A reminder that our usual 'As Time Goes By' class date would be tomorrow from 2 to 4pm and that the plan is to endeavour to email stories to bevlee47@gmail.com by then.  They will then be added  to a 'passworded' page on the website for us to read and comment on before general release on the website.  

This process commenced with the 'Making Waves' topic in late March. Six 'Making Waves' stories, with a comment or two on each, are now generally available on the website.  I really enjoyed reading these stories - an underlying theme was the anxiety involved and resilience required to 'make waves' and the reinforcement of personal integrity which can result.  

Making comments in writing proved an interesting if tricky experience.  How did you find it? 

​Writing in terms of the following responses may make commenting less confronting.  Remember, your comment doesn't need to be long.  A sentence or two is fine!

1. Did you relate to the story? Did you empathise with the writer?  
2. Did the story trigger memories for you?  Perhaps with an example or two.
3. How did you react to the story?   How did it make you feel?  

The comments made on the Making Waves stories seem to fit these 'gentle guidelines'...for example 
1.  Did you relate to the story, empathise with the writer?  
"I can relate to that.  You were a woman with initiative."  
"Well done. I have always impressed upon junior staff that your integrity is everything. If you compromise your integrity, you also compromise your credibility." 
2.  Did the story trigger memories for you, reflections on the past?  For example?
  ... "Your story brought back memories to me of people I knew who had polio as children, of receiving the Salk vaccine on a little block of sugar, and more." 
 "An interesting subject. My oldest daughter attended a high school where wearing a uniform was optional (1978 onwards). She chose not to wear it. My youngest daughter attended a prestigious high school where no girl would dare disobey the school rules on uniforms. Both girls are successful in their careers and are among the important 'behind the scenes' workers in the management of COVID-19."  
3.  How did you react to the story?  How did it make you feel? 
"What an amazing story of perseverence; of acting with authenticity based on deeply held values; of continuing and skilful efforts to work towards justice. .."
"Another wonderful poem, one which creatively explores an issue you are passionate about. It also conveys a sense of the emotions attached to 'Making Waves'. It can be unsettling 'letting go' to express ideas we are passionate about which make waves..." 
"This must have been like an undercurrent impacting upon you fairly constantly requiring resilience, with the occasional big wave when the issue would surface yet again requiring strength and determination to overcome..."    

Hope this helps!  Don't feel that you need to comment on everyone's story - or that you need to comment at all if you find this doesn't come easily to you. 

Here again are the April topics just in case you need to have them at hand:  

• The first topic, suggested by Barry O'Connor as our class follows two days later, is 'Anzac Day'.  A chance to reminisce about memories of Anzac Day (or Days) which have stayed with us over time.
• The second topic is inspired by this month's story by Margaret Nelson's story 'Do you remember the polio epidemic' (see below).  Has the current COVID-19 ‘Pandemic’ triggered memories for you relating to infectious diseases, whether local, epidemic or pandemic?
• The third topic, as set on our list of topics for the first four months, is 'Winging It' or 'Taking the Plunge' - Do you have a story about taking a risk and winging it?

The topic for May is 'Turning Point'  - an example from Life Matters '500 words' ...Leaving London on the Brink of War  If the topic 'Turning Point' doesn't suit you, catchup on an earlier topic; draw from your 'Ideas Piggy Bank' or little book of 'triggers'....(choose two elements from either of these sources and write a story of about, each of 250 words or so on each) or write on a universal topic such as 'The year that made me'; 'New in Town'; or 'Someone who Shaped me'.

Please give me a call on 5762 8171 or 0478 607 838 if you have any questions,


Beverley

With our 'As Time Goes By' memoir writing group meeting late in March and new COVID-19 Regulations being released daily, it soon became obvious that we would be unable to proceed with our March meeting.  

However, we have developed a plan! Having shared stories online in the past through the website on 'Our Stories' and with even more time to write, we're trialling a system of sharing our monthly stories on line through the website.

Early this week the first six stories for our March topic, 'Making Waves', were shared on-line. Currently password protected as members have the chance to read, comment on and even add additional stories, the plan is to make most if not all 'Making Waves' stories available for all members to read on the website in coming weeks.

We have three topics for April - choose any or all - with a submission date of Monday April 27th.

