Page 7 - Luce 2013

L iterature Dinner

Dr Michael Davies with guest of honour
Alex Miller and Xavier Cadorel
Journey to the

Stone Country
A Port Fairy connection: Julia Hastings, Dr Anna Goldsworthy, and Joshua Hooke
with Alex Miller
Janet Clarke Hall featured prominently at the 2013 Port Fairy Spring Music Festival.
Director and Kenneth Moore Memorial Music Scholar Dr Anna Goldsworthy is As one of Australia’s most distinguished
shown here at the launch with our Resident Tutor in Music Julia Hastings, and Vera and sought after authors, it was a happy
Moore Scholar Joshua Hooke. Both Julia and Josh played in the Festival to enthusiastic coincidence for the College that Alex
audiences as part of the emerging performers section. In November Julia featured on Miller has ties to the College through his
3MBS Radio’s ‘The Talent’. The programme showcases ‘up and coming’ musicians and
ensembles by giving them each a half hour segment to perform and be part of a panel nephew, Rob de Gille, our 2013
discussion following the performance. A.F. Bage Scholar and Student Club
Treasurer. Thus it was that Alex joined
us to discuss his remarkable book
Journey to the Stone Country, winner
of the 2003 Miles Franklin Literary
Award among many others. While
the novel raises deep questions about
the interplay of race, belief, culture
and identity, Mr Miller’s sometimes
disarming candour about the events
which led him to write the book gave
the audience remarkable access to
how great books are written, and
great stories are told. As in the story
of Annabelle Beck and Bo Rennie,
surprising connections between
In July the College was honoured by a visit from Governor-General, Her Excellency Melbourne and North Queensland
Quentin Bryce who met with the Principal, and shared anecdotes with delighted came out during the evening, inspiring
students about her time as Principal of Women’s College in the University of Sydney. further discussion. Andrea Stretton has
Her Excellency is pictured with the Principal, Vice-Principal, Student Club President written of Miller that his ‘fiction has
Jacky Oulton and Vice-President Laura Main. a mystifying power… his footsteps –
softly, deftly, steadily – take you places
Facelift you may not have been, and their sound
The Betty Wilmot Room has resonates for a
received an extensive facelift, long time’. We
and has quickly become were fortunate
a favourite study room for indeed to
students while doubling as have had a
a Council meeting room. fascinating
Along with the new fireplace
and display of the finial, the journey with
room has benefited from Alex Miller
the donation of a wonderful over a superb
watercolor by alumna Mary evening.
Newsome (Reynolds 1954)
who painted the image
from her bedroom window
while living in residence as
a seventeen year old. Mary’s Principal, Miss Bagnall, had offered the Principal’s guest
room as the last available room in College – suggesting that demand for places was as
high then as now.

J anet Clarke Hall 7