Burnings
In early December 2019 we visited Mallacoota, a small remote coastal town midway between Sydney and Melbourne on the entrance shore of an extensive inlet. Surrounded by national park, it is simply magnificent. It was a brief visit. Soon after, on the last day of the year and along with much of North-east Victoria, Mallacoota burned. Since September last year, Australia has burned to an extent unprecedented in its recorded history. It is reported that more than ten million...
Read MoreScabby Days
Mt Scabby, at 1790m among the highest of ACT peaks, lies on the border with New South Wales in a remote region of the Namadgi and Kosciuszko National Parks. Less a peak than a flat U-shaped plateau, it is here the Cotter River begins to flow – its three dams supplying Canberra’s water. A long one day walk from vehicular access, another to return, Scabby receives relatively few visitors. The effort though has its rewards – like the occasion two wedge tail eagles circled in...
Read MoreaCOMMENT on Judith White’s “Culture Heist: Art versus Money”
I first saw a photo of the classical revival built courthouse in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland some years ago when researching the convict John Graham.1 Since then I’ve entered the Art Gallery of New South Wales many times without realising just how closely its portico and pediment resemble the facade of the imposing Dundalk Courthouse. This marked resemblance first struck me on seeing the ominous cover of Judith White’s book Culture Heist, just published by Brandl &...
Read MoreThe Beckoning
THE BECKONING – a short story blending fact and fiction – <> <> <> Their honeymoon began rather ordinarily. They’d had to wait a week which didn’t please her any more than him, but she’d never been much good at maths and had got the dates wrong. Then there was the train trip. Why train for goodness sake, she would ask her visitors years later, why not a hire car? The question betrayed her wavering state of mind and her scant recall of how few...
Read MoreMallacoota Musings
Mallacoota, midway between Sydney and Melbourne, is a small remote coastal town on the entrance shore of an extensive inlet. Surrounded by national park, it is simply magnificent. Utilising images, prose and the 5,7,5 syllable lines of Japanese Haiku – a nod to the bardic E. J. Brady – these musings reflect on Mallacoota, its magic, its minions and its mischief. They will appear spasmodically, when mood and muse align. A listing follows with dates of postings. CINDERELLA ...
Read MoreaCOMMENT: on Patrick McCaughey’s “Strange Country”
Some time ago I knew only so much about Australian art – I might recognise who a painting was by and know a little about the painter. When reading a book like Patrick McCaughey’s new tome Strange Country: why Australian painting matters, I took it as gospel. Today not a lot has changed – except regarding matters discussed on this website. On these I have more detailed knowledge. So when a friend loaned a copy of her newly acquired Strange Country and asked what I...
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