MEMBERS CHRISTMAS PARTY

DAWN BRUCE

Dawn Bruce has been writing short stories and free verse for twelve years, haiku, tanka and haibun for about six years and haiga for two. Her work has been published in many journals, magazines, anthologies and newspapers. She has won numerous poetry and short story prizes, leads poetry and creative writing classes and has three free verse and haiku collections, ‘Stinging the Silence’, ‘Tangible Shadows’ and ‘Sketching Light’ published by Ginninderra Press. Dawn is Vice-president of the Australian Haiku Society, member of the Society of Women Writers and a member of Red Dragonflies, a Sydney based haiku group.

No speaker for October

AGM

PUBLIC READING

BILL WIDERBERG

Bill Widerberg was the marketing guy employed by Tooheys when the company’s market share in NSW was 34% and falling. In five years he had made Tooheys the market leader with the jingle ‘I feel like a Tooheys or two’. Bill has chaired a number of boards involved in scientific research. He was Chairman of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra until, with Donald McDonald, he organised its incorporation into the Australian Opera. Bill has lived his life in the Eastern Suburbs and been a member of Bronte Surf Club for more than fifty years. Following a career in business, Widerberg’s novel, the thriller The Big End of Town, was published by Otford Press in 2005. Currently The Camarilla (a series of novels set in 6001) and a topical new novel (working name Water) are well under way.

JANE CARO

Jane Caro has spent 25 years writing ads for some of the top agencies in the world such as Saatchi’s, The Campaign Palace, JWT, Singos, M&C and Patts. Her awards include Cannes, AWARD, ATV, One Show, Kinsale, Mobius and Caxtons. She has been Chair of Judges for AWARD, Brisbane Art Directors and Adelaide Art Directors. Jane has often represented the industry in the media (regularly on Channel 7 Sunrise), and now lectures in Advertising Creative at UWS. She remains in demand as a freelancer and has just published her first book. She has worked as a mentor with McCarthy Mentoring for 2 years nurturing up and coming creative talent.

CARMEL SUMMERS

Although Carmel Summers' writing career started as a technical writer, writing manuals for companies such as IBM, GEC-Marconi and Unisys, about twenty years ago she started writing creatively with her first published work, an article in Parents magazine. Since then she has won prizes for poetry and short stories, with first or second places in competitions run by Yellow Moon, Fellowship of Australian Writers, Society of Women Writers and FreeXpresSion. Carmel is currently completing an MA in Creative Writing at Macquarie University and working on a general fiction novel.

NARELLE NICOL

Nell is an artist, amateur actor and writer. Her work has been shown at exhibitions in: Tap gallery, 2004; Soho Galleries, 2004; Art fusion, Pyrmont and Jackson's Gallery, 2007; Opal Fields Gallery and currently at the Cronulla Art Gallery.

Her art work is held by private collectors in Sydney and Brisbane. Nell was short listed for the Cromwells Art Prize 2006. She received the People's choice award, 2004, Archibald Real Refuses Tap Gallery and is currently working towards a new exhibition.

She studied drama at Gold Coast TAFE where she achieved honours in Practical and Theory. She has played at the Mouse Trap Theatre, Queensland; Wanganui Rep Theatre, New Zealand and Cronulla Arts Theatre, Cronulla. Her performances have been in Cowardy Custard, A collection of Noel Coward Skits [Wanganui]; Mischievous Character in Charlie Girl; Brilliant Lies by David Williamson; Taming of the Shrew; Helena in Midsummer Nights Dream; lead role in Dead Guilty; Short and Sweet Wildcard, ‘Turning the Tide’, 2008.

AMELIA KERR

Amelia graduated from Theatre Nepean and has since appeared in many plays. Amelia has performed in productions for the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, the Kudos Gallery, the Acting Factory and the New Theatre. A trained singer, dancer and voice artist, Amelia’s latest project is a part in the feature film Hobby Farm.

GEOFFREY McGEACHIN

Melbourne born writer Geoffrey McGeachin has spent much of his life shooting pictures for advertising, travel, theatre and feature films. His work has taken him all over the world including stints living in Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong. He is now based in Sydney where he teaches photography and writes.

His first novel, FAT, FIFTY & F***ED! won the inaugural Australian Popular Fiction Competition and was published by Penguin in August 2004. Described by the Sunday Tasmanian as “one of the most exhilarating debut novels in many moons … wildly imaginative, irreverent, bitingly funny, beautifully paced and populated by the sort of characters we'd all love to know”, it is now in its third printing.

Geoffrey followed this up with the hilarious adventure thriller D-E-D DEAD! which introduced Alby Murdoch – Australian secret agent and international photographer – a man with a taste for good coffee, fine food and interesting women and described by the Sunday Age as “a genuine action hero, with a truly Australian irreverence”. D-E-D DEAD! was published by Penguin/Viking and nominated for a Ned Kelly Award in 2006.

Alby’s misadventures continue in SENSITIVE NEW AGE SPY, published by Penguin/Viking in June 2007 and Geoff is currently finishing off a third Alby Murdoch thriller for Penguin to be followed by a crime thriller to be delivered in early 2009. Read more about Geoff at www.geoffreymcgeachin.com

BRENDAN SMITH

Brendan Smith is Waverley Council's new Cultural Planner. He has only just recently joined Council and is slowly familiarising myself with the arts and cultural groups, organisations and events in the local area. In his previous role as Cultural Development Officer with Clarence Valley Council (north coast), he was quite heavily involved with local writers groups, helping to organise readings and publications. His work was very much about supporting and advocating, creating a network that brought various writers’ groups together regularly, and coordinating public readings at the regional gallery.

NO MEETING