Anita Heiss's Blog, page 3

Indigenous Leadership Summit

This week I had the privilege of addressing the Indigenous Leadership Summit in Sydney. What a gift to be in the presence of so much Black excellence sitting at every single table, and down the lens online.

Thank you to the The Leadership Institute (ANZ) for the invitation to present and to the many, many delegates who queued for so long to get books signed and to have a yarn about issues that matter to many of us. I’m grateful and enriched by the experience.

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5 Quick Q’s with MOVEMBER Ambassador Nathan Appo

I’d like you to meet my deadly brother from another mother, Nathan Appo. Nathan is the Coordinator of Deadly Choices Business Development, and is a passionate Ambassador for MOVEMBER! I’m a supporter of Nath’s and MOVEMBER, having lost my own father to prostate and bowel cancer. I asked Nath a few quick questions, hoping to raise some more awareness and cash for a very important cause.

For those hearing about MOVEMBER for the first time, can you tell us a little about the history and purpose? Movember is a campaign to raise funds and awareness for men’s health. The campaign funds programs and research focusing on testicular cancer, prostate cancer and Mental health.

You’ve been involved for a few years now as an Ambassador, what brought you to the charity? Through my work at Deadly Choices we partnered up and I’ve been a Mobro ever since. My old man and I started it together and I’ve just continued on. Dad has had his challenges with depression and anxiety and he’s a big reason why I continue.

Tell me about Team All Stars: The All-Stars are the Deadly Choices MOVEMEBER team; it’s a great way to connect as a team and community. I believe our goal this year is $20K. Check out our page here.

Aside from the obvious benefits of fundraising and awareness raising around men’s health, what do you like most about being part of MOVEMBER? I’ve always felt a strong responsibility to the cause and any chance we get to empower and educate our mob is important. I love how the campaign brings people together in a very unique way of growing a mo.

How can people get involved? I know you don’t have to be a man or ever grow an actual moustache to be part of MOVEMBER. Anyone can be involved, Mobros Mosisters and you can mo your own way, you can walk, ride run grow a mo or even host an event. It’s easy just sign up at Movember.com.au and join our team.

Wiradjuri Elders Reach National Fame at Booktopia

Media release: 18th October 2022
Wagga Wagga, Australia

Coming of age was a traumatic experience for many First Nations Elders. Poverty, racism,
and separation from family and culture were the norm, where growing up was a daily
struggle to have a voice.

The Wiradjuri Elders featured in Anita Heiss’ new book, Growing up Wiradjuri, share these
experiences… but it’s not all pain and suffering. With a focus on community, leadership
and care, this book highlights a time when people looked after and supported each other.
Beginning as a small-scale community development project, Heiss’ vision grew beyond
her initial hopes of sharing Wiradjuri voices.

Leanne Sanders, director and founder of Visual Dreaming, felt extremely privileged to be
tasked with capturing and recording the Elder’s stories. Visual Dreaming is an
organisation working with Wiradjuri Elders and youth to rebuild cultural identity and
connections.

“None of this would have been possible without the hard work, love and generosity of
Leanne Sanders and Shanae Pope [project manager],” said Heiss, at the book launch.
“They worked daily with the Elders and always placed their needs and desires at the heart
of everything they do.”

After four years of research and story collation, the book quickly rose to sit in the top five
of Booktopia’s children’s books national bestsellers.

“The most moving part is that the Elders featured come from a time when they weren’t
even considered as people,” says Sanders. “Now, their voices are being celebrated and
they can share their stories loud and proud.”

One such example is ninety-year old Aunty Isabel Reid, who survived a childhood in the
notorious Cootamundra Girls Home and went on to advocate for other children who
suffered the system.

Speaking at the launch, actor and Wiradjuri man Luke Carroll described the impact of
such storytelling.

“When we have an education about our First Nations people and respect for our journey,
then we can close that gap and move forward together as a united nation. This is a
powerful book that shares a deep love of country, kin and the strength of our old people.”

Storytelling is a big part of cultural practice and the sense of pride each Elder conveys
reaches beyond the pages and into the community. As Heiss declared at the launch, “This
anthology has become a gift to the nation by some of our most treasured Elders.”

In preparation for the October launch, local videographer Bernard Higgins captured the
special moment Elders received their book copy from their family.

The generational impact overlaps with Visual Dreaming, which has just launched a pilot
program for Wiradjuri girls; Butterfly Dreaming. The program supports cultural celebration,
leadership and community connection.

Many of the Elders featured in the book are closely involved with Visual Dreaming,
attending weekly workshops with youth in order to build a strong cultural identity and
sense of belonging.

