Page 7 - Luce 2012

L iterature Dinner

What do you think is the greatest and being involved in activities with them,
challenge for a university student today? such as rowing. It definitely makes me feel
What advice would you give them? younger, even though I am not a lot older
than them!
Jenny: I think information explosion is
a challenge. This is not just about the How has JCH nurtured or inspired you?
information that is being discovered
even as we speak, but also the utter ease Alice: I wrote all my books here. I have
of accessibility to the new information, been very happy at JCH and that inspired
through your mobile devices, for example. me to write. Interestingly, JCH has also Literature Dinner:
I find some of the teaching done today allowed me to look at my family home
still rather archaic – we expect students from a distance. As the saying goes, Alice Pung in
to learn things like people learnt from ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’, conversation on
encyclopaedias and books decades and I was able to be more sympathetic
ago. The greatest challenge for them is towards my community when I wrote Her Father’s Daughter
to find some perspective within all that about them. I developed a greater love
information, to know what is important, for them here, away from home, than as a
and to build good foundations of young adult living at home. Our Peggy and Leslie Cranbourne Artist-
knowledge and learning. I think we should in-Residence Alice Pung was the speaker
focus more on the simple concepts and to Jenny: Let me begin with my definition of at the 2012 Literature Dinner on Her
take ‘learning for life’ as a motto. JCH students – they are confident about Father’s Daughter, her prize winning
themselves and what they want to do for
Alice: I think universities nowadays are the world, and they are also generous second novel. With her usual mixture
sometimes too focused on creating people souls. That is very much in the spirit of of warmth and clear talk, Alice allowed
for vocations. Let me illustrate this point: being at JCH. That is something I began to us to explore her family story, taking
when I was studying law, we were learning understand better when I left JCH. I think listeners through memories and stories,
how to ‘market ourselves’ from our second it is an environment that really supports binding father and daughter, from the
year onwards. I do not think that is a good you at what you do at university. The small killing fields of Cambodia to China
thing because universities are not only and close-knit community also allows you
meant to expand your horizons, but one to know everyone very well and to make and Australia. Her Father’s Daughter,
of the most important things it can do is to lifelong friends. JCH has shaped the kind awarded the 2011 WA Premier’s Prize
teach you how to be introspective – how of person I am now and I probably would for Non Fiction, has been described by
to look inside yourself and find answers. not be where I am if not for JCH. the Australian Review of Books as ‘a
So I think it is important for students to filial love song’. Alice’s father Kuan was
spend some time by themselves. This is not Finally, I would like to ask each of you
necessarily a bad thing – it is about finding something that will allow us to know a an ever gracious presence at the dinner,
the balance between socialising and taking little more about you, outside your usual inspiring and uplifting the audience with
time off to reflect quietly. profession. Jenny, what is your favourite his honesty and humility in the face of
book and why? Alice, what would you be suffering. More recently, Alice’s Monthly
Alice, you first came to JCH as a tutor, if you were not a writer or lawyer? article ‘The secret life of them: What
and you are currently the Artist-in-
Residence. Jenny, you began as a resident Jenny: My favourite book is The Power of it takes to shift class in Australia’ has
student and you are now a tutor in One by Bryce Courtenay, an Australian received international attention through
Medicine. Can you tell us how your writer who recently passed way. It is about the Shortlist Daily.
relationship with JCH has evolved through a South African boy who is ostracised by
the years? society, but who eventually rises up from
his circumstances to become a world
Alice: I have been associated with JCH champion boxer. I read this book when
since I was twenty three, and that was I was 12 and became taken by its very
nine years ago! When I came here initially, affirming message.
it was the first time I had moved out of
home. I remember the moment I set foot Alice: I would love to make stuffed toys!
in JCH – I told myself that I want to stay I have always wanted to start this unique
here as long as I can. It was the place business where people would bring their
where I first had a room of my own, to use favourite toys – their dolls and teddy bears
with eyes falling out, and I would fix them.
a phrase from Virginia Woolf. This place
In Conversation
It is like a doll’s hospital. But unfortunately,
has always been home to me, and you can
someone has already beaten me to it!
also say that I came into adulthood here.
And I also met my fiancé, Nick, here at
JCH!
Jenny: Coming from Sydney, JCH has
always been my second home ever since
I commenced my studies. Now, as a
working professional, I still find College a
nice refuge. I love chatting to the students,

J anet Clarke Hall 7