The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams points to the power of certain groups who controlled what was included or excluded in the compilation of the Oxford Dictionary. The book is a novel but is well researched. The focus on gender equality, or lack of it, is fascinating. Word usage changes with time. GenerationalContinue reading “Jean Stewart: That One Word”
Category Archives: Commentary
Edie Eicas: Dangerous Weapons
It’s a beautiful day, and I’m parked at the Torrens Parade Ground waiting to pick up my Japanese student and her friends to take them to a party. I’m early and I’ve opened my windows to enjoy the warm breeze. Spring has sprung, the lawn is green, the trees are flush with new growth, andContinue reading “Edie Eicas: Dangerous Weapons”
Jean Stewart: Bush Telegraph
The other day a neighbour fronted me. ‘Do you know who the new family is in our street?’ ‘Haven’t a clue,’ I replied. ‘Members of the Moran family. Remember Melbourne’s gangland Underbelly killings?’ I vaguely recalled the incidents. My neighbour persevered. ‘Trish Moran has moved in with her sons and their kids. One is wearingContinue reading “Jean Stewart: Bush Telegraph”
Jean Stewart: Of Mice and Women
We have looked after my sister’s Melbourne home many times while they have been overseas. A crucial part of this house-sitting has been Maddie the cat. Loved by all—nervy, contrary, needing much attention some of the time, not at all at others—Maddie was an innate hunter. Intermittently she would bring a mouse inside after herContinue reading “Jean Stewart: Of Mice and Women”
Nell Holland: The Watchers
Everyone watches. But who really sees? Two women animatedly talk about their charity shop purchases as they walk towards the café. Buoyed with the delight of the bargains contained in the bags swinging from their hands, they’re looking forward to sitting down. Their gossip and laughter last as long as the coffee and sugary cakesContinue reading “Nell Holland: The Watchers”
Nell Holland: We Are One Aren’t We?
In Australia, we are bombarded by folk telling us about all the wrongs committed by previous generations, for which we must apologise. Well, I haven’t heard any apologies from the people of Rome about their invasion and take-over of my homeland in AD 43, when they took some Britons as slaves. Or even from theContinue reading “Nell Holland: We Are One Aren’t We?”
David Hope: E-Book or Hard Copy
Many of my friends and, I suspect, some among you, express a marked antipathy towards eBooks. Their most frequent expressions in the discussion are: ‘I like the touch and feel of a physical book.’ ‘I like to turn the pages.’ ‘I like the smell of a book, especially a new one.’ ‘I love to beContinue reading “David Hope: E-Book or Hard Copy”
Don Sinnott: A Tale of Three Couples—Saturday arvo flicks, late 1950s
He wore his school pants—the only pair of longs he owned—and she wore her fourteenth birthday dress, a less comfortable fit than it was a year ago. They slid into their ticketed seats for the Saturday afternoon film, the girl clutching the gifted box of Jaffas, and self-consciously linked hands. As the Val MorganContinue reading “Don Sinnott: A Tale of Three Couples—Saturday arvo flicks, late 1950s”
Fran Collins: An Invitation
Sitting in a café in Broome in the monsoonal heat of the Kimberley, I struck up a conversation with an American woman. She introduced me to an unconventional way of living. ‘How would I like to volunteer on a station out of Derby in an exciting new enterprise? It’s a unique project. It uses ecology-basedContinue reading “Fran Collins: An Invitation”
Robert Schmidt: The long, long, long weekend
Last Friday afternoon I needed to contact Helping Hand to stop a contractor coming on Wednesday afternoon 6th October to deliver tall boys and tables and collecting our old ones. I wanted to reschedule. Wednesdays I go on my Heart Foundation walk and once a month to an important lunch at the Glynde Hotel withContinue reading “Robert Schmidt: The long, long, long weekend”
Edie Eicas: AI, Artificial Intelligence
I wasn’t sure why they asked me to do a psychology test before I bought that new fangled high-end, super-dooper fridge with voice activation, and the ability to predict what I needed. But, I was impressed by the salesman who sold the thing to me. Well, more than impressed. He was good. He worked meContinue reading “Edie Eicas: AI, Artificial Intelligence”
Georgette Gerdes: Dances with Covid
lockdown appliances are friends I can hear the chatter Auntie ABC in the kitchen PK, Phillip and Norman Swann information updates doomsday whirring, twirling spinning sheets splashing, whooshing dirty plates cars drive by humming in tune LG – nascence of expanding waistlines bathed in fluorescent light yogurt, milk and mouldy left overs the main eventContinue reading “Georgette Gerdes: Dances with Covid”
Robert Schmidt: The Friendly Reminder
Normally I pay my bills on the day I receive an account. I have a perfect credit rating. My wife and I have a Home Care package from the government, which pays for certain work in our house. Mind you, not $10,000 for a fancy bed for my wife that we were talked into buyingContinue reading “Robert Schmidt: The Friendly Reminder”
