Page 29 - Luce 2021

S enior C o mmon Ro om

Literary

events
and

lockdowns

The 2021 academic year began in
relative COVID-calm. I was delighted
to confirm two literary events with our
beloved Artist-in-Residence, Alice Pung.
A distinguished writer, editor, lawyer,
wife, and mother of three, Alice graces
the halls of Janet Clarke Hall, leaving
a trail of kind words and encouraging
conversations in her wake, making one
wonder how she manages so adeptly –
shades of Allison Pearson’s 2002 novel,
I Don’t Know How She Does It !

Our first event held face-to-face in
March, was, in fact, to better understand
how this busy mother and prodigious
writer hones her craft. Interviewed
by JCH students, Bec Carra and Amy
Wortmann, we learned more about
Alice’s writerly life, the discipline with
which she approaches her writing, and
the ideas and insights that feed her story
writing and character development. It
was particularly gratifying to learn that
Alice finds her casual conversations with
JCH students within the College to be a
source of inspiration. The purpose of this
evening was, in large measure, to foster
confidence in our students as they write
for their courses and for life.

The second event was held on Zoom in
September and was hosted once more by
Student Library Assistant, Bec Carra. Bec A rose in any generation
guided our book discussion of Alice’s
latest novel, One Hundred Days, all the While some College ‘traditions’ have In 2021, as the College responded
while engaging Alice in conversation surprisingly recent origins, the tradition to COVID restrictions, conditions
which gave rise to some interesting of the College rose flows through the required a ‘contactless’ offering as
insights into the author and her work. history of Janet Clarke Hall. the Principal presented a rose via
The novel is a literary exploration Zoom to our Senior Student, Eve
of a complicated mother-daughter In her Recollections of Janet Clarke Gray, wishing the entire Student
relationship. It is written poetically Hall, long-serving Principal Miss Enid Club good luck for examinations on
(with deference to Walt Whitman) and Joske (1928-1952) reflects that, as the behalf of all staff. As in Miss Joske’s
with obvious care for each word and garden was built up after construction time, this rose was grown on the
sentence that builds the story of teenager, of the Manifold (1927) and Traill (1930) College grounds.
Karuna, who must navigate issues of wings, the rear courtyard ‘became
race, class, and motherhood. Students green and pleasant’ with ‘good The recent gift of a number of
and staff were offered a free copy of roses and other flowers’. It became a superbly scented roses from Mr
this ‘fractured fairytale’ in advance of personal passion for her. She writes: Andrew Marks now adorns the
the book discussion and with a view to ‘I found it intensely interesting to have front courtyard, together with his
creating a community of readers within a garden to build up... [with] a rose for additional gift of three sofas which
the College. Both of these literary events every occasion I felt something had now grace the Bage Common Room
were welcome and timely given the been achieved. It had become a sort of and which the students consider to
various Melbourne lockdowns. tradition for every student to have be ‘luxurious’.
a rose for her first examination for
Cindy Derrenbacker the year.’
College Librarian & Records Officer

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