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Affiliated with the Northern Rivers Writers Centre

February 2014 Newsletter PO Box 1953, Coffs Harbour 2450

           www.coffsharbourwriters.wordpress.com  

This  project  received  support  through  the  C.ex  Group’s  ClubGRANTS  scheme  

 

Committee  Members:  

President:         Lorraine  Mouafi  6653  3256    lmproject@bigpond.com  

Vice-­‐President:         Jean  Read  6658  7823  reidjj@bigpond.com    

Secretary:         Rosalie  Skinner  6652  2919  roseiswriting@gmail.com  

Treasurer  &  Membership  Secretary:  Suzanne  Tainsh  6658  8859    jstainsh@bigpond.com    

Publicity  and  Social  Secretary:     Karolyn  Gibson  0423538506    grandmag@aapt.net.au  

Newsletter  Editor:       Ron  Marke  6655  9905    ron1936@telstra.com  

___________________________________________________________________________  

Next  Meeting:  The  business  meeting  will  be  held  at  the  Coffs  Ex-­‐Services  Club  at  10.30  am  on  Thursday  6th  February.    Next  Social:  Will  be  held  at  Buddha  Bounty  Cafe,  Toormima  on  Thursday  20  February  at  10  am.  

AGM:  This  will  be  held  on  Thursday  6th  March  after  the  business  meeting.  

This  year  I  will  not  be  standing  for  the  position  of  editor.  I  joined  the  CHWG  in  2001  and  have  been  continuously  active  on  its  committee  doing  the  secretary's  job  and,  on  occasions,  filled  in  as  acting  treasurer  as  well  as  printing  the  newsletter.    

 Ron  Marke,  editor.  

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Newsletter  No.  267  

Setting Sail by Bob Strum

This day is the beginning

A new chapter in my life.

I can hear the bells ringing

There'll be pleasure mixed with strife.

I approach the endless sea.

I set sail, on my small ship.

A time for discovery.

Destiny, a one way trip.

There are risks as I depart.

My vessel may fall apart.

I have lived for eighty years.

I am now 'a man of strength,'

Yet, I have some niggling fears.

I will go to any length

To transform the man I was,

To throw ancient clothes away.

I don't need this garb because

I was born again today.

Many years I have survived

And at last I have arrived.

It wasn't ever my plan

To make this journey alone.

Despite doubts, I know I can

Manage this ship on my own.

A captain going to sea

Without a mate, without a crew.

Heading for eternity

Without maps. (Perhaps a few)

In my soul the fires burn.

So much I will need to learn.

In my heart I do believe.

Magic words are there to find.

Echoes which I must retrieve

From corner of my mind.

I've had time I have prepared.

Days ahead, many or few.

I love life I really cared.

Now there is so much to do.

I will soon be on my way.

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This is my departure day.

__________________________ WRITING COMPETITIONS

FAWNS VIBRANT VERSE POETRY COMPETITION 2014 Category A: Free verse, open style, open theme. Category B: Traditional, rhymed or structured verse, open style, open theme. Prizes: 1st prize $200, 2nd prize $100. Same conditions apply for both categories. Maximum 60 lines. Entry fee: $5 per poem. Cheques or money/postal orders should be made out to Fellowship of Australian Writers North Shore Branch, or entry fees can be paid direct deposit to: Fellowship of Australian Writers BSB 082 289, Account No 50667 2584. No entry form required but a separate cover sheet should be attached for each entry, containing title, category (A or B), line count, name, address, telephone number, and email address (where applicable) and details of payment if made by direct deposit. Title and text only to appear on manuscript. Entries must be typed, single-spaced, on one side of A4 paper, 12 pt font, no fancy fonts, bold, clipart or decorations of any kind. No emails accepted. Author's name must not appear on the manuscript. Entries must not be concurrently submitted elsewhere nor have won a cash prize or been published previously. Entries that flout this rule will be disqualified. Judges' decision is final and no further correspondence entertained. Send entry and cover sheet and payment (or payment details if you have used direct deposit) to: Competition Convenor, 5 Clement Street, Strathfield South, N.S.W. 2136. Closing date: 30 June 2014.

Fawns Super Short Story Competition 2014 Category A: Super Short Story. Category B: Memoir. Prizes: 1st $200, 2nd $100 A memoir is defined as a memory in the writer's life of an incident, or a number of incidents relating to a single theme. The same conditions apply for both categories. Maximum 700 words. Entry fee: $5 for each story or memoir. Payment conditions are the same as for the Poetry competition. No email entries will be accepted. No entry form is required but you must attach a cover sheet to each story or memoir submitted, stating the name of entry and details of the payment you are making. The author's name must not appear on the story or memoir. Submissions must be the original work of the author typed on single-sided A4 paper with double spacing and stapled together. Your entry must not have won a cash prize at close of competition nor being submitted elsewhere. If this rule is not adhered to, the entry will be disqualified. Enclose a business size envelope SSAE if you would like a copy of the results. For further information, email fawnorthshore@gmail.com or Competition Convenor, 5 Clement Street, Strathfield South, NSW 2136. Closing date 30 September 2014.

