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Noelle's 'Life in Books'; Sharing of 'On the Job' and 'How we Met'

29/9/2018

 
Our late August meeting began with a ‘guest presenter’ spot by  group member Noelle McCracken.  who shared many entertaining  memories of her ‘Life in Books’.   Noelle mentioned knowing ‘lots of gossip’ from the world of books, but very cleverly, and almost certainly to preserve privacy, ‘left that for another time’.  

Our August topic  ‘On the Job’ –evoked lots of memories, including Bev’s memories of teaching English to a class of young lawyers during a politically turbulent  period in pre-democracy Madrid; Elizabeth’s memories of being at work in Ireland  ‘waiting with baited breath’ during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962; Noelle’s descriptions of post retirement adventures as a tour guide; Helen’s memories of working in her mother’s milk bar and of still occasionally being recognized and asked ‘Aren’t  you Mrs Duggin’s daughter?’ 

Stories shared in September  on ‘How we met’   featured Neville’s evocative story of his experience of being with Jenny at the birth of their three sons and so meeting each of  them  for the first time.  Neville also engaged us with stories of how he met Lionel Rose and Chips Rafferty!   Noelle shared the story of finally meeting ‘Miss D. Lite’, long a mysterious name on a mailing list; Bev her first meeting four years ago with  her 87 year old half sister Lenore.  Joy described getting to know neighbours who became friends and then a street community; David his ‘farming forged friendship’ with a now lifetime friend  who he will be meeting up with on Grand Final Eve this Friday for a ‘not too boozy’ restaurant meal in Melbourne; Betty meeting her treasured tennis playing male friend and confidante; and Jenny the dawning realisation, in the strangest place and oddest situation, that she had rediscovered a ‘preps grade’ friend, Josephine Sarah, more than fifty if not sixty decades later.
 
We have two topics for October.  The first follows our tradition of writing a story or poem on the topic set for the Benalla Writing Competition, with some members submitting their work  to the competition.  The theme for this years Festival, ‘Our Backyard – a celebration of special places and spaces’, is the focus of the writing competition.  Our other October topic is ‘Personal Challenge’ The brief -  ‘Often the most rewarding challenges are the ones we set ourselves. Share a story about stepping outside your comfort zone in the name of self-improvement.’

Bev Lee

September - Carmel Bird on Memoir Writing & 'How We Met'

24/9/2018

 
Introductory Speaker/Topic/Talk - Carmel Bird has been a great support to writers/writing groups writing three books, with the publication of 'Writing the Story of Your Life' inspiring a session in which Carmel was interviewed by the ABC's Ramona Koval at the Como Writers' Festival in Melbourne in 2007.  It is well worth listening to - there is also a transcript.  Links below - we will have back ups on USB just in case the Wifi is acting up.   

Listen:
   mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2007/04/bsw_20070420_1000.mp3

​
Transcript: Program page with transcript -  http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/bookshow/writing-the-story-of-your-life-with-carmel-bird/3402224#transcript

Sharing our stories:  'How We Met'

A writing exercise from Carmel - 'Clocks' preceded by showing of the clocks and watches from Collectors!  

Session Handout - September 24 

    'Our Stories'

    About  'As Time Goes By' 

    'As Time Goes By' provides an outlet and support for members keen to write about their lives and to tell stories their families may not get around to asking them about.  Writing tasks are reminiscence oriented and set as monthly ‘500 Words’ writing topics.

    'In Isolation'

     While we were 'in isolation' in 2020 monthly topics were  shared as collections on the website.

    ​March: Making Waves
    April:  Winging It/Taking the Plunge
    May:  Anzac Day or Turning Point 
    June:  'I grew up in...'

    July:  'Car Stories' and 'Ideas Piggy Bank'  
    August:  'Right Here, Right Now'
    September 'Out of the Blue'
    ​
    October 'This Life'
    November 'Triggers'
    ​
    December 'One Moment, This Year' - (2020) (due in Feb)

    Meeting Times

    4th Monday 2 - 4 pm
    ​U3A Meeting Room - or during Covid-19, this is the time to emailed stories to Bev to be shared online.

    Contact details

    Convenor
    Beverley Lee
    5762 8171
    ***Master list of  500 word story topics from 2015 to end of 2020!***

    Past topics 

    All
    2018 Topic List
    '23 Words'
    'A Friendship Tested' //
    'A Love Letter To Travel'
    'A Turning Point'
    Australian Writers Centre
    'Car Stories' //
    'Easter'
    'Experiences Of The Unexplained'
    'Fish Out Of Water'
    'For Better For Worse' //
    'Good Vibrations'
    'Grandparents' //
    'Heartbreak'
    'I Broke It'
    'Ideas Piggy Bank'
    'If Only'
    'I Quit!' //
    Life Matters 'Life In 500 Words'
    'Lost And Found' //
    Making Comments
    'Making Waves'
    'My Other Life'
    'One Moment
    'Stand Up Comedy'
    This Year'
    'What Happened In Vegas'

    Links

    'How to Write a Story in 500 words - Planning'
    Life Matters​ 500 words writing projects

    Australian Writers' Centre

    ​Wheeler Centre

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