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y separately published work icon Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now anthology   prose   Indigenous story  
Issue Details: First known date: 2021... 2021 Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'This wide-ranging and captivating anthology showcases both the power of First Nations writing and the satisfaction of a good short story. Curated by award-winning author Ellen van Neerven, Flock roams the landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling, bringing together voices from across the generations. Featuring established authors such as Tony Birch and Melissa Lucashenko, and rising stars such as Adam Thompson and Mykaela Saunders, Flock confirms the ongoing resonance and originality of First Nations stories.' (Publication summary)

Teaching Resources

Teaching Resources

This work has teaching resources.

Book club notes via publisher's website.

Contents

* Contents derived from the St Lucia, Indooroopilly - St Lucia area, Brisbane - North West, Brisbane, Queensland,:University of Queensland Press , 2021 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
At the End of the Rainbow Cloud Busting Cloudbursting, Tara June Winch , single work short story (p. 3-8)
Waltzing Matilda, Herb Wharton , single work short story humour Indigenous story (p. 11-18)
Shadows on the Wall, Archie Weller , single work short story (p. 21-35)
The Release, Samuel Wagan Watson , single work short story (p. 39-44)
Each City, Ellen van Neerven , single work short story young adult (p. 47-62)
Rodeo Girl, Michael Torres , single work short story
At the rodeo, Billy finds companionship and skill in the itinerant Rose.
(p. 65-74)
Honey, Adam Thompson , single work short story

It should be a simple task – help Sharkey move his beehives up the coast road. Travelling St Mary’s Pass with Sharkey is treacherous in more ways than one – but as Nathan soon finds, nature has its ways of extracting justice.'  (Introduction)

(p. 77-85)
The Healing Tree, Jared Thomas , single work short story (p. 89-96)
Wildflower Girl, Alf Taylor , single work extract (p. 99-105)
Galah, Melanie Saward , single work short story (p. 109-114)
River Story, Mykaela Saunders , single work short story (p. 117-132)
Stepmother, S. J. Norman , single work short story (p. 135-147)
Wait for Me, Jasmin McGaughey , single work short story (p. 151-165)
Split, Cassie Lynch , single work short story (p. 169-179)
Dreamers, Melissa Lucashenko , single work short story

`Gimme an axe.'

'The woman blurted this order across the formica counter. When the shopkeeper turned and saw her brimming eyes he took a hasty step backwards. His rancid half-smile, insincere to begin with, vanished into the gloomy corners of the store. It was still very early. Outside, tucked beneath a ragged hibiscus bush, a hen cawed a single, doubtful note. Inside was nothing but this black girl and her highly irregular demand.' (Introduction)

(p. 183-192)
Forbidden Fruit, Jeanine Leane , single work short story (p. 195-197)
The Golden Wedding Anniversary, Gayle Kennedy , single work short story (p. 201-209)
Born, Still, Jane Harrison , single work drama

'Maggie is a pregnant building-owner tree-changer, overwhelmed with decisions about tiles and taps — until tragedy strikes. Her small, private grief sits alongside the sudden, very public death of the ‘People’s Princess.’ Eventually, the flowers wilt and the condolence cards stop, and the tribute songs don’t play on the radio, but Maggie can’t stop wondering — how do you keep a small memory alive?'

Source: National Playwrighting Festival program.

(p. 213-223)
Frank Slim, Tony Birch , single work short story (p. 227-241)
Moama, Bryan Andy , single work short story (p. 242-249)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

[Review] Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now Amra Pajalić , 2022 review
— Appears in: Kalliope X , Spring no. 3 2022;

— Review of Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now 2021 anthology prose

'Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now, edited by Ellen van Neerven, is a collection of previously published short stories showcasing the talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers spanning the past 25 years. In the introduction van Neerven notes that the title Flock is carefully chosen, in part, as an acknowledgement to an Aboriginal literary giant, Kerry Reed Gilbert, who nurtured writers through the First Nations Australian Writers Network, which she co-founded and chaired.  ‘We all have our own pair of beautiful wings,’ writes van Neerven, ‘but we fly together in formation. Together we are stronger. We flock together.’ This is what the collection exemplifies, the unification of Indigenous stories, of reclaiming identity, stories and culture.'  (Introduction)

y separately published work icon Live Recording : Ellen Van Neerven in Conversation Cassie Lynch (interviewer), Melanie Saward (interviewer), Adam Thompson (interviewer), Melbourne : Readings , 2021 23474527 2021 single work podcast interview 'A conversation between anthology curator Ellen van Neerven and Flock contributors Cassie Lynch, Melanie Saward, and Adam Thompson.' (Production summary)
Books Roundup: Car Crash, As Beautiful as Any Other, Flock, Gunk Baby Ellen Cregan , Sam Elkin , Alexander Te Pohe , Ting Huang , 2021 single work review
— Appears in: Kill Your Darlings [Online] , May 2021;

— Review of Car Crash : A Memoir Lech Blaine , 2021 single work autobiography ; As Beautiful As Any Other : A Memoir of My Body Kaya Wilson , 2021 single work autobiography ; Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now 2021 anthology prose ; Gunk Baby Jamie Marina Lau , 2020 single work novel
Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now, Ellen Van Neerven (ed.)" Tristen Harwood , 2021 single work review
— Appears in: The Saturday Paper , 29 May - 4 June 2021;

— Review of Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now 2021 anthology prose

'Flock is a brief glimpse at the past 25 years of First Nations writing. As Ellen van Neerven, the collection’s editor, writes, “many collections have come before this one”. There have been a lot of stories, shared between kin, across Country and generations, some of them that evade the written word. Here are 20 previously published short stories that together tell of resurgent ecological communities, of loss, shadow-lives and family.' (Introduction)

Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now, Ellen Van Neerven (ed.)" Tristen Harwood , 2021 single work review
— Appears in: The Saturday Paper , 29 May - 4 June 2021;

— Review of Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now 2021 anthology prose

'Flock is a brief glimpse at the past 25 years of First Nations writing. As Ellen van Neerven, the collection’s editor, writes, “many collections have come before this one”. There have been a lot of stories, shared between kin, across Country and generations, some of them that evade the written word. Here are 20 previously published short stories that together tell of resurgent ecological communities, of loss, shadow-lives and family.' (Introduction)

Books Roundup: Car Crash, As Beautiful as Any Other, Flock, Gunk Baby Ellen Cregan , Sam Elkin , Alexander Te Pohe , Ting Huang , 2021 single work review
— Appears in: Kill Your Darlings [Online] , May 2021;

— Review of Car Crash : A Memoir Lech Blaine , 2021 single work autobiography ; As Beautiful As Any Other : A Memoir of My Body Kaya Wilson , 2021 single work autobiography ; Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now 2021 anthology prose ; Gunk Baby Jamie Marina Lau , 2020 single work novel
[Review] Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now Amra Pajalić , 2022 review
— Appears in: Kalliope X , Spring no. 3 2022;

— Review of Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now 2021 anthology prose

'Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now, edited by Ellen van Neerven, is a collection of previously published short stories showcasing the talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers spanning the past 25 years. In the introduction van Neerven notes that the title Flock is carefully chosen, in part, as an acknowledgement to an Aboriginal literary giant, Kerry Reed Gilbert, who nurtured writers through the First Nations Australian Writers Network, which she co-founded and chaired.  ‘We all have our own pair of beautiful wings,’ writes van Neerven, ‘but we fly together in formation. Together we are stronger. We flock together.’ This is what the collection exemplifies, the unification of Indigenous stories, of reclaiming identity, stories and culture.'  (Introduction)

y separately published work icon Live Recording : Ellen Van Neerven in Conversation Cassie Lynch (interviewer), Melanie Saward (interviewer), Adam Thompson (interviewer), Melbourne : Readings , 2021 23474527 2021 single work podcast interview 'A conversation between anthology curator Ellen van Neerven and Flock contributors Cassie Lynch, Melanie Saward, and Adam Thompson.' (Production summary)
Last amended 27 Oct 2021 08:13:31
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