My favourite date on the Brisbane booklovers calendar: The University of Queensland Alumni Book Fair 2024 with so much to see, do and read.
Friday 3 May 9:00am thru to Monday 6 May 3:00pm2024 This year they have even added a special dining event, favourite foods of iconic writers for lunch and dinner—see below or click forthcoming Alumni Events.
Coming soon: More than 110,000 books, magazines, vinyl records, DVDs and other pre-loved literary goodies will be available at this year’s UQ Alumni Book Fair, from as little as $1, to help raise funds for UQ student scholarships and research. Free events location at UQ Centre, St Lucia campus.
“Gifts of friendship: rare books and manuscript treasures in the Fryer Library“ Friday 3 May 2024 6:00pm–7:00pmAlumni event. Hear from Simon Farley, Fryer Librarian, about a selection of treasures held in the Fryer Library including beautiful, rare books and the manuscript papers of great Australian writers including David Malouf, Peter Carey, Thea Astley, and Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Location: UQ St Lucia campus.
Dine like a literary icon – ‘Patina at Alumni Court‘ Monday 29 April 2024 11:00am to Friday 3 May 2024 9:00pm. An Alumni event to mark the 2024 UQ Alumni Book Fair (3–6 May) and they’re celebrating with the favourite foods of iconic writers, Ernest Hemingway and Emily Dickinson. Available for lunch Monday 29 April and Tuesday 30 April. Available for lunch and dinner from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd May 2024. Visit University of Queensland website https://alumni.uq.edu.au/uq-alumni-book-fair
Throughout, there will be diverse music from Mozart to the music of 2024, and a family fun day with free story time sessions, face painting and craft. Those dates again—
Getting here: Casual parking is available under the UQ Centre. Paid parking applies between Monday–Friday, 7am–9pm. Parking is FREE on weekends and public holidays. More information about parking at UQ.
St Lucia campus is conveniently accessible by car, BCC buses, ferries and CityCat. I have travelled by all four options with no difficulty. Of course, my heavily laden book haul slowed me down a bit on the return journey. More information about public transport options.
Please note: You can donate books to UQ throughout the year. Also this information has been retrieved from UQ website so I accept no responsibility for changes to dates, times or information but in my experience events run smoothly. I’ve had some great finds!
Happy reading ❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward
Everyone around Australia will read this picture book together! Contact your local library to find out details!
Here is my email with additions made to a draft copy received from Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown and sent to The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water:
My email heading “Dugongs and Curlews Don’t Sleep in Beds—Stop Harbour Development”
I urge you to use your powers as the Environment Minister to reject Walker Corporation’s Toondah Harbour project which will destroy globally important wetlands and a refuge for some of Australia’s most unique and threatened wildlife.
A Ramsar-listed wetland is no place to build 3600 luxury residences including high-rise apartments, commercial strips and a 220-berth marina. It is beyond belief that this project is even being considered in the twenty-first century. We have already lost so much biodiversity due to corporate greed.
This project will have significant impacts on matters of national environmental significance: an internationally listed wetland (Moreton Bay), nationally threatened shorebirds including the critically endangered Eastern Curlew, migratory marine species (dugongs and turtles) and the locally threatened koala.
The Eastern Curlew is one of the 22 priority species in the Federal Government’s new 10-year Threatened Species Action Plan. Approving this project would be completely at odds with the Albanese Government’s goal of ‘No new extinctions’. I say save and preserve because there is no rebirth after extinction.
Failing to uphold Australia’s international obligations under the Ramsar Convention to protect this wetland and the species that rely on it, would set a dangerous precedent that could allow damaging developments in other important wetlands in Australia and worldwide.
Critically endangered – How long will this small shorebird be able to continue to fly between Australasia and far-flung countries. A thousand years, a hundred years, or maybe just a few years?
Walker Corp’s claims that a vast high-rise apartment complex on sensitive wetlands would result in ‘No expected reduction in migratory bird numbers’ and ‘Deliver a positive outcome for koalas’ are beyond belief! The construction materials, vehicles and building cement run-off alone could pollute the entire bay area.
