Welcome to new participants
Memoirs or memoir related story or book we have read – Bev Lee
Report back on Memoir/memoir related book/story I’ve read I –
This month, it’s a story from the Monthly, which which I realised, after reading it, had been written in one sentence. And I always say to beware of long sentences, with two many ands…. This one doesn’t use an ‘and’ as a joining word/ … it has ….. semi or colons… etc
Report back on a Memoir/memoir related book/story I have read 2…
- Title/subtitle/publication year – The Great Depression – Australian Battlers Remember - 2003 Random House
- Author/ Keith Smith
- Subtitle/’lens’ or focus/ ‘ “Ordinary and renowned Australians tell their stories of struggle and survival during the Great Depression” – a great ‘key sentence’!
- Does it have Chapter Themes –how have been memories been linked under chapter themes – ‘Unprepared for the Unbelievable’, ‘Square Pegs’, ‘Care Givers’, ‘The Next Meal’, ‘A Word from Children’, ‘One in All in! Famous Australians Look Back’, ‘The Fine Points of Survival’, ‘The Lean Teen Years’, ‘A Roof Over Their Heads’.
- Universal themes – at least 3 eg. Career loss; midlife crisis; motherhood/fatherhood; grief; - in this case resilience; adjusting to change (economic cycles); going without; career/lifestyle loss and grief; other?
- Highlight – how it related to something in/about your life; It triggeredfamily stories of the depression I’d heard over time. The writer’s statement that ….. resonated…”’The Depression was a great leveller; it would last for almost ten years and few would be spared. Its effect on businesses was dramatic. Insolvencies soared…” story of my wealthy paternal grandparents losing their money and lifestyle after my grandfather’s printing businesses in Sydney and Lismore failed, the story being that ’Grandpa Lee had held on to his workers for too long to survive financially; and my maternal grandfather putting a patch over his eye and darkening his face to go, in the middle of the night, in a horse and jinker, to the rabbit skin factories to collect rabbit skins for the milliners’ in the family business he worked for to make into felt for hats. Also, depression foods, including rabbit stew, remained on the menu at my grandparents’ and my parents’ houses when family finances were under pressure in the post war years. I actually thought after reading the book that instead of being castigated, perhaps David’s Austin ancestors should have been lauded for introducing the rabbit to Australia!
Icebreaker ‘Share stories of your memories of our parents and grandparents stories of the Great Depression…’
Follow up on last month’s icebreaker – Andi’s story
“Something to do with body modification and body image - earrings, tattoos, false eyelashes, even tanning… other from your or your family member (family of origin or family of procreation)…” wiglets, corsets, padded bras, what about ‘orthodontic’ work; breast implants or reductions; and more…. Led to a new members’ choice topic -
Carmyl’s story on Scars! (usually unintentional body modification!) followed by
Graham’s story on Scars!
Any Catch Up Stories?
‘Life Changing’ moment/s; ‘Interesting people I have known….’; ‘New in Town’; ‘I Was There’; ‘Her Story’ (loved Graham’s report which did reflect how powerful the process was); ‘Discrimination’; ‘Her Story’.
This Month’s Stories –
Topics for continuing class members:
‘The (eg Best, Worst, most memorable, …) Holiday/s I ever had’…’ A chance to write about the best, happiest, worst, or most memorable holiday (or holiday period) you ever had. Lead us through the events which shaped your view of the holiday, allowing us to share in your elation or disappointment. (Draws from Bev’s friend’s story of his ‘Worst Holiday Ever’; and James Davey’s ‘Happy Days’ story from 2023).
Ray O’Shannessy -
Neville Gibb--Ending 2 (Ending 2?) Key sentence …
Barry O’Connor*
Phil Hughes*
Topics for new/newer class members, or those who haven’t written on them in the past: Traditional topics for April to give new students a chance to write about customs and rituals in their lives “A chance to reminisce about memories of memorial or religious events which have stayed with us over time”.
‘Anzac Day’ Looking back over your lifetime, write about your memories of Anzac Day (or other memorial day) and its place in the cultural rituals of your family and the communities in which you have lived, moving from the personal to the political if you wish. Samples – on our page; but could also be Remembering with all the senses blog post by army wife Renee OR
Max Tilbury
‘Easter’ Looking back over your lifetime, write about your memories of Easter (or other religious event) and its place in the cultural rituals of your family and the communities in which you have lived (Samples from our stories – eg. Molyullah Easter Fair).
Next month – Monday 20 May
Topics for continuing class members:
‘Time Travelling’ ‘About looking behind you…. yet being present’…
Time Travelling #1 '‘When you look behind you, you see the future in your footprints’ (Graham Jensen) OR
Time Travelling #2 ’You've travelled through time and encounter a younger version of yourself. What life lesson (or lessons) would you share? (Barry O’Connor)
‘Memories Treasure Chest’
- Create/Draw upon an ‘Memories Treasure Chest’ in a shoe box, drawer or old case containing objects and artefacts that enliven your memories, through scent and feel. Maps, menus, theatre programs, an old report card, vials of perfume, a garment, treasured photographs, a souvenir, an expired passport can sometimes trigger a work rich with detail.
- Select two items from the treasure chest as creative prompts – what do they mean to you? What were you doing, why; what were you thinking at the time this object related to your life? (250 words each object)