also a writer, Robert Dessaix is in demand as a guest speaker but sometimes the audiences for his words of wisdom are quite small. While podcasts can attract huge audiences around the globe, Dessaix’s talks […]
Scrubbed By Nikki Stamp Allen & Unwin Nikki Stamp remembers being inspired by heart surgeon Dr Victor when she was young, and now she is only one of 11 female heart surgeons in Australia. In Scrubbed, she reflects on the journey – from the brilliant times to the darkest times. Stamp dispels any notion that […]
TOAST | State Theatre Studio Underground | 8 – 15 May 2022 | ★ ★ ★ ★ As the lighting comes up on the set of the Black Swan State Theatre Company’s latest production, the audience finds themselves in a garage full of a life’s treasures, mixed with household things that might be useful or […]
Outback Teacher by Sally Gare Allen & Unwin If you went to teachers’ college in the 1950’s, you were expected to serve time in a country school. The government paid your fees and gave you a pitiful living allowance and if you didn’t spend your first two years teaching at a country posting and accepting […]
Speaking in Tongues by Tom Tilley ABC Books Tom Tilley has shared other people’s stories on national radio for more than a decade, and now he shares his coming of age story. As the host of triple j’s nightly news and currents affairs program Hack, Tom spoke to half a million national radio listeners each […]
The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson | Dir: Leah Purcell | ★ ★ ★ ★ “The two-roomed house is built of round timber, slabs, and stringy-bark, and floored with split slabs … Nineteen miles to the nearest sign of civilization – a shanty on the main road. The drover, an ex-squatter, is away with sheep. […]