Toondah Harbour is in the Redland Bay Cleveland area of southern Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. There is significant opposition to this building project from the Redlands community and Australia-wide and rightly so. Once that wetland biodiversity goes, everyone and everything suffers—and it won’t grow back.
The health of local residents is already affected, they are upset and deeply concerned about the loss of already threatened wildlife; the impact on local businesses and tourism; and increased road traffic. Every single millimetre of Toondah wetlands must be preserved for a healthy future.
Thank you for reading this letter and considering my views.
Postscript: After I emailed my thoughts regarding saving Toondah Harbour wetlands from massive tourism over-development, I saw this on our Australian Parliamentary website and The Guardian:
THEN—TOONDAH HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT STOPPED! 18/4/24 It’s official! The iconic Toondah Harbour has been saved after Walker Corporation withdrew their application to build a $1.4 billion real estate project on the internationally protected wetland site. This momentous news comes after Environment Minster Tanya Plibersek announced last week that she intended to reject the nature-wrecking project on the basis that removing 58.7 hectares was unacceptable and would affect threatened flora, fauna and migratory birds. Also thanks to the groundswell of communities throughout Queensland and Australia with close to 200,000 people having called on our Government to save Toondah. View Tanya Plibersek’s announcement:
You don’t have to be a budding author or full-time writer, all you need is an interest (or perhaps passion) for the written word and those amazing people who write them. You could be a reader, a part-time reader, a bookworm, a scribbler looking for literary inspiration, a serious new writer, or going with a friend who has a crush on the latest bestseller. There are special events galore and authors from far and wide. Make sure you book early!
“From blockbuster bestsellers to literary luminaries and everything in between, BWF 2024 is an unmissable adventure from beginning to end.”
Brisbane Writers Festival 30 May – 2 June 2024 South Bank https://bwf.org.au/
The main reason I enjoy Brisbane Writers Festival is to hear a good yarn up close from my favourite scribes. One year (I probably wrote a blog post about it) I listened to rugged Aussie legend Bryan Brown, screen actor turned writer. Another time UK author Jasper Fforde on a panel, then independently chatted over a group lunch on the terrace, before attending his final address at the closing ceremony—brilliant!
The following info is just a tiny taste of what’s on offer this year. Click on the link and have a look at the BWF website. For a real blast, read the 54-page online program here. Make a list!
Of course, there are books on sale and you can buy as many books and queue for as many celeb authographs (my new best word) as you have desire and stamina. Believe me, I’ve had some great conversations in those queues, and 😊 selfies, with a good book to read at the end of the day.
SINCE MY VERY FIRST BLOG POST ‘My Name is Lucy Barton’ by Elizabeth Strout book review 6th July 2017, posted at 6:01pm, I have currently written 580 post—as at 26th March 2024—over a wide range of topics, mainly illustrated with my own photographs, and I’ve seen many changes. I even have my own personal favourite blog posts.
In 2024 it’s interesting that the Seven-Year Itch has struck. I appear to have hit a malaise where not enough grabs my interest to write about it. However, although I may feel like slowing down, I will continue to be a voracious reader and write regular reviews here and on Goodreads.
Also, I stress that blogging is an excellent form of written and visual expression and I urge anyone to give it a go! Just do it at your own pace, don’t even follow an agenda. Too many self-imposed rules and deadlines add pressure which goes against naturally allowing yourself the freedom of expression.
Of course, your hobby or favourite subject can take pride of place but it doesn’t have to control a daily blog output unless you thrive on uniformity, regularity, consistency—sounds like hard work to me 😀
Preaching to the converted here but I stress that there are many WordPress templates and layouts to choose from, just give yourself a bit of time to become familiar with the settings and capabilities and soon your decision will make itself clear. I gradually discovered my own writing style and headings, and I use them for comfortable working conditions. My only gripe is the inability to change the designated default font/spacing of draft copies. Each template has its own settings. Although things have become a bit more flexible, I am not a fan of block editor; what I draft-type is not what I get layout-wise.
My website ThoughtsBecomeWords.com is not flashy or intellectual but it works for me. Interestingly I chose not to have a date stamp on my posts. Any person can read your blog anytime without being a WordPress blogger so don’t read too much into timings, Likes or Views. I have made friends through blogging. The big thing is to follow other bloggers because that way you can keep your finger on the writing pulse and learn things from around the world, plus they will also follow you.