• The first topic, suggested by Barry O'Connor as our class follows two days later, is 'Anzac Day'.  A chance to reminisce about memories of Anzac Day (or Days) which have stayed with us over time.
• The second topic is inspired by this month's story by Margaret Nelson's story 'Do you remember the polio epidemic' (see below).  Has the current COVID-19 ‘Pandemic’ triggered memories for you relating to infectious diseases, whether local, epidemic or pandemic?
• The third topic, as set on our list of topics for the first four months, is 'Winging It' or 'Taking the Plunge' - Do you have a story about taking a risk and winging it?

U3A members who enjoy writing and are finding themselves with more time on their hands are welcome to join with us in sharing stories on-line. All you need to do is to email bevlee47@gmail.com - you can write the story in the body of the email or attach it as a word or pdf document.  The suggested, but not heavily policed, word limit is 500 words.

Bev Lee


COVID19 - Do you remember the polio epidemic? 
 
“Do you remember the polio epidemic in 1949—50, or previous flu epidemics before vaccinations were available?  They were worrying at the time, but nothing compared to the present pandemic, made even more frightening because of the frequent TV updates, and no available vaccine.

I clearly remember the polio epidemic—most people knew of someone who caught the disease and become crippled, or worse, ended up in an iron lung to enable breathing, or even died. The people were advised to avoid crowds.

My most vivid memory is of my first day at Benalla High School.  Our family had just returned from a beach holiday on the Saturday for the start of school on the Tuesday. I duly went off on the Violet Town school bus with my local state school friends who started that day, decked out in my new uniform and hat.

When the bell rang, we assembled in the quadrangle, and it was announced that anyone who had not been at their residence in the last two weeks had to stay away from school for the next two weeks.  This was scary to a shy little country girl!  There were a few others from Violet Town and we had to fill in the day wandering the street and gardens till bus time at 3.30, then go back on the bus with the other children.  So much for isolating us from the others.

Another two weeks at home!  Fortunately, the local headmaster felt sorry for me and set some maths and English for me so I wouldn’t get too far behind.  Eventually I restarted at Benalla High School, but the others had had their intelligence test and were allocated their form and their sports houses.

Not an ideal start, but I got going.

It was much later before a vaccine was produced.  Salk, an injection, and later perfected to a syrup, Sabin, which was successful”.

Hopefully a vaccine for COVD19 will soon be available.’ 
​      
Margaret Nelson, March 2020

Do you remember receiving your polio vaccine, tuberculosis injections, many decades ago?  People I've been chatting to have been reminiscing about these events, adding 'that was serious, but it wasn't anything like this!'  

To be on the safe side, and with regulations about social distancing being expanded out in terms of available room size just today, it seems best to cancel our U3A meeting room based sessions until further notice.  

It would be wonderful, however, to keep writing.  We could use the U3A website to share our stories.  I would initially up a page with a password for group members to share and read stories on our monthly topics, perhaps making this available for other members to read when everyone feels comfortable about sharing their story more widely.   

To make this work, all you need to do is to attach your story - for Monday's class 'Making Waves' - to an email and send it to bevlee47@gmail.com and I'll set up a page to include them.  We could of course trial reading them into our phones and sending them as audio files.... but let's not get ahead of ourselves!  (If you have difficulty attaching documents to emails, give me a call and we will sort out a way for me to access your story.)  

How does this sound?  Feedback welcome, otherwise I look forward to receiving an email from you with your story/stories attached each month.

Bev 

PS - if you missed the first class, you can find out about the topics for the next three months, along with some back up topics, in the posts below this one.   

There’s something quite special about reminiscing through story telling!  It was wonderful to welcome new and welcome back returning class members this month.  Class members who had tackled the holiday topics of ‘Something in my life I’m really proud of’ and ‘Auntie, Uncle or cousin’ shared stories which were often moving and evoked memories for other class members.  

​Our topic for March is Making Waves – the brief:
Is there a time in your life when you've been accused of making waves?  It could be in your personal life, the workplace, socially...even politically.
So, what have you done that's caught people's attention, and changed the usual way of doing things? It can be funny, sad, poignant, illuminating— it just needs to be a captivating!

Do you enjoy writing poetry? You are most welcome to join ‘As Time Goes By’ to share poetry inspired by our monthly topics, something which one of our members often does to great effect.   
 
