On 9 June Blue Iris was launched with more than a little help from a long list of supporters. This is the third anthology from the Bangalow Writers Group – and the best yet – and the result of lots of community assistance with editing, layout, proof reading, type setting, art work and design. Award-winning local author and self-described ‘Bangalow girl’, Shirley Walker, launched the anthology with the words: “They say you can’t judge a book by its cover – but in this case you can. Both cover and contents are just fantastic!”
The launch was shared with Carolyn Adams and Richard Rombouts who have reinvented the newsagency to include a quality (and much needed) bookshop: ‘Bookworms & Papermites’. Lucky old Bangalow. The owners generously donated the proceeds of the evening’s sales of Blue Iris to the Writers Group.
It is two years since local poet Jean Ringland died. Jean, with the help of Paula Williams, set up the Bangalow Writers Group over ten years ago – a haven for budding writers to share their musings and support each other. The anthology has some of Jean’s best poems, including what is thought to be her last, written with the powerful anguish of one who knows time is running out – “I want to write”. The collection has been dedicated to her in memory of the love and guidance she gave members over the years. In addition, a special presentation was made to Paula Williams in appreciation of her magnificent effort in coordinating production of the anthology.
This anthology is testimony to the creativity that can spring from a community that unquestioningly accepts people who come together for a shared purpose. Bangalow Writers Group welcomes people of all ages, and members come from as far afield as Uki and Ballina. You don’t have to be brilliant. You just have to love writing. We hope the community enjoys the collection as much as we enjoyed creating it.
As Shirley Walker reminded us at the launch – every family has its own story, and it is never too late to start writing. Quite a few contributors to Blue Iris would say “Hear, hear” to that. With equal conviction, the young mums in the group say “and it is never too early!”.
Sandra Heilpern & Ruth Cotton. Pics: Lisa Sharpe
