Ellen van Neerven: ASAL Patrons Lecture

Booranga writer-in-residence for July, Ellen van Neerven, spent a week at Booranga to focus on her writing; conduct a writing workshop for Booranga members and friends; and to deliver the ASAL Patrons Lecture at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. Ellen also attended the NAIDOC Week Celebrations at CSU Wagga during her stay.

An appreciative audience of approximately 40 people braved the cold Wagga Wagga winter evening and were rewarded with a wonderful lecture which complimented the 2018 NAIDOC Week theme Because of her, we can! A further 60 people watched the live-stream of Ellen's lecture and to date there have been over 140 views of the video.

                                                  Ellen van Neerven                       photo: James Farley

If you were unable to attend the Lecture, the video is available online 

Ellen van Neerven Lecture

Ellen van Neerven: Very present

"Ellen van Neerven's ASAL patrons lecture coincided with NAIDOC week, whose 2018 theme was Because of her, we can!  Strongly informed by this theme, Ellen devoted much of her talk to people who have been leaders and enablers for her and for others - her mother, Elders and particularly Oodgeroo Noonuccal, the activist, teacher, artist and poet.

Ellen spoke to us in a very present way, placing each word in the moment which arrived for it, and respectfully considering each thought. While she touched various topics - excluded voices in literature and education, deep climate expertise, the waves and sand around Moongalba - the keynote was continuity and connection: ancestors and knowledge present in people and country today, the slice of colonisation sitting in the long stretch of history, and young writers listening and walking where Aunties have stood." — Cassily Charles 

                                                                  Lachlan Brown and Ellen van Neerven                                Photo: James Farley

Booranga members with Ellen van Neerven
                  L to R: Maurice Corlett,  Lachlan Brown, Ellen van Neerven,Kathryn Halliwell, Claire Baker, David Gilbey                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Photo: James Farley 

Booranga Writers' Centre greatly appreciates the support from the following organisations for making this event possible.

This event was funded by the Copyright Agency through the Association for the Study of Australian Literature (ASAL)

Booranga Writers' Centre is supported by the  NSW Government through Create NSW.

Booranga Writers' Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial and in-kind support provided by Create NSW, Wagga Wagga City Council and Charles Sturt University.

Booranga Writers' Centre is supported by the  NSW Government through Create NSW.

Booranga Writers' Centre is supported by the  NSW Government through Create NSW.

Booranga Writers' Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial and in-kind support provided by Create NSW, Wagga Wagga City Council and Charles Sturt University.

Booranga Writers' Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial and in-kind support provided by Create NSW, Wagga Wagga City Council and Charles Sturt University.