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WHAT THEY'VE SAID
"One of the most important, authentic Australian books of my lifetime. More than countless studies of Aboriginal Australia, it breaks the silence and is a true epic of tragedy, political betrayal and heroism. Here is the secret life of Australia, and no reader can remain a bystander."
John Pliger, Journalist, December 2005: "Eddie's Country".
"...One of the most gripping and interesting reads that I have read for a while. I could not put the damn thing down. You have done a fantastic job in this regard..."
Rachel Bin Saleh, Editor: "Eddie's Country".
Go to the 'Eddie's Country' comments page to see more remarks about 'Eddie's Country.'
"Thank you for sending your hilarious script. You certainly have a great ear for dialogue..."
Sue Masters, Head of Drama, Ten Network, December, 2000: "A Town Unlike Alice".
"A good script... good premise, good characters, good jokes. We really like it..."
Jo Bell, Script Editor, ABC-TV Comedy, April 2000: "A Town Unlike Alice".
"The writer has a great gift for witty clever banter between characters..."
John Brousek, Script Assessor, AFC, 2002: "Wonderworld".
"...I particularly liked the characters... they are well drawn and bounce off each other with great dialogue..."
Gabrielle Jones, Script Assessor, AFC, 2002: "Wonderworld".
"...I enjoyed reading the script and said so in some kind of email..."
John Clarke, Media Personality, 2005: "Wonderworld".
"...you have written an entertaining and imaginative script, and we liked the mix of unusual characters..."
Network 10 Drama Department: "Wonderworld".
"I love the Howards. I hope it takes off, and we can commission another..."
Michael McKenzie, ABC Radio Comedy Unit: "At Home With The Howards".
"Refreshingly ambitious in its conceptual and imaginative scope..."
Debbie Lee, Deputy Commissioning Editor for Drama, SBS Independent, May, 2000: "Friends of Icarus".
"...we did enjoy reading it, and are aware of the play's many strengths, particularly theme and plot. It is a terrific story, of historical significance and makes for great drama. You have chosen a rich and engaging subject...The characters in the play are alive and credible and the dialogue is sharp, clever and clear...Our readers enjoyed the sweep of the story, and recognised the epic nature of its theatricality and production demands..."
Lauren Tayor, Literary Associate, Playbox Theatre: "Friends of Icarus".
"... you have a lyrical depth and sensitivity..."
Carole Sklan, Executive Producer, ABC TV Drama, December, 2000: "Friends of Icarus".
"...a well researched story, written with skill and care..."
Hal McElroy, Producer, November, 2000: "Friends of Icarus".
"... your work is ambitious and... this play in particular reveals both ability and talent..."
Chris Mead, Australian National Playwrights' Conference, March 2005 "Friends of Icarus".
"... this project really needs to get a producer on board..."
Unknown AFC Script Assessor: "Iceland".
"I think it's a really good play..."
Louis Nowra: "Making Serendipity".
"I very much enjoyed your crafting of the work...a play about an important issue... which clearly shows... a great deal of work and considerable originality..."
Aubrey Mellor, Artistic Director, Playbox Theatre, Melbourne, March 2002: "The Unsheltered".
"...enticingly extreme..."
Carl Vine, Composer, August, 2000: "A Thief in the Night".
"...we all love the story and are looking forward to developing it... it is brilliant, funny, fresh and original..."
Erica Wagner, Publisher, Allen & Unwin, December 2004: "A Bit of Bad Luck".
"There's no doubt you do have talent as a writer, and there are some deft comic touches in the novel..."
Linda Funnell, Managing Editor, Pan/Picador, December 1995: "Strange Sunlight".
"You're obviously an extremely talented writer..."
Sophie Cunningham, Trade Publisher, Allen and Unwin, February 1997: "Understanding Bioluminescence".
"You deserve to have enjoyed more success, quite frankly..."
Carl Harrison-Ford, Editor, January 2003.
"There are some wicked satirical portraits of artistic self-indulgence... The playwright brings the sharp and satirical eye of the post-colonial to bear on sacred Shakespearian territory..."
Helen Thomson reviewing "Discovering Juliet"in The Age, August 1, 2000.
AWARDS
Short story
Winner, Banjo Patterson Festival National Annual Short Story Competition, 1995.
Novels
"Understanding Bioluminescence"
Highly Commended, Vogel/Australian newspaper Literary Award for novels, 1996.
"Strange Sunlight"
Short-list, HarperCollins Fiction Prize, 1996.
Preliminary Short-list, Angus and Robertson/ National Book Council Prize, 1994.
"In Boorowa"
Highly Commended, Fellowship of Australian Writers Jim Hamilton Award for Novels, 1994.
Preliminary Short-list, Vogel/ Australian newspaper Literary Award for novels, 1993.
Short-list (as "Butterfly Surprise"), Angus & Robertson Prize for novels, 1993.
Film
"Bruiser"
Director and Co-Writer (with AJ Rochester).