I have a particular blogger dear to my heart, Paula Bardell-Hedley in Wales, her Book Jotter site is prodigious, packed with world-wide literary information. Paula created Reading Wales ‘Dewithon’ which features Welsh writers every March for the month of March. I have participated over the years and read wonderful Welsh authors.
Nostalgically, I guess I’ve had my day in the sun; and while blogging is more genuine than politics, pics and fakery on social media, the enchantment is fading for me. Inevitably the pressure of life (and general formatting changes) have turned me into a grump. I think I will cruise along now, enjoying the breeze, occasionally stopping to sniff the eucalypt blossom, and not listen to the raucous competition of the world around me. Been there, done that, over it.
Naturally I will keep popping in to post (maybe even a serialised short story I am working on—stay tuned) but for now it’s on with something new! I have my sights set on a photographic journey so perhaps more local Aussie snapshots will emerge. Two more book review posts to add then it’s irregular posting for me—in awhile crocodile!
Kindly note that I will continue ‘Photo Of The Week’ on my Home Page every Saturday—in the meantime happy writing, happy blogging and see ya later alligator!
This month you can read and review any Welsh authors you like for Dewithon! As you can see from my grandmother’s faded favourite teatowel there has been a bit of Welsh influence in our family. Some of these songs have made me very emotional over the years. And many readers will remember singing favourites in their school choir.
I have been recommended Gareth Williams book ‘Valleys of Song: Music and Society in Wales, 1840-1914′ from University of Wales Press. Quote ‘This enthralling social history focuses on such groups as the fighting choirs of Dowlais and Merthyr that raised armies of supporters, electrified massive crowds and aroused fierce passions.’
But I digress, I have participated in past Dewithons and enjoyed reading Welsh authors I had not previously known thanks to Paula Bardell-Headley aka Book Jotter.
This year 2024 I am reading a crime novel ‘The Silent Quarry’ in an eight book series featuring DI Winter Meadows written by Cardiff-born Welsh crime and mystery author Cheryl Rees-Price. 1.THE SILENT QUARRY 2.FROZEN MINDS 3.SUFFER THE CHILDREN 4.A KNOT OF SPARROWS 5.LIES OF MINE 6.RISE TO THE FLY 7.WINTER’S CRY 8.HARBOUR NO SECRETS (standalone ‘BLUE HOLLOW’)
“I do a lot of walking and, fortunately, living in Wales provides plenty of stunning places to inspire my imagination and feed the world of Winter Meadows.” Goodreads quote from Cheryl Rees-Price
Rather than me expounding how wonderful Welsh authors are, and the books I have previously read, I will give you some links (below) to Paula’s website which is jammed-packed with information and insights. Paula is the nicest, most organised and prodigious book-blogger that I have had the pleasure to read.
Remember those hashtags #dewithon24 and #readingwales24. Reading Welsh authors has broadened my reading awareness, as the saying goes ‘Try it, you’ll like it!’
Got half an hour? Don’t mind small print? No pretty pictures? Want to read my jaded Thoughts Become Words? This opinion piece has been brewing for several months and what better than my zodiac Year Of The Dragon* to launch a strongly worded blog post.
Recently I was about to enter a website to check on some stuff when the following information popped up. Most of us vaguely realise that our activity on the WWW is monitored. But here (below) is a rather more comprehensive look at what “they” glean from my device. Of course “You can change or withdraw your consent any time from the Cookie Declaration” but by that time it is too late. I have well and truly been identified.
Oddly enough, I always felt safe when I knew my paper documents and personal details were archived in a filing cabinet or locked safe. But we all know both can be stolen, copied, photographed, or open to various forms of physical damage.
I AM NOT WRITING THIS TO INSTIL FEAR OR ANGER, I SIMPLY WONDER IF OUR DETAILS WILL EVER TRULY BE SAFE, NOT FROM THE GATHERER BUT THE ILLEGAL HARVESTER?
