isobelblackthorn

Welcome to Australia

I woke this morning at about five o’clock to the sound of cock crows and magpie chortles, knowing that my third piece, Welcome to Australia, would appear in On Line Opinion today. It’s a controversial piece and in the pre-dawn darkness I feared some would misread it and accuse me of being anti-Australian. Then I thoughtContinue reading “Welcome to Australia”

A Tribute to Alex Legg

It is with huge sadness that I write this. Not twenty-four hours have gone by since the passing of consummate songwriter and performer Alex Legg. This morning I was so moved by all the messages of love and goodwill on facebook I wrote a short story to contribute to his memory. It’s noContinue reading “A Tribute to Alex Legg”

I should have done something sooner

I should have done something sooner. That’s what my neighbour said. Best nipped in the bud. A good hard slap across the face will shut her up. Said she never had any trouble in the playground after that. But my best friend’s husband was right about me. I’m a coward. And cowards cower. They don’tContinue reading “I should have done something sooner”

Building bridges: asylum seekers in rural Australia

Just a little bit pleased to have published in e-journal On Line Opinion Building bridges: asylum seekers in rural Australia, reflecting on a recent home hospitality respite holiday for asylum seekers on bridging visas that I organised under the auspices of the Home Among the Gum Trees program run by Elaine Smith in Dandenong (Melbourne). Here are hostsContinue reading “Building bridges: asylum seekers in rural Australia”