Beverley Lee

Welcome and Introduction to ‘As Time Goes By’ 2020
​
From ‘Benalla Writers’ to ‘Writing Workshop’ to ‘As Time Goes By’   
 
Considerations

• An overview of the course structure and use of topics
• Developing our own voice – encouraging and supporting others
• Editing suggestions – our very gentle approach to editing suggestions
• Word Limits – aiming towards the target
• Considering confidentiality issues and personal well being
• Handling gender in our stories
• Publishing stories on the web site ‘As Time Goes By’ on our Website – Introducing/group page/’Our Stories’/using the U3A website search engine
• A word about Poetry as Memoir... from Paula Alice Lee to Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel...-Paula Lee,  Betty Milligan, Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel

Holiday topics 

February:  

'Something in my life I'm really proud of' .....
Interesting example:  Young muslim woman engineer who worked on mining sites in the Pilbara...  'On the Rigs'... note the way Jasmine writes dialogue into her memoir...

'Auntie, Uncle or cousin.... '  
Interesting examples:  ​Isabelle Allende.... noting the colour/dimension of her descriptions of her aunts/ uncles

Upcoming Topics  -  from Life Matters '500 words' projects

March:  Making Waves 
Is there a time in your life when you've been accused of making waves? 
It could be in your personal life, the workplace, socially...even politically.
So, what have you done that's caught people's attention, and changed the usual way of doing things?
It can be funny, sad, poignant, illuminating— it just needs to be a captivating!

April:  'Taking a risk and winging it'....  'Winging It' or 'Taking the Plunge' - 

Do you have a story about taking a risk and winging it?     You can find some stories contributed to Life Matters on this topic at ... 

May:  'Turning Point'  .... an example from 500 words 
.... https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/features/turning-point/life-in-500-words:-marjan-mckeough/10585802  

Substitute Topics

Don't forget to keep an 'Ideas Piggy Bank'   also a little book of 'triggers'....  If a set topic doesn't appeal to or 'work' for you, choose two elements from either of these sources and write a story of about, each of 250 words or so on each.  

Other wonderful substitute topics - 'The year that made me'; 'New in Town'; and 'Someone who Shaped me".

Reference:

Carmel Bird 'Writing the Story of Your Life - the Ultimate Guide' by Carmel Bird.

At our first session on Monday February 24 at 2 pm we will be sharing reminiscences of 500 words or so on 'Something in my life that I am really proud of' and/or 'An Aunt, Uncle or cousin who has a special place in my memory'.   

At our meeting on Monday October 28 we will be sharing stories using the theme set for the Benalla Festival Writing Competition - 'Fiesta of Festivities'.   Our stories can be about fiestas and festivals from other places and times, however if we want to enter our story in the Benalla Festival Writing Competition it needs to relate to a festival/festivals in the Rural City of Benalla and its villages such as Molyullah, Goorambat and so on.  

The details of the Festival's Writing Competition were released at the beginning of this week.  The time line is very short - entries are due on the third Monday 21st October, not the fourth Monday as usual.  Only 10 days to go as I write.

Here is the brief: 

"The 2019 Benalla Festival Writing Competition is now open. The theme for your piece is 'Fiesta of Festivities' - a celebration of events and festivals in Benalla Rural City. Writers from Benalla Rural City are invited to enter a poem or short story. Your piece should reflect on the theme.  
(Check the flier below for some examples of topics)

​1. Entry is free and participants can have a maximum of two entries. The pieces of prose can vary in style (biographical, expository, discursive or narrative).
2. Entries close on Monday 21 October 2019 at 5pm and can be submitted: n in person at the Benalla Rural City Council’s Customer Service Centre; or at the Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop Learning Centre (Benalla Library), Fawckner Drive, Benalla; or posted to Benalla Rural City Council, PO Box 227 Benalla 3671 with ‘Writing Competition’ clearly marked on the outside of the envelope.
3. The category you will be entering is Open (word limit of 800 words)
4. The piece of writing must be the entrant’s own work and not have been previously published. 5. Entries must be typed and on A4 paper. The information below must be attached to the entry. 6. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence entered into.
7. Staff members of Benalla Rural City Council and members of the Benalla Festival Advisory Committee are not permitted to enter the competition.
8. Winners, runners up and encouragement award recipients of the six categories will be notified by telephone on Monday 28 October and asked to attend a presentation on the evening of Thursday 7 November 2019.
9. For further information contact the Benalla Rural City Council on 5760 2600."

