Summer so far has been an exhausting haze of uncertainty and fear, measured by the growth of the Currowan bushfire. The family farm in Milton and my mother’s cottage in Lake Tabourie have repeatedly come under threat. The entire 100-acre farm that my siblings and I grew up on is now a charred, burned landscape.…
Read More5 reasons you should read ‘Convergence’
My first book, ‘Convergence’ is nearing its first birthday – one whole year out in the world! It’s book one in a brand spanking new Australian speculative fiction trilogy, Kindred Ties. Thank you so much to everyone who has read and loved ‘Convergence’; your feedback has been incredible. If you haven’t read it yet, here are…
Read MoreHow to be a small town gay: top tips
Overalls. Nobody will think you’re weird because you live in a rural area, and if they do, that’s too bad for them. They’re missing out on the most practical and comfortable garment of all time. The only downside is that you will be carded everywhere you go because you look 12. Even Aldi. Oversize t-shirts…
Read MoreNotes from a small town gay: Let’s vote yes for marriage equality
I didn’t realize I was gay until I hit my early twenties. I went to Catholic and Anglican schools in small towns. I paid attention during sex-ed. While it wasn’t all damnation and spontaneous conception, the possibility of being LGBTQI+ simply never came up. It was as if the majority of adults had decided…
Read MoreA mushroom farmer abroad: ten reasons Terra Madre 2016 was ace.
It was basically a weeklong special United Nations meeting on biodiversity. Every (packed) forum and conference talk was live translated into multiple languages straight into your headset. Simply listen and marvel as Italian, German, Japanese and more are rendered accessible to you. All to discuss sustainable food futures. It still blows my mind (even the…
Read MoreThe Starks were on to something: Winter is always coming
I was raised in the ‘long summer’, ruled by the dual natural phenomena of El Niño and John Howard. I didn’t know any different. Life was uncomplicated, life was good. It was all about paddlepops on the beach and hide-and-seek with the neighbourhood kids. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the major player in…
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