Readers, Writers, Publishers

That’s the name of this year’s Australian Academy of the Humanities Annual Symposium, which will take place at Victoria University’s city campus on November 13 and 14. Peter Porter (back in Australia for several months) will deliver the keynote speech, titled ‘Who Owns the Words We Use?’ Inga Clendinnen will deliver the AAH’s Annual Lecture (‘Backstage at the Republic of Letters’). Other speakers will include Guy Rundle, Morag Fraser, Peter Craven and Peter Rose, Editor of ABR. This symposium is open to the public, not just Academicians. For more details, phone (02) 6125 9860 or go to www.humanities.org.au.

The 2004 Marten Bequests

Each year, due to the largesse of the late John Chisholm Marten, Permanent Trustees distribute $108,000 in travelling scholarships for writers and artists aged between twenty-one and thirty-five. Poetry and prose are two of next year’s six available categories. Each scholarship is worth $18,000. For further information call (02) 9332 1559 or go to www.trust.com.au. Entries close on October 31.

National Biography Award

This award, intended to encourage the highest standards of writing in biography and autobiography and to promote public interest in these genres, is now an annual affair. The State Library of New South Wales administers and presents the award on behalf of the benefactor Dr Geoffrey Cains. The winner will receive $15,000. Entries close on October 24. Phone (02) 9273 1766 or go to www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards.

Off to Dromkeen

‘Feasting from Books’, a celebration of books about food, will be held at the Dromkeen Art Gallery on Sunday,  October 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Head off to this BYO picnic and meet a range of authors and illustrators. Bookings are essential:(03) 5428 6799.

Melbourne Events

Reader’s Feast offers an eclectic programme of events in October. Speakers will include Gabrielle Lord (October 7), whose new novel, Lethal Factor, is reviewed in this issue, Gregory David Roberts (October 15) and Inga Clendinnen (October 23), who will be discussing her new book, Dancing with Strangers. These events start at 6.30 p.m. and cost $6. To book, either phone (03) 9662 4699 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Colin Roderick Award

Don Watson has won this award for his book Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: A Portrait of Paul Keating PM. The other short-listed titles were Robert Jordan’s The Convict Theatres of Early Australia 1788–1840, Anthony Lawrence’s Skinned by Light, Tim Low’s The New Nature, Mark McKenna’s Looking for Blackfellas’ Point and Alex Miller’s Journey to the Stone Country.

The Tyranny of Distance

The old adage was alive and feral last month, as some subscribers discovered. The September issue left our mailing house on August 29, as usual. Some people in Melbourne and Sydney received their copies on September 2, which is as it should be. Elsewhere, delivery was woefully slow, particularly in Adelaide (and the Dandenongs!), where copies were still arriving one week later. As you can imagine, we spoke to our friends at Australia Post and sought an explanation. A spokesman told us that new software at the Dandenong Mail Centre had delayed many deliveries, not just ours. He asked us to keep them posted, so to speak. Please keep those cover sheets coming in when you receive this issue.

Back to the Future

ABR always welcomes comments and criticisms from readers. A few subscribers have suggested that it would be good to see a range of reviews from back issues – an excellent idea. This month, on page 64, we introduce ‘First Word’, in which we will feature major reissues and the original ABR reviews. There’s no shortage of candidates; we now have 255 issues to raid. First up is Alister Kershaw on Michael Heyward’s The Ern Malley Affair, first published ten years ago by UQP and reissued by Random House to coincide with Peter Carey’s reimagining of the phantom poet’s life. Meanwhile, the order form, special offer and bestseller lists have moved to page 63.

A Lunch Invitation

Because we are interested in our readers’ assessments of the magazine, ABR plans to host a series of informal lunches at our office in Melbourne. This will give you an opportunity to see how we put the magazine together, to learn about imminent features and events, and to table your own suggestions with the Editor and others associated with the magazine. But we’re inviting you to a convivial lunch, not a focus group! The first of these gatherings is planned for Thursday, October 30, at one p.m. We have room for six guests (subscribers only, please). To reserve a place, ring (03) 9429 6700.