___________________________ Oz Words October 2013 edition is available free. This very interesting publication is worth getting. It is published twice a year. If interested, contact: Oxford University Press, 253 Normanby Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205. (02) 6125 2615 http://andc.anu.edu.au                                                                                  *                                                                      *                                                                      *  

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See Leon Stokes' short story Every Dog Has Its Day is on page 4.  Every  Dog  Has  Its  Day    By  Leon  Stokes  

The  old  man  took  another  sip  out  of  his  dark  ale  bottle.  The  lines  in  his  face  were  gently   telling.   They   were   telling   that   the   number   of   years   of   life   he   had  entertained.  His  old  eyes  were  dim  and  he  was  very  grey.  He  was  on   the   turps  again  and  soaking  up  the  dark  ale  like  a  sponge.  He  could  easily  handle  a  six-­‐pack  and  he  thoughtfully  maneuvered  the  form  guide  in  the  other  hand.  

  Civilization,   he   thought.  Mankind  had  become   a   civilized   race   and   the   greys  were  races  that  were  something  to  marvel  at,  also.  And  beer  brewing.  Never  will  I  take  that  for  granted,  he  thought.  He  took  another  sip  of  his  beer  bottle  and  ran  his   finger  down  his  paper.  He   liked  1,  6,   and  8  and  was   focused  on  a  potential  win.  He  thanked  God  he  was  alive  and  saved  some  sweet  talk  for  lady  luck.  

     The  old  man  took  out  a  tobacco  packet,  rolled  a  smoke,  lit  it  and  inhaled  deeply.    

     “Mm”,  he  said.  “Love  me  baccy!”  

       The  old  man  had  savored  his  rollies  for  many  years.  

       Often   his   dogs   didn’t   win,   although,   he   did   have   a   couple   of   wins   over   the  years.  His  health  was  okay,  although,  he  had  to  be  careful,  as  his  GP  had  advised.  He  was  getting  up  in  years.  Gout  was  a  common  occurrence  and  arthritis,  too.    

     Mainly  he  liked  beer  and  he’d  had  his  fair  share  of  that.  1,  6,  and  8,  he  said  to  himself.  It  could  be  a  winner.  He  got  up  and  made  his  way  to  the  TAB  and  smiled  quietly  at  the  day  of  life.  We’ll  do  it  all  again  tomorrow,  he  thought,  if  we’re  alive  and  kicking.    

     He   sat   back   down   after   placing   his   bet   and   took   another   sip   of   his   amicable  brew.  The  horses  he  had  chosen  were  running  at  good  odds.  They  were  mainly  favorites.   Sometimes   he   took   a   mystery   trifecta   for   a   difference   and   he   had  backed   a   winner   once   or   twice   doing   it   that   way.   Usually,   he   bet   in   small  amounts.  The  proceeds  were  a  nice  return  for  a  win,  if  he  was  going  to  win.  

   The  horses  were  on  the  track  now  and  ready  to  jump.  He  was  accustomed  to  the  formality   of   placing   a   bet   in   his   local   bar   and   he   was   a   familiar   face   in   the  establishment.  He  had  a   few  mates  among   the  clientele  and  often  he  got   into  a  yarn  or  two.  Most  people  knew  him  as  Jack  and  some  people  called  him  John.  He  used   to  play  pool  at  Kings  Cross   in  Sydney  when  he   lived   in  Moore  Park  Road.    The   horses   jumped   and   his   horses   made   good   time   and   arranged   themselves  competitively  in  the  positions  in  the  race.  The  old  man  let  out  a  plaintive  cry  as  things  started  taking  shape  toward  a  home  turn.   It  reached  the  point  where  he  moved  to  the  edge  of  his  barstool  and  then  stood  up  and  shouted.  He  waved  his  arms  in  elation  as  his  horses  came  home  and  he  had  a  laugh  at  his  good  fortune.  The  old  man  commended  the  horses  and  the  jockeys  in  a  gesture  to  himself.  He  was   all   smiles   now   because   that   had  made   his   afternoon.   He   resolved   to   buy  dinner  that  very  night  to  celebrate  his  win.  He’d  probably  have  steak  and  chips.  

 

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Quote          

"Never  doubt  that  a  small  group  of  committed  citizens  can  change  the  world.  Indeed,  it  is  the  only  thing  that  ever  has."  ―  Margaret  Mead,  Anthropologist