Strewth! Fair Dinkum, Cobbers! On Monday 30
April the Group enjoyed a light-hearted writing workshop based on Strine
(Australian English to you Poms.) Ably organised and led by old Australia hand
Richard Holdsworth, and aided by his cobber Nick Nicola, the activities were
designed to help us foster our creativity and free up our thinking. As
one might expect, both Richard and Nick led proceedings wearing very stylish
hats complete with dangling corks – and don’t ask what they did
with the blow-up kangaroo.
We started with an enjoyable quiz to increase our Strine
vocabulary. (How many people know that a ‘Herbert Adams’ is a
meat pie, a ‘red-back’ is a particularly nasty poisonous Australian
spider, and an Egg Nisher? An air-conditioner...). We were then set
an exercise to use as many of the words as possible in a story or a poem.
When we shared our efforts, the results were hilarious. It
was felt that some members’ work was particularly praiseworthy:
Jill Fricker, for using all the words to make a poem, John Cornelius, for using
all the words in a story, and Steph Gaunt, who had not quite managed to include
all the words but produced a story that made sense. As Steph had also
guessed the most words in the quiz, she was declared overall winner. She was
delighted to receive a copy of Richard’s book about his adventures in Australia,
‘In the Hot Seat’, as her prize.
We ended with a rendition of ‘Waltzing Matilda’.
Yes, we can sing as well as write!
The Group meets fortnightly at the White
Rock Hotel. If you are interested in joining, (there is currently a waiting list), or
in finding out more about our activities, please contact the Membership
Secretary, Amanda Giles, on 01424 442707 or e-mail membership.hwg@gmail.com.
You can also visit our website at www.hastingswriters.co.uk.
Report by Steph Gaunt
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