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June - 'Wise sayings', 'Causes' and 'Rebellion'

30/6/2022

 
On ‘Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery’ this week Marcia Hines described her mother as having a wise saying for every occasion. ‘Wise sayings’ became the prompt for our icebreaker – the stories shared were precious!

We moved on to read a beautifully written Facebook post by writer Arnold Zable which began ‘Election Day.  May 21, Mid Afternoon.  I make my way to Canning Street, Carlton North…’.  Bev explained how using Arnold‘s post as a prompt and model had encouraged her to write in a more creative way for this month’s topic ‘Causes’ -- ‘Election Day. May 21.  7.45 am.  I make my way from Benalla to the Tatong Polling Booth, …
’

Carmyl’s ‘Cause’, ‘The Multi-Cultural Program’ was triggered when chatting to a young Japanese woman who had married a local and had lived in her town for four years - “I walk down the street and nobody notices me. They think I’m a tourist. It’s as though I’m invisible.”

Jenny’s ‘causes’ related to activism in fighting for the staff ‘Car Park’ at the Benalla Hospital and, as a parent of primary age school children, acting when ’The Raison d’Etre for 15 Mile Creek Camp was threatened’. 
 
New member Graham combined ‘Causes’ and the alternative topic ‘Rebellion’ in ‘A Rebel with a Cause’, a story about conscription set in the Vietnam War era which left us all desperate to find out ‘what happened next’!  Ray’s story of rebellion involved his adhering to ethical principles despite a power imbalance.  Bev then delved into the archives, sharing Elizabeth Kearns’ delightful story of a childhood rebellion in Ireland.

Catch up stories were also shared, Jenny reading her poem ‘Trees’ and Bev Morton her ‘prose poem’ on ‘Community’ with the mysterious title ‘We Only Meet On Dark Nights’.   We look forward to more catch-up stories being shared in July, including Marg’s ‘Causes’ story on refugees and Barry’s story of ‘Rebellion’.

Our topic for July is ‘Ritual’… “Write about a memorable ritual event in your life (or in which you were involved)- it could be a 21st, making a debut; engagement, wedding, child ‘s christening, first communion, confirmation or other cultural milestone Why did you choose this particular ritual to write about?  What is there about it that is so memorable for you”.

The alternate topic is ‘Memories Treasure Chest’ (1) Create/Draw upon an ‘Memories Treasure Chest’ in a shoe/other box containing objects and artefacts such as maps, menus, theatre programs, an old report card, vials of perfume, a garment, treasured photographs, a souvenir, an expired passport…(2) 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 for each object)

On a final note, during the session we shared Carmyl’s excitement at her son Michael Winkler’s shortlisting for the Miles Franklin Literary Award for his book ‘Grimmish’.  We wish him well!
​
Bev Lee

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    About  'As Time Goes By' - Memoir Writing

    'As Time Goes By' provides an outlet and support for members keen to write about their lives and  tell stories their families may not get around to asking them about.   A memoir is a slice from a person’s life which focuses on a particular theme or lesson or flavor of experience, an aspect of life that is most unusual or fascinating.   Each month class members reminisce, write about and share memorable ‘slices’ from their lives in response to set ‘500 Words’ themed writing topics.  

    Please note - The course is not a writing skills class and does not cover writing a detailed, chronological autobiography.

    Convenor & Contact details

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    Beverley Lee
    0478 607 838

    Meeting Times

    3rd Monday 2 - 4 pm
    ​U3A Meeting Room

    'As Time Goes By' Topic List for 2023 pdf
    'Tips for Writing your 500 Words Story' (ABC Open)  
    'How to Write a Story in 500 words - ideas for planning - topic 'Failure' (ABC Open)
    Memoir Review - Framework for Analysis
    Master list of  500 word story topics from 2015 to end of 2020

    Links

    Australian Writers' Centre

    Victorian Writers' Centre - Writers' Victoria

    ​Wheeler Centre

    The Memoir Writing Club - On Line Courses

    Past topics 

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    2018 Topic List
    '23 Words'
    'A Friendship Tested' //
    'A Love Letter To Travel'
    'A Turning Point'
    Australian Writers Centre
    'Car Stories' //
    Course Description
    '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'
    'New In Town'
    'One Moment
    'Stand Up Comedy'
    'The (Season) I ...'
    This Year'
    'What Happened In Vegas'

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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
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