Back in Naarm | Taking on Boards about Palestine | The golden rule of governance
Plus... online launch of Kind of, Sort of, Maybe, But Probably Not and an update on reading more diversely
Back in Naarm
Seven years in Tarntanya/Adelaide made it hard to say goodbye (for now).
But we’ve packed up our lives and moved back to Naarm/Melbourne for a couple of years - never more aware of the privilege of safety, of freedom of movement, of security and home.
Melb pals, clients, collaborators and rabble rousers, I am very much looking forward to the reconnections and new adventures ahead. Drop me a line if you want to say hello.
Take on Board podcast: Palestine as a governance issue
Failure is the status quo at the moment when it comes to Australian arts, cultural and non-profit organisations’ response (or lack of response) to Palestine as a governance, risk and crisis management, duty of care and financial issue.
My conversation with Helga Svendsen for the Take on Board podcast is online now with more. You can catch up with our conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
And another thing… the golden rule of governance
Pulling all my governance reading together for the move back to Naarm reminded me of the golden rule of arts, cultural and non-profit governance (spoiler: there is no golden rule).
Here’s a quick extract from my latest ‘and another thing’ vlog:
These vlogs are exclusively for my Patreon followers. You can access the full version and archive by joining me as an advocate, ally or accomplice from just $2.50/month on Patreon). With huge thanks to Nick for joining Team Patreon this month.
Kind of, Sort of, Maybe, But Probably Not
I am thrilled to be hosting the online launch Kind Of, Sort Of, Maybe, But Probably Not by the amazing Imbi Neeme on Sunday 23 June. This delightful book is a nostalgic, Garner-esque stroll through 1990’s Melbourne about secrets, friendships and embracing our whole selves.
Join me and Imbi for a chat about books, letter writing, flatmates and found families by registering for your free place online.
Last chance: online workshop on building your author brand
Writers, join me online on Saturday 29 June to find out what options are available for building your author brand, how to use different platforms to your best advantage, and how to balance your writing time alongside the time you need to spend building your brand. Book your place on the Writers SA website.
The Diverse Baseline challenge
It’s not quite the middle of the year, but I am already halfway through The Diverse Baseline reading challenge to read a minimum of three books by nonwhite and mixed race authors authors per month.
I’m keeping track of my progress on Storygraph, which so far includes (with particular recommendations marked in *bold*):
1 (a collection of poetry by a BIPOC author): *Coconut by Nisha Patel*
2 (a book by a Latine author): Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
3 (a book by a BIPOC author with a fat main character): The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco by Talia Hibbert
4 (a book by a Black/Blak author): *We Didn’t Think it Through by Gary Lonesborough*
6 (a book by a BIPOC author with found family): *Mead Mishaps series by Kimberley Lemming*
7 (a translated book by a BIPOC author): *Not Written Words by Xi Xi*
9 (a book by a BIPOC author with a different religious background than you): The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
12 (a book by a Southwest Asian and North African author): *Things You May Find Hidden in my Ear by Mosab Abu Toha*
13 (a book by a BIPOC author about colonisation): *Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran*
14 (a book by a Desi or South Asian Author): Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
15 (a book by a BIPOC author with a teenage main character): As You Walk On By by Julian Winters
16 (a book by a BIPOC Queer author): *Non-Essential Work by Omar Sakr*
17 (a book by a BIPOC Indie author): Fleeing Fate by Sabrina Day
20 (a book by a Neurodivergent BIPOC author): Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert
21 (a book by a BIPOC author with real people/models on the cover): Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters
23 (an anthology by BIPOC authors): *The Rocks Remain: Blak Poetry and Story edited by Karen Wyld and Dominic Guerrera*
24 (a retelling or re-imagining by a BIPOC author): *Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa*
27 (a picture/children’s book by a BIPOC author): Owl and Star by Helen Milroy
29 (a book by a Trans BIPOC Author): *Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon*
35 (a holiday romance by a BIPOC author): Wrapped Up In You by Talia Hibbert
36 (a cozy mystery by a BIPOC author): Tia Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries by Mia P Manansala
Who else is trying to diversify their reading this year?
Helping through helplessness
While feeling bludgeoned and helpless by the state of the world, I’m finding strength in community and solace in advocacy.
Operation Olive Branch is connecting people with families in Gaza who need immediate financial help (carefully vetted to ensure donations are going to real families). You can donate yourself or help by spreading the word.
Can’t decide? The Gaza Funds website spotlights a single vetted fundraiser every day.
Keep emailing a.albanese.mp@aph.gov.au, foreign.minister@dfat.gov.au, minister@defence.gov.au and [your local member] to call on the Australian Government to do everything in its power to stop what the highest international legal authority has deemed genocidal activities, impose sanctions on the Israeli Government and all those involved in illegal Israeli settlements, stop allocating Australian tax dollars to Israeli weapons companies, stop sending Australian troops into an asymmetrical conflict for which they may be tried for war crimes, insist upon an immediate and permanent ceasefire and unfettered access to significant humanitarian aid, and protect Australians’ right to safe and peaceful protest here at home.
Arts lovers may also want to show some love to Belvoir St Theatre this week, who are receiving unfair and disproportionate criticism for their statement on Palestine. Feel free to copy, paste and edit my email template if it’s useful:
And while you’re at it, please also email a.albanese.mp@aph.gov.au, senator.katy.gallagher@aph.gov.au, justine.elliot.mp@aph.gov.au and [your local member] about the Australian Government’s callous, ineffective and completely avoidable policy decisions and public disinvestment that have led to our entrenched femicide epidemic, in which one Australian woman has been violently killed by a man every three days this year (a 64% increase since the same point in 2023). Men’s violence against women is everybody’s business and it’s going to take all of us to stop it. Again, my email template is available to copy, paste and adapt:
There is so much to care about right now, and so easy to become overwhelmed into inaction as a result. As always, I hope you’re navigating it as gently as possible, while talking, posting, writing, calling, marching, boycotting and donating however you can. Take care, all.