Edie Eicas: Chelsea Troubadours
Black boys walk the sunny streets sub-culture’s clothes black and white t-shirts and tight jogging pants, sneakers on trend, a motza’s worth, stylish hair: boy braids, cornrows, top knots creativity announces identity. A mob loud, demands space, leaves white walkers paranoid; distance divides as wary white faces look over shoulders, stop. A gang, it’s London’sContinue reading “Edie Eicas: Chelsea Troubadours”
Georgette Gerdes: Island Life
caught she wants to fly far, across the horizon to the island the island of safety hurt no more the logs flatten on fractured wings struggling in dirt pain, hot scorching beak open no sound gagged by distress gasping struggling to survive squashed helpless, ignored, discarded expendable but the Island is beautiful soft breezes turquoiseContinue reading “Georgette Gerdes: Island Life”
Rossana Mora: Numbers
The Fields is the name of the nursing home that lies in the middle of the one of the nicest suburbs in Adelaide. Almost 80 percent of the residents are women, the oldest being 103 years old. They live within the four areas that are named after grains: oats, rice, barley and rye. Rye isContinue reading “Rossana Mora: Numbers”
Robert Schmidt: Remember Me
I was sharing a pot of tea with my wife Jane at the Utzi Cafe in the Burnside Village ̶ next thing a former friend, well I think I’ll call him that, from my evenings at the Wildwood Gallery in Grenfell Street, comes up to the table. Wildwood Gallery had art on display but wasContinue reading “Robert Schmidt: Remember Me”
Fran Collins: Lost In Translation
‘I promise you it won’t be difficult or dangerous, really Fran.’ A simple request of deep friendship from my friend, Sinead. Belfast, 1973, a city besieged, with search checkpoints located strategically at turnstiles at the entrances to the CBD. Skeletal remains of buildings partially blown away, walls plastered with graffiti, evidence of a city atContinue reading “Fran Collins: Lost In Translation”
Anne McKenzie: On The Bus
‘The Department is a bus about to set out on a long journey, and I’m driving’, says our new Chief Executive Officer. We’re at mandatory leadership training for Supervisors and Managers—for middle management. She’s been with us for about two weeks and this is the first time we’ve met her. ‘Let me put this simply’,Continue reading “Anne McKenzie: On The Bus”
Nell Holland – The Book Launch
She was dressed completely in black leather. Black blouse open at the neck and a short, tight jacket straining at the bust. An equally tight mini skirt struggled to control her stomach, and the spike-heeled boots were thigh high. From behind, she appeared a young woman with red tresses falling below her shoulders. Then sheContinue reading “Nell Holland – The Book Launch”
Sharon Apold: Dance with Dad
Beneath my hand I feel your shoulder bone Your smile is broad, careless, sweet I’m reminded of home Your step is neat Under my feet the floor feels grounding Your joy is open, blatant, obvious I’m almost crying Your dance oblivious Around my waist your arm holds tight Your eyes shine bright, clear, pale I’mContinue reading “Sharon Apold: Dance with Dad”
Georgette Gerdes: I’ve A Bone To Pick With You
It lies on the grass grisly and grainy; fat pokes out between the brittle maze of calcium castles, tufts of red flesh glistening, beckon a salivating dude, the main man. Sammy. He waits, alert, primed for action. ‘Sit, stay.’ He sits. He stays. The seconds are like minutes, are like hours, like an eternity. ‘GoContinue reading “Georgette Gerdes: I’ve A Bone To Pick With You”
Robert Schmidt: Last Cab Off the Rank
I saw my urologist, Dr Wells, late on the day of my horrible flow test. ’You still have 800mls in your bladder,’ he informs me. ‘If I were you, I’d be rolling around on the floor.’ Charming, I think. Surgery was set for the 12th September. Admission at 5.00pm? Everyone says to me the surgeryContinue reading “Robert Schmidt: Last Cab Off the Rank”
Robert Schmidt: The COVID-19 Adventure – Part 2
On Monday evening arrive home from the Royal Adelaide Hospital by taxi with our masks on. Take mine off in a hurry. ‘Going to be a long seventy-two hours Jane,’ I sigh. Suspend walking with my friends and social activities. No one can actually come inside our home. Self isolation you know. Fortunately we haveContinue reading “Robert Schmidt: The COVID-19 Adventure – Part 2”
Robert Schmidt: The COVID-19 Adventure – Part 1
My wife Jane has been feeling unwell for a few weeks. Her symptoms became flu-like in recent days. We both have had our vaccinations. Her doctor yesterday suggested she have a COVID-19 test. ‘I’ll get the results almost instantly,’ she says to me. We decide to get a taxi to the Royal Adelaide Hospital straightaway.Continue reading “Robert Schmidt: The COVID-19 Adventure – Part 1”
Robert Schmidt: Your Call Is Important To Us
Recently I was required to have a blood test. I have several questions to ask over the phone before having it. There is a 1300 number you can ring. I dial the number. It rings a while, and then a recorded message cuts in, ‘Your call is important to us. We will be with youContinue reading “Robert Schmidt: Your Call Is Important To Us”
Georgette Gerdes: The Culprit (Plumbers’ Dream cont.)
