BWF!

Brisbane Writers' Festival was on this week, as part of the Brisbane Festival. This year, I made sure I actually went to a couple of events, instead of my usual practice of thinking about it and then not going.

I went to a talk chaired by the inspirational Chris Sarra, former principal of Cherbourg School, author of Good Morning Mr Sarra, and now CEO of the Stronger Smarter Institute, which assists Indigenous students to gain better access to education.

The main speakers were youth fiction writer Dave Hartley, also deputy principal at Woodridge High School, and Gordon Hookey, Indigenous visual artist, (and Indigenous artist at my social work placement) and author of the children's story The Sacred Hill, talking about writing Indigenous Stories to inspire children and young people. Gordon's story is featured in the children's area of GOMA, which has been taken over by the Kangaroo crew.

We went back the same evening to hear Seaman Dan, aged 84, from Torres Strait, singing in the tent to a small audience. My impression is that Saturday events were not that well attended, perhaps because the federal election was also happening?

I tried to get to Chris Sarra's Sunday talk as well, but accidentally walked into the wrong room, and ended up staying there to hear a talk on the changing face of journalism, with Trent Dalton, Matthew Condon and Amanda Gearing, which was also interesting and topical. Sorry, Mr Sarra!

There was a hint of anger in the air, at untrustworthy journos, a lack of balance, and the Murdoch press, which, unsurprisingly, is the employer of all three of the journos in question.

We also have a new Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and the Australian Labor Party probably only has itself to blame...

more later