Bellingen information: March 2012

Green events at BRWF 2012

There are many more events and readings in the festival that touch on the environment, check out the website www.bellingenwritersfestival.com.au

Thursday 22^nd March

7am. Valla Beach. Join us for an early morning surfing Expression Session. Meet at the South Valla Beach Car park for a surf with Rusty Miller, Derek Hynd, Taylor Miller and Kim Satchell with local board designers and Mid North Coast surfers.

9am. Valla Beach. Breakfast at the Headland Cafe, 4 Thompson Street. Hosted by Kurungabaa Journal of Literature, History and Ideas from the Sea - Myths, Misdemeanours, Outrageous Lies and other Surf Stories with Rusty Miller, Derek Hynd, Taylor Miller, Kim Satchell and more! A choice of two hot breakfasts and coffee $22, Bookings on 6569 5140.

Valla Beach, north

9am. Bellingen. BELLINGEN BUSH BACKDROP and Nature writing- Presented by Ross MacLeay. Walk on Bellingen Trail & Scotchman Rd, 2 hours. Meet at the corner of Scotchman Rd and Bowra St – near Bellingen Primary school at 9am. Wear clothes for an easy bushwalk. Limit of 25 people. Contact in case of wet weather: 66552602, 0448047575. $15/10. Bookings essential - Book online.

5pm. Bellingen. Presented by Claire Dunn WEAVING STORIES, WEAVING STRING. Meet on the north east side of Bellingen River just near the bridge. Feel free to bring a picnic rug or chair. Materials provided. Contact: 0466523326 if wet weather. Max no 20. Cost: $12/$10 Book Online.

Claire has just completed the Gunuuwa Independent Wilderness Studies Program, exploring her inner wilderness as much as the forest around her. A fascinating article about her experiences appeared in the spring 2011 edition of Australian Geographic. She will bring her passion for earth-skills, contemplative work in nature and social change to this event.

Friday 23rd March

7.45. Dorrigo Rainforest. Join our ranger/poet, Brian Hawkins for BIRD SONG AND POETRY, a poetic tour through the rainforest. Meet at Rainforest carpark. Group will car (or bus) shuttle to the Glade. Cost: $22.50 per person (includes full buffet breakfast) Bookings essential. Phone 02 66575913.

9.00- 12.00pm Bellingen River (Friday and Saturday) Paddle with a Poet

A hit from last year’s festival! Launching from Lavender’s Bridge, Bellingen. A unique opportunity to explore the wonderful river that inspired Peter Carey’s Oscar & Lucinda. The opportunity to go on a guided canoe safari and hear some of the country’s best poets at the same time! Includes a stop for river poetry reading. Featuring festival poets Mark Treddinick, Michael Sharkey, Kit Kelen and surprise guests. This canoe expedition gives you a chance to hear original poems inspired by rivers and their landscape and engage with the source of the inspiration - the river itself. Bookings essential - book online.

10:15. Dorrigo Rainforest Theatrette The Kiss of Life with Deborah Bird Rose

Pollinators are among the great ‘elders’ on earth. They teach us how to live like mutualists, and thus how to make sure that our lives do not become trapped in dichotomies between self and other. These great teachers have learned to live for both other and self.

She will open a discussion of the idea that symbiotic mutualism, as we come to understand it so beautifully in the lives of forests, flying foxes, bees and other human and nonhuman mutualists, offers some wonderful examples of the joy of life when it is lived for others as well as for self.

Gold coin donation for tea & coffee Bookings essential. Phone 02 66575913.

2-4.30pm. North Farm Talking Stones: Keeping Faith, Writing Nature

Explore how nature corresponds and writes us, sustains us and holds us, even in its presence, its absence and its loss. We have a commitment to communicating something of the beauty and simplicity which reside within ecological complexity through our varied forms of art and expression.
Join a diverse group of writers and creative scholars from Kangaloon: world renowned environmental writers, Deborah Bird Rose, Freya Mathews Kate Rigby and poets Martin Harrison, Peter Boyle, Mark Tredinnick and with host Kim Satchell.

North Farm, Bellingen, Book online $15, ($10 concession). 165 Hydes Creek Road, Bellingen, see http://northfarm.com.au/about/location/

Saturday 24rd March

9.00- 12.00pm Bellinger River, Paddle with a Poet (see Friday for details)

1.45. Bellingen Memorial Hall A POET’S GUIDE TO CLIMATE CHANGE:

Kate Rigby & Freya Mathews present recent contemplations on the theme with selected poetry from Peter Boyle, Mark Tredinnick, Martin Harrison & Kim Satchell (Kangaloon: Creative Ecologies). Tickets as part of weekend pass or available as single session online closer to the day.

Sunday 25th March

8.30. Bellingen The Poetry of Birds

Bellingen is home to an incredible diversity of birds and, unlike in dense forest, viewing conditions are often ideal. Local poet and birdo Brian Hawkins will lead this walk through the streets of Bellingen, pointing out birds and speaking poetry – his own as well as some of the greatest bird poems ever written. There will be some overlap with Walk One (Friday at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre), but also some new material: the two walks can be enjoyed together or in isolation.

Length: 1.5 hours Meet at: River viewing platform at the end of Church Street, Bellingen. Max No: 15. Bring water, hat, solid shoes and binoculars (if possible). Book online

11.40. Bellingen Library WHAT IS THE PATTERN?

Deborah Bird Rose & Lorraine Shannon on the interactive extravagance of so much life on earth. With poetry from Peter Boyle, Mark Tredinnick, Martin Harrison and Kim Satchell. (Kangaloon: Creative Ecologies)