Carol Libke and June Perkins at the Queensland Art Gallery, September 2018.

It was a delight to catch up with my writing sister (by the bonds of writing and living in the Far North Queensland related), Carol Libke, from Far North Queensland, and to take her on a tour of my writing in  ‘Words and Pictures.’

The writers of the Far North are special to me, because they accepted some of my work for an anthology many years ago. The poem, ‘Grumpy Fisherman’ inspired by the theme ripples, was later to become the inspiration for the Magic Fish Dreaming poetry book. Furthermore, they invited me to attend and read at a Cairns Writer’s Festival lead up event, and to be on panels on digital storytelling and blogging. Carol attended a workshop in Mission Beach, and we stayed in touch when I moved to Brisbane.

Mission Beach Workshop after Cyclone…

Sometimes when I can’t find the words for someones loss
I send leaves, flowers and hearts
a poetry of stickers
for them to interpret how they wish

If I know them well I might
share a special memory of the person
lost and how that will always be
like gold.

But when stickers, and flowers, and
everything just don’t seem to fit
I scroll past silently and think of them
and write this to send.

For anyone of my friends and readers who has lost a parent

To all my friends losing parents this week
I don’t know your parents except
through anything you do that is inspired by them,
and anything you build in their legacy,

Or anything you do opposite to them (because you need to),
but you still loved them because
they made you see yourself clearly.

To all the friends losing parents
in the last few…

My daughter chatting with Isobelle Carmody after attending the Write Links Mini Fest.

Reading a quote from Cathy Freeman at Soul Food, Milton.

Catching up with friends at a Baha’i history book event.  Book Club plans!  Hope to start this soon.

Working on poems at the Queensland Art Gallery in preparation for Words and Pictures.  My daughter takes this lovely photograph for me.

Soul Food Event, Bardon.  Seeing a friend’s new baby.

With my friend Chikako!

Attending Sprout Sunday and reading poetry with children and families and spending the day with Renee Hills.

Meeting the author of Boy Swallows Universe, Trent Dalton

With one of my poems at the Queensland Art Gallery! Exciting times.

Image by June Perkins, Ngatu by Ruha Fifita and team

“Unity is strength…when there is team work and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved.”
-Mattie Stepanek

This image is of a ngatu at the beginning of its collaborative journey to have designs placed on it. It will have many people throughout Queensland, Australia contribute their concept of spring time. (Part of the Illumine Mini Festival)