Pure Gold – the SMACC Experience

There were fire twirlers and tribal drummers. Confetti rained down on khaki-clad heroes to the rapturous applause of a live audience. No, this wasn’t the epic grand-finale of a reality TV show. It was the opening ceremony of smaccGOLD, setting the scene for a conference unlike any other. SMACC stands for “social media and critical … Continue reading →

A Granddaughter’s Grief

We were not taken by surprise It was expected, really Every visit over recent years, treasured Knowing every goodbye might be the last The words of wisdom had been imparted The family stories told, wonderfully, many times over “It’s all yours now, Pen” he’d said, Christmas before last A handover of sorts He had had … Continue reading →

The Accidental Writer

On a hot day in February last year, I was sitting in my lounge room having a chinwag and a cuppa with a good friend of mine. I was confessing my anxiety about leaving my familiar life behind to become a nomadic rural locum. At some point in the conversation I said “Hey, I’m thinking about … Continue reading →