Winner of the 1997 National Scenefest Short Film Competition.
Second in the 1997 National Schlockfest Competition, Brisbane.
Winner of the Kodak/ TAP Gallery Film Festival, 1999.
Third in the Silver Nitrate Film Festival, Melbourne.
Watch the film...
EDUCATION
Present PhD Candidate: University of Technology, Sydney.
1998 Master of Creative Arts (Writing): University of Wollongong.
1983 Higher School Certificate: Blacktown Technical College.
TRAINING
2004 Script Editing for TV: Australian TV, Film and Radio School.
2003 Editing: Centre for Continuing Education, University of Sydney.
2002 Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training: WCET.
1997 First Aid Certificate: St John's Ambulance.
1996 Sound Studio Certificate: School of Audio Engineering.
1995 Introduction to Tertiary Teaching Certificate: University of Wollongong.
CORPORATE
The Tandem Project
A resource for parents of troubled adolescents.
Produced by WCET and Relativity Studios.
Stephanie Dawson and Scott Nagy in "The Tandem Project."
Patrick and Jade's Big Day Out
A resource for children going into hospital.
Produced by Smashing House Productions and Bulli Hospital, 2000
Relay for Life 2003 Promotional Video
Produced by Cancer Council NSW.
Promotional Video and Display Material (Co-writer)
Produced by Lensvision and Southern Ocean Seabirds Study Association
Musicoz Awards Script (Co-Writer)
Produced by WIN TV and WCET , December 2004
Warrawong Public School Introductory Video
Produced by Smashing House Productions and Warrawong Public School, 2004
Script Editor for "The Shedmen".
A resource demonstrating OH&S procedures in the building industry.
Produced by Smashing House Productions, WCET and the Building Industry Association, 2004.
BlueScope Steel Training Videos and e_Learning Content
Training material for Illawarra Coated Products (a division of BlueScope Steel) 2005/06 and Western Sydney Service Centre (2007/ 08).
Cleaning roll, Cleaning Line, BlueScope Steel, Port Kembla.
Script and concept for Volunteering Eurobodalla, for Lensvision and Eurobodalla Shire Council.
REPORTS
"The Real Kids Project"
A resource which looked at ways students could be engaged in learning opportunities.
Produced by NSW Department of Education.
"Not Just Teachers and Students"
A resource to encourage parental involvement in school activities.
Produced by NSW Department of Education.
SPEECHWRITING
Wrote and contributed to speeches made by Lee Rhiannon MLC
Speech One (Search for "Eddie Murray.")
Speech Two (Search for "Eddie Murray.")
SCRIPT AND MANUSCRIPT ASSESSMENT
Assessed manuscripts for Allen & Unwin.
Assessed scripts for the Unhinged 2005 Short Play Contest
EDITORIAL
Script Editor
"Stories from the Underground: Translations in History."
(Redhanded Theatre Co, Newtown Theatre, 2001).
Editor
"Sexual Encounters": A CD compilation of poetry by AJ Rochester
"On Vinyl", a CD compilation of poetry by various artists. 2000
RESEARCH
Carried out research into the following areas:
Aboriginal history
(during the writing of "Eddie's Country").
The experience of Vietnam Veterans
(during the writing of "The Unsheltered")
Shakespearean tragedy
(during the writing of "Discovering Juliet").
Albatrosses
(while providing display content for the Southern Ocean Seabirds Study Association )
The lives of George Johnston and Charmian Clift
(for "Friends of Icarus").
PUBLIC SPEAKING
If Only... SBS-TV, August 2002 (TV Interview).
Messagestick ABC-TV, November 2004 (TV Interview).
Real Kids Project Report, NSW Department of Education Project Evaluation Conference, November 2004 (Speech).
Launch of 'Eddie's Country' Sydney Writers' Festival, June 2006 (Speech).
Late Night Live ABC Radio National June 2006 (Phillip Adams interview with Simon Luckhurst and Arthur Murray).
Telling Terrible Truths Sydney Writers' Festival, June 2006 (Panel discussion.)
Canadian author Camilla Gibbs, Simon Luckhurst and Linda Jaivin, author of 'The Infernal Optimist' signing books after 'Telling Terrible Truths.' Photo by Ruth Braunstein.
Conference Paper Pauline McLeod- The Magpie who became a Swan- finding salvation in culture delivered at the 2007 Indigenous Biography and Autobiography Conference, Museum of Australia, Canberra.
Conference Paper What am I writing? delivered at the 2008 Art of the Real Conference, Newcastle, NSW.
Presentation given at 2008 Worldplay conference, ABC Complex, Ultimo, NSW.
Guest lecturer, 2008, Wollongong College of Technical and Further Education (TAFE), Wollongong, NSW.
ORGANISATIONS
I am currently a financial member of the:
Australian Writers' Guild (AWG Associate)
South Coast Writers' Centre (SCWC)