So - there's no time for writers' block!   I'm looking forward to hearing all stories, whether entered into the Festival or not, on Monday 28th October at 2 pm.  

Beverley Lee

Our topic for September was 'If Only?' We found that 'If only?' stories didn't have to have sad endings; could be part of a journey which eventually became positive; could be lighthearted; could range across the spectrum from personal to the political.  A link to some of our 'If Only?' stories will be added to the website shortly. 

We are still awaiting for the fine detail of Benalla Festival's Writing Competition to be released before beginning stories for our October session.  We know it will relate in some way to Benalla Festival's theme for 2019 ‘Fiesta of Festivities - a celebration of events and festivals that bring the community together'. 

Our task for November is to keep a note book close by in which we note any ‘triggers’ which lead us to reminisce about a time in  our lives.   We may be talking to someone, watching television or a film, driving somewhere, reading a book.   We are to choose one to three of these and write about the memories evoked – keeping the total words to 500 – 750 words. 

As it's taster time - please feel free to join or rejoin us on 28 October and/or 25 November from 2 to 4 pm.  You might like even to bring a story to share!
​
Bev Lee

The U3A memoir writing workshop program has, from its inception, drawn extensively upon the ABC Open's online '500 Words' project.   '500 Words' has provided inspiration and a framework for our sessions four years, providing suggested topics, tips, and links to other people's stories.
The ABC recently discontinued and archived ABC Open's '500 Words' Writing Projects.  For the record, this program has proved to be a wonderful resource for U3A Benalla's memoir writing group.

Details of ABC Open's writing topics have been kept for use over time and we have begun to draw on other resources.  Semester II's 500 words topics have largely been selected from Joy's book 'Creative Boot Camp'.  For example, on Monday 25 August we will be sharing stories on 'Fear of Failure'  and on Monday 23 September  'If only?' stories.  As always, we write about something which, upon reflection, we feel we can comfortably share with others, rather than something which is likely to open old wounds and cause distress.

Our October topic will be the topic set for the Benalla Festival's Writing Competition and relate to this year's festival theme, 'Fiesta of Festivities:  a celebration of events and festivals that bring the community together'.  Fliers with full details of the writing competition topic should be available in the community shortly. Some members go on to enter the contest - with a member or two each year typically receiving awards! 
​
Bev Lee

​Our July topic, 'Your Different Drummer', began with discussion in which we teased out the meaning of the concept, reflected on an ABC series shown some years ago titled 'A Different Drummer'  and then shared some stories about our 'different drummers'.  Betty Milligan drew out and shared stories about two items from her 'Ideas Piggy Bank', a missive won as an award as a child and a pair of toe shoes worn as a 13 year old.  We asked Betty to share one of the poems she read recently at the Chiltern Festival – Betty chose 'My Half Plate', a funny and engaging poem which resulted in smiles all round.  
 
Our topic for August is “Fear of Failure” - What flops, embarrassments and incomplete endeavours in life slowed you down and which ones fortified your resolve?  What did you learn from them and how did you cope?  What role does ‘fear of failure’ have in your life now?  We resume a 2 to 4pm time slot on Monday 26 August, as 'Publishing Your Writing' is moving to its own time slot on the third Monday in August.
​
Bev Lee

In June our task was to create and bring to class an ‘Ideas Piggy Bank” containing objects and artifacts that enliven our memories, through scent and feel.   Treasured family photos, a Brownie Box camera, a brooch, mementos of trips abroad, an imagined blue Malvern Star bike ridden on for the first time, rosary beads, a toy made by a treasured friend, a small folio of papers and newspaper articles found after a father's death, three wise monkeys, Milk Arrowroot biscuits, and more were presented, with stories about them shared and discussed.
 
Our 500 words topic for July is  “Your different drummer” …  How strong is your instinct to go with the flow?  When has it served you well?  When has it been counter productive?  
In 'Writing and Publishing Your Memoirs', Noelle introduced a memoir written by David Malouf as one of many examples of engagingly written memoirs, Noelle certainly has a wonderful 'ideas piggy bank' of possibilities drawn from her experience in the publishing industry which apply to memoir writing.
  