“We want to flip the script on the Aboriginal experience,” says Sanders. “These
workshops are building up our girls to become leaders and valued members of the
community.”

It’s a full-circle moment for the Wiradjuri community, as Elders share stories and skills
with the next generation, helping them to understand their place and identity within their
own culture.

Sanders is proud to be at the forefront of this change, connecting youth with Elders and
creating an important record of live history. Visual Dreaming is actively seeking funding in order to develop and deliver their Butterfly Dreaming programs for young women.

“We’re responding to a need in community,” says Sanders. “We know it’s valuable and
we have a solid framework, so this is an opportunity for others to support positive growth
for our community.”

Growing up Wiradjuri is published by Magabala Books and is currently available from
Booktopia and other retail outlets.

Growing Up Wiradjuri – out now!

Cover artwork by Luke Penrith

MEDIA RELEASE

Growing Up Wiradjuri

Wiradjuri Elders pass their stories on for the younger generation in powerful anthology.

Eight Wiradjuri Elders share personal stories in Growing Up Wiradjuri, a junior non-fiction anthology edited by Anita Heiss, published by Magabala Books, out 15 September.

The writers are Uncles and Aunties who came of age in New South Wales in the 1950s and 1960s. In a strong collective voice, Stan Grant Snr, Lorraine Tye, Elaine Lomas, Cheryl Penrith, James Ingram, Mary Atkinson, Isabel Reid and Norman Little share the difficulties of growing up under the rule of the welfare board.

The anthology’s editor Anita Heiss says: ‘Growing Up Wiradjuri is a gift to the nation by some of our most treasured Elders, who have generously shared their stories. All of them form part of our collective history and the book embodies the importance of passing on such stories to younger generations.

‘Some describe their experiences of evading capture by the welfare mob, or of being stolen and forced into state care away from their families. Some describe experiencing racism in school, the trials of poverty and family separation.’

Alongside these difficulties they also detail their fond memories of their own Elders, Aunts and Uncles who cared for them and taught them culture. Every contributor has important advice to share with the next generation.

It’s this sharing of wisdom that Anita hopes young people will connect with: ‘I hope when young people read Growing Up Wiradjuri they feel proud of the resilience and the strength of our Wiradjuri Elders. I hope they realise that we have always worked hard, been able to laugh and have fun, and that we are epic storytellers. I hope this anthology helps students see us the way we see ourselves. As deadly!’

Magabala Books Editor Arlie Alizzi says: ‘These writers are deadly storytellers. Growing up Wiradjuri is a deeply generous book that made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. It is a real gift to read the voices of Elders and see Wiradjuri language in print. This book is heartfelt, warm, and welcomes in readers of all ages. It is a great privilege to be able to support it.’

– ENDS –

For your copy of Growing Up Wiradjuri head to one of the stores below, or let us know where you grabbed one from if somewhere else. Thank you!

Collins Booksellers

Readings

Avid Reader

Dymocks

Booktopia

TIDDAS – world premier, Brisbane Festival

THE SECRET LIVES OF SISTERSPRESENTED BY LA BOITE, QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE AND BRISBANE FESTIVAL

Brisbane, 2022. Five women, best friends for decades, meet once a month to talk about books, life, love and the jagged bits in between.

Dissecting each other’s lives seems the most natural thing in the world and honesty, no matter how brutal, is something they treasure. 

Best friends tell each other everything, don’t they? But each woman carries a complex secret and one weekend, without warning, everything comes unstuck.

Tiddas is a page-to-stage adaptation of Anita Heiss’s best-selling novel in a joint La Boite Theatre, QPAC and Brisbane Festival production.

Heiss has developed Tiddas for the stage, introducing Brisbane audiences to the story’s inimitable stars: Izzy, Veronica, Xanthe, Nadine and Ellen.

Tiddas plays La Boite from 5 – 24 September. Book tix here!

Funding support – Malcolm Robertson Foundation

La Boite Theatre – it’s high-performance performance.

CAST

Chenoa Deemal
Anna McMahon
Louise Brehmer
Phoebe Grainer
Shakira Clanton
Roxanne McDonald
Sean Dow

CREATIVES

Playwright Anita Heiss, Director Nadine McDonald-Dowd, Set and Costume Designer Zoe Rouse, Lighting Designer Jason Glenwright, Sound Designer Wil Hughes and Assistant Directors Lara Croydon and Aidan Rowlingson

Inaugural Berry Writers Festival 21st – 23rd October 2022

The inaugural Berry Writers Festival is taking place from the 21st – 23rd October 2022. Come and share three days of ideas and inspiration in the beautiful historic village of Berry. 

