Writers’ group gathers expertise Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au A WRITERS’ group in Mordialloc has celebrated 20 years battling the dreaded blank page and has released an anthology about the City of Kingston to commemorate the triumph of the pen over the page. The Mordialloc Writers’ Group founder Mairi Neil said the new book, called Kingston My City, aptly features 20 stories by 20 stories about how people feel about the city, “an amalgamation of suburbs”, they live in. Looking back at the group’s beginnings in 1995, Ms Neil said she it was her late husband John who encouraged her to pursue her dream of writing when the couple moved to Mordialloc. “I’ve always been a writer and I love reading. I was brought up reading Robert Louis Stevenson and Enid Blyton, all of those books, and I’ve always liked writing stories,” she said. “I was very involved in the women’s movement and worked for the second woman’s refuge in Victoria at Maroondah Halfway House and wrote a few articles for my mother’s church magazine to get money and also explain why these women had left home.” Writers have come and gone to group meetings over the years but the 62-year-old says several long-term members have found a get-together with fellow storytellers to be beneficial. “You are mixing with people who have a similar love of writing as you so there’s support and understanding there. “You can learn a lot. You meet people who are writing in different genres and at different stages and you get
The write stuff: Mordialloc Writers’ Group member Barbara Davies, left, and founder Mairi Neil with a copy of an anthology published to celebrate the group’s 20th anniversary. Picture: Gary Sissons
positive feedback to help you on your writing journey.” Ms Neil likes to write poetry and short stories and writers in the group cover everything from humorous travel writing to slam poetry. One of the goals of the Mordialloc Writers’ Group is giving everyone who joins the chance to be a published writer as evidenced by the eight anthologies of short stories the group has previously published. “Traditional publishing is only for the elite now. Everything is marketing,” Ms Neil said. Feedback from readers who have bought the group’s books has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Most writers want to see their name in print. It’s not an ego thing but it’s really nice to have a finished product,” Ms Neil said. As for the writing future, new Mordialloc Writers’ Group members are always welcome and Ms Neil has a couple of projects on the go. “I’ve got a novel begging to be finished and a novel based on family history I’m halfway through.” nThe Mordialloc Writers’ Group meets at Mordialloc Neighbourhood House, 457 Main St, Mordialloc. Tuesday workshops, 8pm. See mordiwriters. wordpress.com or call Mairi Neil on 0403 900 585 for further information.
Police patrol
Audi smashed and grabbed
the back fence. Anyone with information should call Moorabbin police, 9556 6565.
A $250,000 black Audi R8 sports sedan was stolen from the garage of a house in Coleman Rd, Aspendale, 10pm, Friday 20 November. A neighbour was alerted by a “loud bang” and then heard the distinctive engine sound of the high-priced import. He ran outside to see the garage door extensively damaged and the car being driven off towards Nepean Hwy. The car was damaged by the thieves who rammed it into the roller door to force their way out of the garage. Tyre marks were found in Coleman Lane. The remote-control device was later found unused on the garage floor. Police said the thieves had earlier broken into the owner’s car parked in Albert Park and stolen his house and business keys, and wallet containing his address, in the lead-up to the robbery. They then drove to his house and stole a Toshiba laptop and the car’s keys before entering the garage. The car was seen being driven “erratically” near Parkdale and Mentone railway stations at 2am next day but has not yet been recovered. CCTV footage is being examined. Anyone with information should call Moorabbin police, 9556 6565.
Tyre outlet robbed
House ransacked A 69-YEAR-OLD Aspendale Gardens man came home to find the security chain locking the door, 10pm, Saturday 21 November. Inside, he found thieves had opened a side gate and forced a window to break into the Forbes Dr house, ransacking cupboards and drawers. About $350 cash, coin jar, jewellery box and Oroton cigarette case was stolen. The total value of the haul is not yet known. The thieves escaped over
A THIEF jemmied open a rear window at the Bob Jane T-Mart in Nepean Hwy, Parkdale, 9pm, Tuesday night. He climbed onto a table and chair to get to floor level, then opened filing cabinets and cupboards in the front office, finding a small till containing $600. The man broke a section of back fence and slid the till through, before jumping over. CCTV shows him to be 183cm tall, skinny build, wearing shorts, long-sleeve T-shirt, runners and beanie, and carrying a backpack. The same man is believed to be responsible for a similar robbery at Auto Salvage, Lower Dandenong Rd, Mordialloc, later the same night. Here he forced open a front window at the car sales and parts supplier and rummaged through cupboards and drawers, finding $150 in the till, $50 in a charity tin and $400 in a coin jar. The business was previously robbed in October. Anyone with information should call Moorabbin police, 9556 6565.
Watching brief VICTORIA’S no-pursuit policy is a talking point among officers. A Chelsea patrol car sidled up to a Holden Commodore in a carpark at the end of Stephen St, Carrum, in which a young couple were sitting, 1.50am, Friday. Neither the male driver nor female passenger would answer questions. Police looked on as the driver reversed into the patrol car causing minor damage and drove off. The car’s number plates were found to be fraudulent.
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 25 November 2015
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