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You will love the world a little more after you experience this beautiful book by my clever friend Ilka. It takes courage to give space to the unspeakable, wrapped in a lot of heart.. don't miss it ❤️

#HowToLoveTheWorld #IlkaTampke #SummitBooks #AustralianBooks #Bookstagram
Need a break from bin night or getting your tax ready?

This Thursday eve, join me at the lovely Shepparton Library for a relaxed evening of storytelling and writing, part of Library Victoria's Libraries After Dark program 2026.

Through RAW workshops across Australia and overseas and my writing segment on ABC Radio's Overnights, I've met office workers, year 12 students, nurses, new parents, truck drivers, retirees, travellers, circus performers, mountaim climbers, musicians, tradies and plenty of others. The common thread is: 'I don't know where to start.' But everyone has a story ❤️

If you've ever stayed up late turning pages, you already know more about writing than you realise. 

We'll explore where ideas come from, try simple activities and discover how everyday moments can become stories. As Chekhov said, find the 'extraordinary in the ordinary'. 

There'll also be refreshments, good company and opportunities to chat with people from your community. Listen in or share if you dare.

A few spots still available! 😊

To book: contact Shepparton Library on 1300 374765, email shepparton@gvlibraries.com.au or visit the GV Libraries Facebook page.

#Shepparton #GVLibraries #GreaterShepparton #ReadersAreWriters #RAWWriting #WritingWorkshop #CreativeWriting #Storytelling #RegionalVictoria #LibrariesChangeLives #WritersCommunity #BookLovers #WritingLife #SheppartonEvents #GoulburnValley
Greater Shepparton City Council Shepparton News The Adviser ABC Radio Melbourne ABC Radio Australia Society of Women Writers Victoria
Don't miss the magnificent Justine Sless, comedy that strips back the chaos and infuses with wit and pathos..❤️

#MelbourneComedyFestival #MICF #MelbourneEvents #ComedyMelbourne #LiveComedy StandUpAustralia JustineSless MCShowroom WhatsOnMelbourne MelbourneNights ThingsToDoMelbourne ComedyNight LaughOutLoud SupportLiveComedy AussieComedy WomenInComedy FunnyWomen FestivalSeason MelbourneLife NightOutMelbourne CheapTickets BravoShow YorkshireTeaVibes
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this post contains the name and images of a deceased person.

In my home town of Shepparton, this statue commemorates Uncle William Cooper (1860 to 1941), a Yorta Yorta man who, despite having no legal rights in his own country, led a march to the German Consulate in Melbourne to deliver a letter protesting the Nazi persecution of Jewish people, who he said were fellow citizens of the world. When I stand and look at the beautiful bronzed form of a remarkable human, it is hard to believe the void that was our high school lessons in 'Australian history' ❤️💛🖤
Thanks to @womensagenda for giving space to this conversation...
CW: This article contains references to sexual violence.

#womeninsports #breakthesilence #authorslife #changethegame #womensissues
We met Priscilla at the Coachman Inn tonight, Parkes. Great to see women in Elvis suits, an alternative Elvis and lots of rockabilly. Then the treat of a burnt orange sky on the way back to Victoria, sending love to friends in country areas, stay safe ❤️
Finally. All students in Victoria will learn the real history of our state. 
💛❤️🖤
#Treaty #TrueHistory #Victoria #Education #MovingForward
素敵 Suteki: Beautiful Japan (and the big buddha HK) ❤️
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#beautifulspaces #royalcaribbeancruise #travelwriting #japantravels #storytellingphotography #royalcaribbeaninternational #cruisetime #cruisetravel #cruisevacation #japanlove #japanoninsta #culturaljourney #momentsintime #travelwithpurpose #travelmood @royalcaribbean @royalcaribbeanasia @royalcaribbeanhk #traveloften #goexplorewander #adventureanywhere #havingagoodtime #authorslife #storiesoftheeveryday #bucketlisttravel #fictionwriter #australianauthor #australianauthors #aussieauthor #actionadventure #traveldiary #japangram
𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚: 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧/𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 🚢✨
In the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of hosting writing workshops across Australia, Nepal and Finland - but this ship journey from Hong Kong to Japan was unique!

Sailing through late Autumn into Winter, on sea days we explored themes like sacred places and sensory stories through craft, history and food. What a privilege to hear pieces created by our global audience (from Finland, Alabama, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Hong Kong, Philippines, to Chile!). The audience also experienced Japanese poetry, origami and an impromptu Sumba dance performance (alongside my Mum’s art works from Country Vic on the big screen).

Off the ship we enjoyed the reds and golds of Japan in late Autumn (Fukuoka, Saiki Minato, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Sasebo).

𝘼 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚:
Whiteness, the sound of winter, walking in the rain on cold, frosty days, Hong Kong skies, sombreness, Northern Lights, low-laying sun, soft snow falling like a blanket, plum pudding, prawns and sunshine, mother: warm towels, soup and dumplings, crisp air, a mountain walk to grandparents, the joys of model trains, Freddy the dog’s obsessions, whiskey in Scottish snow and kilt surprises, riding a horse in elbow-deep whiteness, Christmas with Grandma, city blocks at first-snow…

A thank you to Pastor Paul from San Francisco for his incredible bilingual reading, (performed in English and fluent Cantonese in front of his very proud husband).

My favourite lines:
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦
𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘶𝘱𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵
𝘈 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵, 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.
𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺, “𝘏𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘪𝘬!”- 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 

Grateful to the superb Roma (Events Management) and sound tech master Miguel, the wonderful audience and Spectrum of the Seas crew, representing 41 countries! And to James as always, IT and green-tea expert, photography and comic relief ❤️
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#royalcaribbeancruise #japantravels #writingworkshop #travelwriting #authorslife
Rachel Mathews - Author

Dr Rachel Matthews is a Melbourne author, lecturer and teacher. Her debut novel Vinyl Inside received strong press reviews and was highly commended by the Australian Vogel Award judges.

Discover Rachel's Books