Presidents News – October 2011
By Jeannie Barker
Greeting fellow writers
This is my last post as President and as such it includes a copy of my report from the AGM (below) and a few words on our recent Literary Luncheon.
Guest speaker Tony Cavanaugh with GCWA Patron Kay Danes
2011 Literary Luncheon
The Literary Luncheon was a fabulous success with 62 people enjoying a delightful meal supplied by the excellent catering staff at the Colonial Golf Course. Our guest speaker, Tony Cavanaugh, entertained, amused and entranced the audience with his stories of how he entered the world of script editing, then script writing, and most recently embracing novel writing. As always, I could have listened to him talk for hours – a fascinating storyteller with amazing life experiences.
A huge thank you goes to all our guest authors: Michael Gerard Bauer, Jesse Blackadder, Tony Cavanaugh, Kay Danes, Belinda Jeffrey, Marianne de Pierres, Kev C Webb and Charmaine Wilson who made the event such a delightful experience for all.
Left to right: Tony Cavanaugh, Kay Danes, Charmaine Wilson, Michael Gerard Bauer, Marianne de Pierres, Belinda Jeffrey and Kev C Webb.
A special thank you goes to Love That Book for providing the book sales for our guest authors; the Gold Coast Pops Orchestra for providing a quartet to entertain us; and Goldsteins Bakery for the delicious cake we shared for dessert.
Thank you to all our sponsors whose support enabled us to give away 47 prizes in lucky door and raffle prizes, with a total value of approximately $3,440: Artscape Gold Coast, David Astle, Jeannie Barker, Bookseller+Publisher, Digital Print Australia, Gold Coast Bulletin, Goldsteins Bakery, Darryl Greer, Angelika Heurich, Michael J Hooper, Javeenbah Theatre Company, Kylee Legge – The Publishing Queen, Love That Book, Jaqueline Lunne, Marion Martineer, Lyne Marshall, Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra & Gold Coast Pops Orchestra, Chris Nyst, Officeworks West Burleigh, Pan Macmillan Australia, Kerrie Phipps, Jill Smith, Joan Songaila, The Arts Centre, Tips ‘n’ Toes by Julie and Vacen Taylor.
A special thank you to our patron, Kay Danes, for sharing a little of her experience and encouraging us all to continue writing.
GCWA cake supplied by Goldsteins Bakery
Thank you also to Helga Glinatsis for creating the lovely flower arrangement that was presented to me as a thank you for the luncheon and my past two years as president.
Photos from the event can be viewed on the GCWA website and our Facebook page. Thank you to all those members who have shared their snapshots with us: Angelica Heurich, Christina Jablonksi, Marion Martineer, Kate Russell, Jill Smith and Donna Mroz Turcic. If you haven’t sent yours in yet, please email them to the webmaster@goldcoastwriters.org.au.
President’s AGM Report
I can’t believe I am standing here at the end of my second year as President of the association. The year has flown by so quickly that it seems I was only finishing my first year just a few months ago.
I’d like to briefly reflect on the events and achievements of the association over the past year.
We have had a wealth of guest speakers share their knowledge with us:
- Stephanie Dale inspired us with her determination to self-publish and self-promote her book;
- Kerry Whitney talked about children’s literacy;
- Kerry Brown shared her adventures in publishing;
- Tiffany Bond spiced up the meeting with her tales of infidelity and danger;
- Dave Farrer shared the magic of Banjo Patterson’s classic poetry recited live from memory;
- Angela Sunde explained how important it is to grab your reader’s attention with your first sentence and first paragraph;
- and Katherine Howell shared techniques for building suspense in a novel.
We were fortunate to be able to present several exciting workshops for members, with presenters Deborah Carlyon, Kathy Stewart and Leo Petrik providing inspiration and advice on topics ranging from creative writing, characterisation and publishing.
We have presented three competitions this year, a children’s writing competition, the adult writing competition with the winners to be announced at the Literary Luncheon next week and our exclusive members only Christmas competition running until the end of November. Which I hope you will all enter!
I would like to thank the committee members I have shared this past year with: Angelika Heurich, Elena Ornig, Gavin Fisher, Christina Jablonksi, Marion Martineer, Ceresse Gardner, Helga Glinatsis, Ceresse Gardner, Caren Sattler, Darryl Greer, Gloria Swan, Gary Ivory and Di Morris.
Their support, enthusiasm, and genuine commitment to the goals of the association have been both inspiring and heart warming. Please join me in a round of applause for the committee.
I’d also like to make special mention of Donna Mroz Turcic’s contribution to the association this year. Donna is not officially on the committee but she just can’t seem to stop herself from pitching in with ideas, assistance with marketing and even sourcing sponsors for our Literary Luncheon. Thank you Donna for constantly supporting and promoting the association.
I’d like to also thank you all – the members of the association who have made the past two years such an interesting and challenging experience. Without the members involvement – attendance at meetings, participation in workshops, presentation of books, sharing of knowledge and ideas… there would be no reason to strive to achieve more for the association as a whole.
Lastly, I would like to announce that we now have a second patron, Kay Danes.
Kay Danes is the author of three bestselling books: Families Behind Bars, Standing Ground and Beneath the Pale Blue Burqa.
Kay is also a highly sought after inspirational speaker on international humanitarian issues and social justice. She has spoken at thousands of high profile corporate events, major charitable fundraisers, seminars and business conferences, and has addressed several U.S. Congressional forums and the US National Press Club.
Kay Danes will be attending our Literary Luncheon next week as one of our guest authors. It will be a great opportunity to meet and chat with her.
I hope you will all join me in welcoming our new president, Julie Boyd.
I am looking forward to seeing you all at future meetings and continuing to work on the committee as Vice President and Webmaster.