Our July session will again be a split session, with 'As Time Goes By -500 words' from 1.30 to 2.50 then 'Writing and Publishing your Memoirs' from 3.10 to 4.30.  From August, there will be three separate writing  sessions, all on Monday afternoons. 'Publishing and Writing your Memoirs' (Noelle McCracken), has been timetabled on the third Monday from 2 to 4 pm, joining "Creative Writing' (second Monday 2.30 to 4.30 pm) and 'As Time Goes By - 500 words' (fourth Monday 2-4 pm).  A wonderful menu to choose one or more writing courses from!
​
Bev Lee

Our new schedule commenced on 26th May, providing a dedicated time-slot to support people keen to write their memories with a view to publishing them for family and friends.  The sharing of 500 words projects now begins at 1.30 pm.  This is followed by a break from 2.50 to 3.10, when 'Writing and Publishing Our Memoirs' begins, facilitated by Noelle McCracken, who worked in publishing for many years.  Members can attend either or both sessions.
 
Our 500 Words stories in May explored ways in which we use the word 'Time'.  Some members enjoyed teasing out concepts about time in a quirky way.  Joy wrote about a loved family member’s different concept of time;  Jenny  about memories of the time she was the same age as her grandchild, who had asked her about this; and Wilma about a recent, now cherished experience in which she observed the passing of time through the eyes of mural artist Rhone at his evocative exhibition at the decaying but soon to be restored Burnham Beeches mansion.

The 500 Words project for June is to (1) Create an ‘Ideas Piggy Bank” in a shoe box to bring along 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”. (2) Select two items from the piggy bank 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 for each object)

The "Writing and publishing our memoirs" group began last month with an avid group of writers keen to make their family story a story their family will want to read! The group will focus on a memoir or family history with a view to publication, with a format and quirks more in style of a novel than perhaps the usual, dare I say boring, family tome.

​Bev Lee and Noelle McCracken

We are still busily writing our 500 word stories on the topic ‘Faking It’, with stories to be shared after the newsletter deadline.   I wonder what people are writing about?  More news later!

Our topic for May is based on the theme 'Time'.... There are so many ways in which we use the word 'time'...'We talk about spare time, stolen time, free time, time well spent, leisure time, wasted time, quality time, holiday time, extra time, not enough time.  We say time is precious, for all time, time is short, it was such a waste of time, time flies, time and eternity, we had a good time, take your time, time stood still, where does the time go?  How much time do you have?  She'll do it in 'her own good time' and more.  The brief is to choose and write about an element or two relating to the theme 'Time' which has meaning in terms of an event or events in our life stories.

Late News:  Next month we are piloting a separate group facilitated by Noelle McCracken to focus on Writing and Publishing Memoirs.  Classes will be scheduled as follows: 
1.30 to 2.50 '500 Words Stories' - Bev Lee - May topic 'Time' (refer above)
3.10 to 4.30 'Writing and Publishing Our Memoirs' - Noelle McCracken
It is possible to attend either or both sessions.
​
Bev Lee

News:
Memoir Writing and Publishing – how best to support members keen to do this? A suggestion to consider (Bev and Noelle)
Other:
 
Sharing 500 Words stories
 
April -  ‘Faking It’    
“A somewhat challenging topic – one which actually resulted in some wonderful stories a few years ago!  Over to you”
Have you ever inflated your credentials to land a coveted job, told a silly lie to save face in front of a new acquaintance, or felt well and truly out of your comfort zone when you tried something new?
Perhaps faking it helped you gain the experience or tools necessary to bring about real change, whether you were pretending to the world or just deluding yourself.
How did you feel at the time, and how do you feel about it now? Did your fakery ever get found out? Did you surprise anyone, even yourself?
Other topics to share?
 
May - Our next 500 words topic– ‘Time’
 
Activity –for class if we have time, otherwise to do at home…. Prompt:  the items Collectors took along to a session themed ‘Time’…. ‘begin by reflecting on and recalling a specific clock or watch from early childhood and writing a description of that, keeping writing for 20 minutes. It doesn't matter where the writing takes you eventually, it may take you a million miles from clock or watch but you start with the clock and the clock is ticking.’
 
Brief .... There are so many ways in which we use the word 'time'...'We talk about spare time, stolen time, free time, time well spent, leisure time, wasted time, quality time, holiday time, extra time, not enough time.  We say time is precious, for all time, time is short, it was such a waste of time, time flies, time and eternity, we had a good time, take your time, time stood still, where does the time go?  How much time do you have?  She'll do it in 'her own good time' and more. 
The brief  is to choose and write about an element or two relating to the theme 'Time' which has meaning in terms of an event or events in your life story.
 