He stands proudly, gnarled, twisted, whispering in the breeze. He’s been here for one hundred years or more. He’s steadfast, strong and rather unattractive. My late mother would say how much she hated him. His red needles would drop all over her grass and the brick patio. Annoying sweepings required. He extends and thrives. HisContinue reading “Georgette Gerdes: The Culprit (Plumbers’ Dream cont.)”
Don Sinnott: Zooming the Branch Committee
The ‘old-timers’ had memories of smoke-filled rooms, with big-bellied men, shirts dishevelled and slackened ties askew, shouting over each other as they jabbed the air making their point. Clay had no experience of that era but, even in the more civil times in which he had joined the local branch committee, he’d known some roughContinue reading “Don Sinnott: Zooming the Branch Committee”
Lawrie Stanford: It’s the Spoof!
To the Editor, Guns USA Magazine; from Chuck (‘Spoof’) Gunn-Smith Jnr I am a proud Amerigun, and carry firearms just for fun. To shoot them little critters and keep them on the run. I wanna be like my ol’ Pa, so he’s proud of his first son. He’s a good up-standing man, a gun-totin’Continue reading “Lawrie Stanford: It’s the Spoof!”
David Hope: Clichés
We are counselled to avoid the use of clichés in our writing, mainly because clichés are overused pieces of language that have lost any freshness of meaning, sometimes to the point of futility; they detract rather than add to the written word. That injunction led me to muse on why we use clichés in ourContinue reading “David Hope: Clichés”
Lawrie Stanford: I’m a Corona-Conspiracy Theorist
Sitting at my desk this afternoon it became clear where the coronavirus came from. As my vacant gaze drifted across the desk, the design on a box of tissues forced itself into my consciousness. The origin of the coronavirus was revealed! It was in fact trumpeted by the perpetrators—Kimberly Clark the producers of Kleenex tissues! Continue reading “Lawrie Stanford: I’m a Corona-Conspiracy Theorist”
Don Sinnott: COVID Daze
Dan wasn’t a party a party animal. Never an expert in small talk, at social gatherings he either kept to himself or found a soulmate for a one-on-one chat. At work he was more attuned to planning business strategies in his own headspace than to the interactive ‘brain-storming’ sessions his management periodically called. His firmContinue reading “Don Sinnott: COVID Daze”
Lawrie Stanford: Stranger Danger
The officer was polite but firm while her male companion had a look that was more firm than polite. The female officer was the first to speak. ‘Sir, you’ve heard of stranger-danger, haven’t you?’ Earlier, I arrived home late from work, a little before 7pm. As I walked through the front door, I could hearContinue reading “Lawrie Stanford: Stranger Danger”
Georgette Gerdes: Plumbers’ Dream
The effluent was overflowing. Black sludge in the basin of the outside tap. Congealed, gritty and pungent. The plumbers’ dream. Rivers of black trickled from outlets. Sinks bubbled. Water pooled and slowly drained from showers and poos came back up decrepit toilet pans. I need new pipes! He comes six monthly to unblock. Heavy metalContinue reading “Georgette Gerdes: Plumbers’ Dream”
Maarten van de Loo: Deaf sentence
Listen how this fellow, getting older thought he would never be in strife. Fit and strong and a little bolder, having posted the decades up to five, he couldn’t hear his wife. ‘What is the matter now with you? listen!’ ‘Yes, I do, if you play too!’ ‘Ayeeeeh! What d’ya saaay?’ that’s the cry theContinue reading “Maarten van de Loo: Deaf sentence”
Burnside Writers Group 