Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival focus on the Natural Environment
A sample of events at the BRWF focused on the natural environment
0487 250 675 (enquiries only). Please book through www.brwf.com.au/
TUESDAY 5 APRIL 5.30 PM for 6.00, St Andrews Old Church, Hyde Street, Bellingen
VIEWS FROM THE FOREST: Multiple perspectives on the presence of forests and their future.
Book launch & eco-writing forum with author Tim Cadman, botanist/philosopher Ross Macleay and award winning poet John Bennett – a multimedia presentation.
No bookings required - entry by gold coin donation.
For details see below
FRIDAY 8 APRIL 7.45 AM DORRIGO NATIONAL PARK PRESENTS...
THE SLOW ART OF BUSHWALKING
“What business have I in the woods if I am thinking of something out of the woods.” Henry David Thoreau
Join poet John Bennett and ranger Stephen Hull on a stroll through the rainforest. Meet the local fauna and enjoy local flora with readings on the art of bushwalking along the way.
Where: Group will car (or bus) shuttle from the Rainforest Centre to the Glade and walk back to the Rainforest Centre followed by a hearty breakfast buffet (vegetarians catered for) in the Canopy Café at 9.00am. Cost: $18.50 per person - includes breakfast. Bookings: Essential. Phone (02) 6657 5913.
Note: a free shuttle bus is probably going to operate from Bellingen for this event.
FRIDAY 8 APRIL 10.15 AM DORRIGO NATIONAL PARK PRESENTS...
WRITING THE ENVIRONMENT with Mary White
“How do I know what I think ‘til I see what I say.” Mary White, renowned author of The Greening of Gondwana, how Australia became the driest continent, and Earth Alive, the story of how life began and continues on this planet, among many other, takes us on her fascinating journey from fossils to environmental activism. The award-winning poet John Bennett will present writings inspired by Mary’s story of the living earth. Cost: Gold coin donation includes coffee and tea.
Bookings: Essential. Phone (02) 6657 5913
Haiku grasp momentarily
forever the essence of spring
but I’ve just taken winter light
photographed graphic black
burnt trees and stuffed
my pockets with Cassia seeds. ‘Jagun’ John Bennett
Saturday 9 April, 9.15 AM to 11.30 AM PADDLE WITH A POET
A unique opportunity to explore the wonderful river that inspired Peter Carey’s ‘Oscar & Lucinda’ . Never before has an Australian literary festival offered the opportunity to go on a guided canoe safari and hear some of the country’s best poets at the same time! Includes two stops for river poetry readings with Bellingen Canoe Adventures: Poets include: Brook Emery, Brian Purcell, Michael Sharkey, John Bennett, and a surprise guest. This canoe expedition gives you a chance to hear original poems inspired by rivers and their landscape and enngage with the source of the inspiration - the river itself.
Bookings: Essential - Bellingen Canoe Adventures, Ph: (02) 6655 9955. Cost $30 and $25 (for children 12 and under). Participants assemble at Lavender Bridge carpark, Bellingen no later than 9:45am. Lifejackets provided. Bring hat water, sunscreen.
Saturday 9 April. [Entry to these session are included with the purchase of a Weekend or Saturday pass].
1pm, Memorial Hall
GREEN FUTURE - FANTASY & REALITY, Deb Abela and Ian Irivine. The authors of Grimsdon and The Last Albatross contemplate the nature of the future we are creating.
3.15, Bellingen Library (ticket part of weekend or daily pass)
THE NATURAL HIGH: A conversation regarding the use of nature in contemporary poetry with poets MTC Cronin, Brook Emery and writer Uncle Tony Perkins. Contributing Chair - John Bennett.
VIEWS FROM THE FOREST: Multiple perspectives on the presence of forests and their future.
TUESDAY 5 APRIL 5.30 PM for 6.00 PM, St Andrews Old Church, Hyde Street, Bellingen, gold coin
with a video presentation
Dr Tim Cadman - Global and Local Forest Management: What the Stakeholders Say
Tim will read selections from his newly-published work on the global forest situation. Tim interviewed a range of environmental, economic, social and government ‘voices’ in the preparation of his book, which focuses on four different international approaches to protecting forests. In most of the schemes investigated one ‘voice’ is louder than the others, with more power, influence and control.
Tim looks at his own background as a forest campaigner, the international forest situation and the relations between the many conflicting parties involved in trying to solve the forest problem. This is a work of non-fiction, but contains some interesting observations from those involved in forest management and conservation...
Tim is a lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland and the author of Quality and Legitimacy of Global Governance Case Lessons from Forestry, Palgrave Macmillan, 2011
Ross Macleay - Five places I mightn't want you to visit.
Ross explores local forests with the help of 'quotes' from visual art and literary and scientific writing that illuminate each of these special places.
Ross is a botanist and philosopher, author of Nature and Culture, North Bank, 2005. Essays on nature, ecology, place and the Bellinger Valley. He is the current Chair of Bellinger Landcare. See http://northbankinstitute.blogspot.com/
John Bennett - Trying to see a tree (enriching experience through art and ecology)
A poem's not about the wood or trees
it is about a tree
and through that tree's roots has in it earth." Jonathon Griffin, To the Point
John explores ways we perceive trees from the woods, and ways in which it is impossible.
John is Artistic Director of the BRWF and a former President of the Poets Union, an award winning poet who teaches eco-poetry and eco-philosophy. He has worked for NSW National Parks & Wildlife service and has a PhD in poetics.