Writers' Block?  Reminder of some back up topics, particularly for new members -  topics to include when you are ready, or if another topic doesn’t seem to work:

1. ‘The Year That Made Me’

1. ‘New in Town’ Have you ever been the new person in town?  Or did someone else’s arrival have a profound impact on you?  Share your story in 500 words.  
2. ‘Someone who Shaped Me’ 
3. Any topic from previous years – refer to website!​  

 We are still busily writing our 500 word stories on the topic ‘Faking It’, with stories to be shared after the newsletter deadline.   I wonder what people are writing about?  More news later!

Our topic for May is based on the theme 'Time'.... There are so many ways in which we use the word 'time'...'We talk about spare time, stolen time, free time, time well spent, leisure time, wasted time, quality time, holiday time, extra time, not enough time.  We say time is precious, for all time, time is short, it was such a waste of time, time flies, time and eternity, we had a good time, take your time, time stood still, where does the time go?  How much time do you have?  She'll do it in 'her own good time' and more.  The brief is to choose and write about an element or two relating to the theme 'Time' which has meaning in terms of an event or events in our life stories.

Late News:  Next month we are piloting separate group facilitated by Noelle McCracken will  focus on writing and publishing memoirs.  Classes will be scheduled as follows: 
1.30 to 2.50 '500 Words Stories' - Bev Lee - May topic 'Time' (refer above)
3.10 to 4.30 'Writing and Publishing Our Memoirs' - Noelle McCracken
It is possible to attend either or both sessions. 

Bev Lee

We began our March session by hearing from group members who are writing their story for family members using a timeline or life stage approach. Ray O’Shannessy distributed copies of the book he had written and printed for his family and  spoke about his process, which involved using themes as well as life stages.  Ray shared lessons he learnt along the way, particularly ‘Don’t rush’.  Noelle McCracken also made a valued contribution, drawing upon her history in publishing to talk about a way of printing and publishing a work that is going to be added to over time

We then revisited last month’s ‘Family Traits’ topic - Betty and Neville shared their stories followed by a small group activity prompted by selecting a trait from a pack of Strengths cards.
​ 
After the break fascinating stories were shared on our March topic ‘I Broke It’ – reflective stories about all the things we can break, from broken head gaskets miles from anywhere, to broken nails, high heels, ankles, backs, hearts and more.  There were quirky stories and stories which broke our hearts. 
 
Our April topic is ‘Faking It’ , a topic which resulted in some enlightening stories a few years ago. The brief?  ‘Have you ever inflated your credentials to land a coveted job, told a silly lie to save face in front of a new acquaintance, or felt well and truly out of your comfort zone when you tried something new.  Perhaps faking it helped you gain the experience or tools necessary to bring about real change, whether you were pretending to the world or just deluding yourself. How did you feel at the time, and how do you feel about it now? Did your fakery ever get found out? Did you surprise anyone, even yourself?’
​
Bev Lee

REVIEW
Family Trait - Nature or Nurture? A story with an interesting take on this -‘Nature or Nurture’
Betty’s story; any others?
Strengths Card activity.
 
RESOURCES
Writing up your family story - some resources from the web:
The Family Historian An e-book $9.99    Free Handout:  Interview questions
http://thefamilyhistorian.com.au/product/my-story-my-life-e-book/
An idea about preparing a digital story – a local history story  Refer Facebook page and scroll down to the post from Benalla Migrant Camp post about Georgina’s restaurant.
 
LOCAL RESOURCES
Benalla Library
Writers’ Corner – last Wednesday of month at the Library 5pm  Contact Carla Gardner Regular Guest Author Presentations – this Wednesday 27 March at 6 pm local author Chester Hart from Euroawill speak about his  adult fiction book ‘Screwd’, a tale of toxic work culture and how the best of intentions can go horribly wrong. A novel inspired by real-life experience inside one of Australia's prisons, 27th March 6 – 7 pm.
 
SHARING TODAY’S TOPIC   ‘I Broke It’
A broken plate, a broken bone, a broken record, or even being broke.  Tell us about a time you broke something, and what repercussions you faced. 
 
