Freda and Me: The Birth of CAAMA, Imparja and Indigenous media in Australia

By Philip Batty In this extract from our new book Kin, a co-founder of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), Philip Batty, recalls its roots, and the integral role of fellow co-founder Freda Glynn. CAAMA went on to operate Australia's only Aboriginal-owned satellite television service, Imparja Television, and trained a generation of young Indigenous people who went on to form the nucleus of today’s Indigenous media culture in Australia. * * * (above, From Left: John Macumba, FReda Glynn,…

Antarctic Ideas: Hot Reads for Cold Nights

A good book is, in many ways, like a good conversation. It engages with ideas in a way that leaves you energised, knowing more than you did when you began – but still thinking and questioning. Maybe that’s why we at Wakefield feel a special affinity with the Adelaide Festival of Ideas. In the lead-up to the full festival program announcement in a few weeks, we’re remembering an event from this time last year that…

New Release: The Day They Shot Edward

Wendy Scarfe's second novel, The Day They Shot Edward, tells a tale of a family in turmoil, set against the political mess of the First World War. Told from the perspective of a nine-year-old Matthew, the narration has an air of innocence, making the horrors of what is to come all the more confronting. About the book: It is 1916. The Australian community is riven over a referendum to conscript more troops for the killing fields of Europe.…

Fifty – Australian Dance Theatre

It’s difficult to know how to begin talking about a book as beautiful as this. Tracing Australian Dance Theatre’s often tumultuous and always interesting fifty-year history, Fifty contains interviews, archival research, and stunning photography. Did you think I was exaggerating? Read an excerpt below, or find out more about the book here. The beginnings of Australian Dance Theatre were radical, daring and new. The company was created in Adelaide, South Australia in 1965 with a vision to…

And the winner is...

We had so many wonderful entries for our January newsletter's Summer Rose Giveaway, thank you all for taking the time to send us your beautiful roses. We all agreed, however, that the $250 Wakefield Press voucher should go to Ray Tyndale who sent in this lyrical, floral poem: Maud scant apologies to Tennyson! Come my poppy Fling open your flaming petals Give to me your black heart. Come my pansy Toss back your knowing…

101 Nights: The story behind a war classic

Music writer, bookseller and history buff Robert Brokenmouth paints a picture of the man and the circumstance behind the classic war novel, 101 Nights by Ray Ollis. The night [was] whirling about them, tossing them easily on its powerful way… Their throttles were open now, straining against the storm. Hyde checked his petrol, checked his watch, and cast a troubled glance over his shoulder looking for the dawn. If this weather strengthened, the day might…

An ode to Myponga Beach

In our September newsletter, we ran a giveaway for Ivor Hele and asked entrants to tell us about their favourite holiday destination. We just had to share this amazing response sprinkled with historic family photos from our prize winner, Meg. A place where I have spent many wonderful holidays is Myponga Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula. It’s a beautiful blend of rural ‘Southern Mount Lofty’ landscapes along with a crescent bay which can be so…

Geoff Goodfellow Hamming It Up

There's nothing quite like hearing a writer read their own words, especially those who are really damn good at it – and Geoff Goodfellow is really damn good at it. Need proof? Check out this video of him reading a short piece called 'Hamming It Up' --