The modern cyber criminal, whose grubby hands only touch a keyboard, can easily steal a person’s savings and ruin lives within seconds. Do not trust unsolicited links, odd emails, text messages, requests for your details, funds transfer or anything that immediately makes you query where it came from. Go with your prehistoric gut instinct and throw that metaphorical spear, i.e. click Delete and empty your rubbish bin. It may stop the rampaging beast.
So, how many people comprehensively read the Terms and Conditions?
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT PROMPTED MY THOUGHTS:
QUOTE “We and our 800 partners process your personal data, e.g. your IP-number, using technology such as Cookies to store and access information on your device in order to serve personalised ads and content, ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You have a choice in who uses your data and for what purposes.” (As if…)
“If you allow, we would also like to:
1. Collect information about your geographical location which can be accurate to within several metres.” (Good grief!)
2. “Identify your device by actively scanning it for specific characteristics.” (Fingerprinting)
3. “Find out more about how your personal data is processed and set your preferences in the details section.” (More personal input)
4. “You can change or withdraw your consent at any time from the Cookie Declaration.” (Yep, withdraw your consent, no mention of stored details)
“We use Cookies and similar technology like Cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes essential functionality, performance and for (mainly unwanted) advertising purposes.” Question: Why, in their arrogance, are they so confident they can improve my experience?
In reality, I guess it is already too late to stop my details circumnavigating the world “for advertising purposes”. Similar to the flawed decision to allow Vaping into Australia, “Oh dear we are in a dilemma now, what can be done to fix it? Let’s throw more money at it and see what happens.” Probably nothing, just more young lives ruined by lung-corroding chemicals before the Government approves the next pleasurable yet ultimately destructive addiction.
If computer technicians, programmers, web designers, A.I. (colloquially known as Artificial Interference) and geeks-who-tinker are reading this blog post, I can sense your derision from here. And I don’t care because I am older than you and have experienced a lot more bad decisions in the world.
Ultimately human nature rules as in “Yeah, I like that,” or “Nah, I don’t like that” and the market is fickle thus you are trying to make it very appealing, very engrossing, so that you get paid for all your keyboard work. Are your fingers insured?
Therefore, my question is “Do I splather* myself around the globe?” Or do I clamp down on my details, put a tightly fitting lid on search engines, phishing, and those ubiquitous Cookies? Probably wouldn’t get much access, nor much done, because I wouldn’t be compatible or recognised, etc, which neatly supersedes the use of one’s own initiative.
Internet technology takes time to develop and test new stuff and (don’t tell them) it can be pretty hit and miss. Entertainment seems to be safe to use, after you have signed up, signed in, ticked the boxes, unticked the Not-applicable ones, fast scrolled down countless Clauses and Regulations, ticked the Declaration which state your details are safely stored, etc, etc, finally arriving at Preferences knowing they will ignore your settings anyway—every time you log in! Even WordPress has been known to drop a few blog functions.
SIDE-TRACK Don’t get me started on Goodreads, and have you read the juicy gossip about Amazon? Wired – “Scammy AI-Generated Book Rewrites Are Flooding Amazon” Kate Knibbs reports: “Authors keep finding what appear to be AI-generated imitations and summaries of their books on Amazon. There’s little they can do to rein in the rip-offs.” Real books on a real shelf in a real library– I am such a Luddite*
And what is it with this Unsubscribe Button? Apparently it is consumer law that an Unsubscribe Button should appear on emails/notices/newsletters/businesses to stop regularly unwanted stuff (spam) in your inbox. However, it sometimes takes weeks for the Unsubscribe notice to take effect. Oh, don’t tell me someone has to physically click to delete your data…
ALWAYS MORE CAN BE QUESTIONED AND QUERIED. IF AND WHEN I DECIDE, NOT WHEN I GET AN EMAIL, NOT WHEN I GET AN ALERT, NOT WHEN THE INTERNET TELLS ME IT’S FANTASTIC EVERYONE IS SAVING MONEY DOING IT, AND NEVER ME ON SOCIALS WHEN SUPPOSEDLY EVERYONE IS DOING IT, ESPECIALLY NOT THEN. GBW 2024.