NEXT TOPIC   APRIL  ‘Faking It’    
Have you ever inflated your credentials to land a coveted job, told a silly lie to save face in front of a new acquaintance, or felt well and truly out of your comfort zone when you tried something new?
Perhaps faking it helped you gain the experience or tools necessary to bring about real change, whether you were pretending to the world or just deluding yourself.
How did you feel at the time, and how do you feel about it now? Did your fakery ever get found out? Did you surprise anyone, even yourself?
Some samples from our website – search under ‘Faking It’
​
BACK UP TOPICS
Some topics to include when you are ready, or if another topic doesn’t seem to work:

1. ‘The Year That Made Me’

1. ‘New in Town’ Have you ever been the new person in town?  Or did someone else’s arrival have a profound impact on you?  Share your story in 500 words.  
2. ‘Someone who Shaped Me’ 
3. Any topic from previous years – refer to website!  
4. A topic you make up yourself to meet a need – eg. ‘Memorable people I have known’…. etc

 
Bev Lee 5762 8171 bevlee47@gmail.com  25 February 2019 

At our first session we explored the history of writing groups at U3A Benalla; the development of the memoir writing course and our regular use of ABC Open's 500 Word topics as a focus for our writing each month.  We considered optional approaches such as 'Stories from the ….’ or 'Stories my …. told me'; then looked at the 'Our Stories' area of the website.
 
Before breaking for coffee we each interviewed a person we didn't know well, introduced them to the class and described their memory of 'the closest they have been to receiving an Oscar, winning an Olympic medal or being in the Guinness book of records'!  This was relaxing and demonstrated the gentle art of reminiscing with others. 

After the break fascinating stories were shared of 'Family Traits'. Some writers reflected on genetic traits, others behavioural traits. 

A group of members keen to write a memoir focusing on themes such as life stages gathered together after class to share their ideas, agreeing that they will do this each month to support one another and share progress. 

The topic for the 500 word task for March 25th is 'I Broke It' - with back up topics to choose from if necessary such as 'The Year That Made Me', 'New in Town' and a 'A Person who Shaped Me'. 

The brief for ‘I Broke It’ - A broken plate, a broken bone, a broken record, or even being broke.  Tell us about a time you broke something, and what repercussions you face.
​
Bev Lee

‘As Time Goes By’ -  2019
 
Welcome and Introduction to ‘As Time Goes By’ 2019
 
From ‘Benalla Writers’ to ‘Writing Workshop’ to ‘As Time Goes By’   Toowoomba U3A - https://open.abc.net.au/explore/75109   https://open.abc.net.au/explore/83116
 
‘As Time Goes By’ on our Website – Introducing/group page/’Our Stories’/using the U3A website search engine/2019 Stories
 
Approaching ‘As Time Goes By’
 
ABC Project Topics

• The ABC Projects Page Website and stories  Examples:  Someone who Shaped Me  Family Trait

• 500 words (or thereabouts… if possible) – an approach (handout)
• Ways of ‘publishing’ our collections of these stories
  • Time line?
  • Themes?

 
 ‘Writing Family History’ Approaches

• There are many resources on the web to draw on here –
  • a useful overview is at https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/18-writing-tips-tell-stories/  (Handout available) 
  • Another - https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/10-steps-writing-engaging-family-history/

 
The Story Teller – working towards a collection of, for example,

• ‘Stories my Father Told Me’
• ‘Stories from North East Victoria’
• ‘Stories for my Grandson’ – some stories of swashbuckling relatives from the past

 
Other Approaches? 
 
Considerations

• Developing our own voice – encouraging and supporting others
• Editing suggestions – our very gentle approach to editing suggestions
• Word Limits – aiming towards the target
• Considering confidentiality issues and personal well being
• Handling gender in our stories
• Publishing stories on the web site

 
 
TOPICS for 2019
 
Some topics to include when you are ready, or if another topic doesn’t seem to work:

1. ‘The Year That Made Me’

1. ‘New in Town’ Have you ever been the new person in town?  Or did someone else’s arrival have a profound impact on you?  Share your story in 500 words.   
2. ‘Someone who Shaped Me’ 
3. Any topic from previous years – refer to website!

 
 
2019 Topics – February to April
 
HOLIDAY TOPIC/FEBRUARY      ‘A Family Trait’  
 
Did you inherit a family trait? What is it and how does it play out in your life?
A link to a story about ‘Nature or Nurture’
 
MARCH   ‘I Broke It’
 
A broken plate, a broken bone, a broken record, or even being broke.  Tell us about a time you broke something, and what repercussions you faced. 

