AustLit

'Barbara Jefferis (1917-2004)

''First you send your heart over the fence. Then you follow it in the best way you can.' That shocked me. I was really beginning to believe in him. Stupidly I said: 'Tell me, do you believe in me?' But all he answered was, 'Alas, I must away.' And he did.'' (Introduction)

'Whatever the state of a literature, Australian or otherwise, there can be none at all without the author. Frank Moorhouse tells of what he and "writer friends" believed when starting out, including views on a local "tradition". He argues for the vital connection of reader and author, and for the meaning and place of authorship more broadly.' (Editor's abstract)

'The republic referendum ten years ago taught me how hard it is to beat a slogan, particularly when it takes at least thirty seconds of air time to counter it. We live in a sound-bite age, and that's just how it is. This time around, the slogan was 'cheaper books', and who doesn't want cheaper books? Of course, the issue was in no way that simple. No issue is two words long.'  (Introduction)

'If you're the kind of person who loves to tell old jokes but can never find anyone who hasn't heard them before, then I'm your woman. It's a constant source to delight to certain friends of mine that I've never heard even the hoariest of old gags. I laugh like a drain when they tell me the one about the Irishman, Englishman and Australian. When they come sidling up and whisper 'Hey Gayle you heard the one about...' and my reply is 'no', their faces light up in a mixture of wonder and disbelief. Disbelief mainly, because they can't believe a woman of my vintage who's obviously been round the block more than a few times, hasn't heard these jokes, limericks, or bawdy rugby songs before.' (Introduction)

'A screenwriting friend who has recently seen the release of his latest film was chatting with me about the experience of being on set - as co-producer he was present for his film's whole shoot. When I asked him about a particular actor, the star of his film, he said - well, he's an actor. You know what they're like. They're anxious. They always want to know what you think. They need you to tell them how good they are, all the time.'  (Introduction)

'The death of Gough Whitlam has brought to mind for many of us who were around during his prime ministership just what a vital part he played in so many areas of Australian life. In the encomiums (a word he would doubtless have approved in relation to himself!) that followed his passing, mention was made of his important support of the arts and Australian cultural life, but little said of his active role in assisting the development of a healthy and distinctive Australian literary culture.'  (Introduction)

'It's a curious exercise, a nearly impossible swim, to attempt to describe digital writing to a traditional print writer/reader. Even the words used - 'traditional', 'print', 'digital', or the seemingly ubiquitous and central notions of 'writer' and 'reader' - only result in a murky mess of genres and caged descriptors. And even those who bark up, loudly proclaiming and spreading digital-mediated literature, cannot agree on a common definition. They banter about like sociologists searching for farmable theories, using such titles as 'electronic literature', 'digital poetry', 'trans media writing', coded-text, hypertext and on and on.' (Introduction)

'I'd like to start by speaking in my language. [Stan delivers welcome to country in Wiradjuri.] From Wiradjuri people I bring greetings to the traditional people of this land an may my respects to their elders past and present and include all of you here today in that as well.'  (Introduction)