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President’s Letter
As this magazine goes to print we have received the saddest news – our beloved Rosie Scott died on 4 May. She was such a champion for the marginalised and supportive of colleagues old and young. A Sydney PEN life-member, Rosie leaves a significant legacy for us to build on. She was a PEN person through and through, and an example of what compassion, intelligence and a willingness to work hard can achieve. Her anthologies of and about asylum seekers made sure this topic was discussed.
Sadly, this is also a time to pay tribute to two other fine women writers who were great friends with Rosie, the mother and daughter Anne Deveson and Georgia Blain who died within days of each other. I knew Anne from over two decades ago when we had a lively discussion over dinner about a documentary she wanted to make about the Middle East. She wanted to interview women politicians from Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, etc. and had told me she was going to call it ‘the politics of peace’. I couldn’t wait to see it screened. Sadly September 11 occurred and she told me it was no longer a possibility. She continued to write about this topic and many others. These were all women committed to telling important stories and asking questions about society, and the place of women and other marginalised groups in contemporary life.'
Contents
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In Memory of Rosie Scott,
single work
obituary
(p. 6)
A tribute to the life and successes of Rosie Scott.
'Rosie Scott was a critically-acclaimed writer, a passionate human rights activist, a creative writing mentor, a wife, mother and grandmother.'
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Giving Voice to the Voiceless,
single work
obituary
(p. 7)'It doesn’t lighten the blow that Rosie Scott’s friends have known the desperate state of her health for many months now. A beautiful and generous friend has gone from among us. And over the last decade and a half we have grown to admire the Rosie Scott who will continue to be admired even by those who didn’t have the good fortune to know her.' (Introduction)
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Free for All,
single work
essay
(p. 8-9)'Melissa Lucashenko’s article comments on the proposed amendments to Australia's Racial Discrimination Act.
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Anne Deveson and Georgia Blain’s Legacy,
single work
obituary
(p. 10-11)Anne Summers writes about the sadness and grief at the loss of Anne Deveson and Georgia Blain. She also talks about the 'gift' these woman gave us. She writes: 'Every society needs its truth tellers, to help us see what was not previously obvious, and Anne Deveson and Georgia Blain were among our best.'
- The Mother and the Daughteri"Three days, three days I have waited.", single work poetry (p. 11)