• This is a more focused topic which could be used with the ‘plan’ on ‘Tips for Writing your 500 Words story’

 

• Find out more about other U3A groups using the 500 words approach who faced a challenge to write about ‘I Broke It’ and read their stories

U3A Mackay  https://open.abc.net.au/explore/83955
 
 
APRIL  ‘Faking It’
   
Have you ever inflated your credentials to land a coveted job, told a silly lie to save face in front of a new acquaintance, or felt well and truly out of your comfort zone when you tried something new?

Perhaps faking it helped you gain the experience or tools necessary to bring about real change, whether you were pretending to the world or just deluding yourself.

How did you feel at the time, and how do you feel about it now? Did your fakery ever get found out? Did you surprise anyone, even yourself?
​

• Perhaps a more challenging topic – one which actually resulted in some wonderful stories a few years ago!  Over to you.

 
Bev Lee 5762 8171 bevlee47@gmail.com  25 February 2019 

Over the past two years we have been working towards the separation of 'Writing Workshop' into two groups 'Creative Writing' and 'Memoir Writing'.  It seemed natural to do this as we have always had some members of Writing Workshop interested in writing more creatively, perhaps even in publishing fictional stories and books.  Two years ago we introduced a shorter, 'pre pub catch up session' group for Creative Writers which, by mid 2018 had become a two hour session focussing on creative writing.  Most members of this group were also members of the Creative Writing group, but in later in the year new members joined keen to focus on Creative Writing only. 

In 2019, Creative Writing will have its own identity, and the memoir writing group the same brief but a new title 'As Time Goes By' - Memoir Writing.  Creative Writing now has its own web page and Joy's reports have been copied over to provide a sense of continuity.  

The theme for memoir writers on Monday 26 November  was 'Endings' - the brief 'Our lives are made up of many phases that shape who we become. Reflect on a time when something important in your life ended, and how it affected you'.  What an interesting collection of stories!  Most  were 'glass half full' in concept, perceiving endings as the opportunity for new beginnings.  We also enjoyed some new stories from this year's list of topics still to be shared by members.

Our first topic for 2019 is 'Family Trait'...    If you are thinking of joining 'As Time Goes By' in 2019 you might like to prepare something to share about a family trait - even in draft form.  

It has been another very enjoyable year, meeting monthly to share stories about ‘people who shaped us’, ‘family rituals’, ‘scary moments’, ‘days at work we’ll never forget’, ‘meeting a kindred spirit’, ‘our back yard’  and more. 

Congratulations to Betty Milligan for receiving third prize in the Benalla Festival’s Writing Competition for her ‘Our Back Yard’ themed poem. 

In November we will be sharing memories of ‘Endings’, of a time when something important in our lives ended and how it affected us.  In December we will gather at the Northo at 1.30pm to celebrate the end of the year with the Creative Writing group, who will be sharing their December challenge.  

Our summer break challenge is to write a 500 word story about a ‘Family Trait’ we inherited and how this plays out in our lives, ready to share at our first session in February.    

Anyone who might be interested in joining the Creative Writing group next year is welcome to join them at their final session and Christmas break up at ‘The Northo’ on 10 December to get a taste of how they are encouraging one another to write a piece of fiction.  

​Next year our memoir writing group will have a new title ‘As Time Goes By--Memoir Writing'!  The convenor and format will remain the same.   All welcome!


Bev Lee 

Our October session featured poetry readings by local poet Seamus Foley 'Return to Spoonbill' and 'Now that Ned is home again'. To mark the Benalla Festival's theme we shared 'Our Backyard' stories, most of which lovingly celebrated the places and spaces we treasure in Benalla and its environs and were entered into the Benalla Festival's writing competition.  Keen for some feedback, Seamus then shared with us a courageously written, deeply moving short story about his childhood in Ireland.  We all agreed it was well worth his completing and publishing.

The theme for our next meeting on Monday 26 November at 1.30pm is 'Endings' - the brief 'Our lives are made up of many phases that shape who we become. Reflect on a time when something important in your life ended, and how it affected you'.  Choices for the session also include bringing along stories we have yet to read to the group from this year's list of topics, or something else we would like to share. 

Bev Lee 

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