Life cannot be lived backwards, but it will never revert now anyway. The downturn in skilled tradespeople is proof of that. Not enough keen young apprentices for physical job training. Sure medical research and sciences have taken a huge leap forward, but can humans live as truly independent thinkers when an artificial intelligence shares the same room?
FOR ME, DECLARING LUDDISM IS NOT A NAIVE EMOTION BUT A GENUINE STANCE ON TECHNOLOGY AND OUR ALL-ENCOMPASSING RELIANCE ON IT INSTEAD OF SEEKING THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF REAL HUMAN ADVICE FIRST.
Maybe keep looking back over your shoulder at old skills because a thinking life is fading fast. Perhaps internet safety controllers have vacated the building and a rag-tag crew is left patching the patches. (Nothing personal, guys, your brainpower got you this far). As for the rest of us, keep safe, keep deleting, query everything. Most of all, don’t let internet searches give you the wrong information, go to genuine websites in your own country. Of course, it is fun reading and writing blog (weblog abbreviation) posts and every device has a settings/close/shutdown button.
Finished scrolling? “But I like scrolling” says Person. “Of course you do. It’s designed that way.” Put down the electronic device, push away that keyboard. Grab a real book or pencil and paper to sit quietly for awhile. Challenge: Can you manage being an independent human being for half an hour?
Thought so…Gretchen pensive face emoji 😔
❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2024
*YEAR OF THE DRAGONLunar New Year begins on 10 February 2024. This marks the start of the Year of the Wood Dragon. *SPLATHER (noun): 1. : ungainly 2. : rambling. Sends a long splathering telegram. UK author J. B. Priestley(1894–1984) *LUDDITE (noun) Definition: 1. A person who is opposed to the introduction of new working methods, especially new machines. 2. Jathan Sadowski The Conversation Review“I’m a Luddite. You should be one too.” 9 August 2021.
After getting the warm-and-fuzzies thinking how lovely that children may still like to talk to Santa on a telephone, I realised how good of Telstra Australia to enabled all its 14,500 payphones nationwide to give free calls to the North Pole for a magical conversation with Santa Claus. Known elsewhere as St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Père Noël, Sinterklaas…
Quote “Find the closest payphone by searching ‘Telstra Payphone on Google Maps’, and have a chat with Father Christmas.” Chances are you will find a public phone at your local shopping centre.
It will be fun for the little ones but it will not be a true heart-to-heart chat.
This is where the stylus scratches across my virtual vinyl record.
Why? Because—“This year, Santa has another helper to make the conversation as natural as an everyday conversation: Google Cloud’s set of generative AI solutions.”
An imitation human at this time of year! I think I’ll find a real bloke in the shopping centre, sitting on a gold papier maché throne, sweating inside a red velvet Santa suit. Might even slip him an eggnog and some gingerbread during interval.
Can you be warmed by the voice or a twinkle in an AI’s eye?
They don’t even have proper eyes.
Happy holidays, Enjoy a real cool Yule! ❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2023
“Reverse Mode” means you sit in specially designed seating which flows from the choir stalls to the stage and gives you an immediate and engaging experience. This is the view performers usually see of the audience seating. The chair centre-stage (with microphone) is where the guest speaker, eminent philosopher and author Professor A.C. Grayling sat during his interview with host Dr David Burton. I took the photo and sat back for some Philosophy and Life.
“Descartes : The Life Of Rene Descartes and Its Place in His Times” by A. C. Grayling (Hardback)2005
My Goodreads review: “Been awhile since I read this book but last night I attended a talk given by Humanist A.C. Grayling, chaired by David Burton, and thought I’d put a comment on my blog. Not about his many controversial and philosophical books but about his delivery style, no doubt well-known to his students and devotees. I was fortunate to sit next to Prof Grayling’s brother John and exchanged views before the floor was opened to audience question time. What I did not tell John was that I thought Grayling spoke well and interestingly but with a sense of rote, the ingrained inflections, slightly off-topic then cleverly returning, the humorous asides and thoughtful pauses obviously well honed over many years of public speaking and international tours. All the while keeping his eye on the clock. Kudos to Prof Grayling for his resilience, composure and charming manner but somewhere along the line the spark in his fire appears to have dimmed and I was not warmed by his fine words. GBW.”
Thoughts Become Words 