The program features over 40 emerging and distinguished authors from many writing genres as well as thinkers and creatives who will share their insights and experience. 

I’ll be in conversation with Lisa Heidke, and can’t wait!

Read the full program and book your tickets: https://berrywritersfestival.com.au/program/#programpage 

Nita’s NAIDOC Reads

Here is a very short list of titles I’ve read (or re-read) this year by First Nations authors that I’m recommending to YOU!

There’s something below for everyone. Pick one, pick them all.

Enjoy and share with others because reading opens doors, hearts and minds.

Fiction

Dark as Last Night by Tony Birch (winner of the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Award Christina Stead Prize for Fiction)

This all Come Back Now: an anthology of First Nations speculative fiction by Mykaela Saunders (ed)

Non-fiction

Sister Girl: Reflections on Tiddaism, Identity and Reconciliation by Jackie Huggins

Jack of Hearts: QX11594 by Jackie Huggins and Ngaire Jarro

Marrul: Aboriginal Identity & the Fight for Rights by Inala Cooper

True Tracks: Respecting Indigenous knowledge and culture by Terri Janke

Kids

This is Me by Sally Morgan

Charlie’s Swim by Edie Wright / illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

The Shop Train by Josie Wowolla Boyle / illustrated by Paul Seden

YA

My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas

Poetry

Drop Bear by Evelyn Araluen (Winner of the 2022 Stella Prize)

Also check out my three Black Book Challenges (and stay tuned for a new one coming soon!):

Also, I’ve listed 20 Reasons You Should Read Blak (with an updated version in the release of Am I Black Enough for You? 10 years on).

And here’s your chance to pre-order a copy of Growing Up Wiradjuri, stories by Wiradjuri Elders, due for release in September through Magalaba Books. Pre-order here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/growing-up-wiradjuri-anita-heiss/book/9781922613745.htm

TIDDAS cast announced

Woo hoo! The cast has been announced by La Boite Theatre and I could not be more proud or happier! Thank you to these incredibly talented women (and Sean) for signing onto TIDDAS with Nadine McDonald-Dowd and moi!!! Let’s do this

“Spring couldn’t come soon enough with Anita Heiss’ highly-anticipated page-to-stage adaptation of Tiddas, presented by La Boite Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

La Boite is thrilled to introduce the powerhouse cast that will breathe life into these revered and relatable characters with Chenoa Deemal as Ellen, Anna McMahon as Veronica, Louise Brehmer as Nadine, Phoebe Grainer as Izzy and Shakira Clanton as Xanthe

Supporting them on stage is Queensland theatre luminary Roxanne McDonald as Mum/Noon and the versatile Sean Dow playing the roles of Richard, Asher, Spencer, Craig and Rory.”

Tiddas plays at La Boite from 5 – 24 September. Book now! https://lnkd.in/gzst2PB

 Morgan Roberts

Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! NAIDOC Week 2022

Happy NAIDOC Week!

This NAIDOC Week and every week moving forward, I am asking you to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! alongside me, and the community. Use your professional and personal capacity to amplify our voices and narrow the gap between aspiration and reality, good intent, and outcome.

Put your good hearts into good work and actions!

There are many ways you can get up, stand up, show up, here’s just a few:

Share the mic – offer your social media handle to a First Nations voice for a day. Provide a space to share their stories with your followers who may need to improve  / increase their story listening. Listening is key to learning.

Act on the big issues, write to your MP about the Uluru Statement and support our voice to parliament.

Consider workplace giving or even a one-off donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation or the National Justice Project who represent families in court seeking justice for a relative who has died in custody.

Support Blak businesses – buy a book, a hoodie, a coffee or any number of products and services as a practical way to grow our economies as sole traders, entrepreneurs and social enterprises.

Share the businesses you support with others.

Here’s a few I support:

Love art / wearable art? Buy from the Aboriginal Art Co   (disclosure: I’m on the Board and they carry Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray).

Want a deadly tee – check out Dark and Disturbing, order something for yourself, or a friend.

Clothing the Gaps have some great ‘Ally Friendly’ merch.

Check out #BuyBlak on Twitter to support a range of businesses nationally.

Add your favourite Blak business with links below, and I’ll give them a shout out on my other platforms too.

Ryhia Dank, a young Gudanji/Wakaja artist from the NT designed this year’s winning poster

And remember, keep up the allyship and support every week of the year, not just one week in July.

Mandaang guwu,

Anita

TIDDAS cast announced soon!

SO EXCITED!!!

The cast of TIDDAS is soon to be announced!

Watch this space

Discover more laboite.com.au/tiddas