Ridwan was someone I met when I first visited Sungai Tohor in May, 2017. He and his community are engaged in reforestation As background, I had joined a Singapore based group PM.Haze which organised a trip across the Straits of Malacca to the peatlands of Riau, in Sumatra. As a child I had played on … Continue reading Replanting the forest
Beyond Borders: conversations across boundaries
I’m pleased to announce that the new version of my book ‘Beyond Borders: conversations across boundaries’ is available on Apple books. It comes with: * text, * audio file for of every story, * single images, * photo galleries & * video.
The Bali Bombings in context
Members of the AFP outside the ruins of the Sari Club. Photo: Australian Federal Police Museum. After the Bali bombings of 2002 I was left in a shocked state. At first I didn't realise I was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Before this act of terrorism I had spent 18 years developing and … Continue reading The Bali Bombings in context
A walk around the peninsula at Pyrmont in Sydney
This is an old industrial area. Until 1934 it was also the source of sandstone used to build many of Sydney's 19th and early 20th century buildings. Now its a residential area with views of port facilities on Sydney's inner harbour. Here is a hastily compose selection of images compiled on this mornings walk around … Continue reading A walk around the peninsula at Pyrmont in Sydney
Lemnos: Heroes Behind Gallipoli
A friend and colleague, Pria Viswalingam, has recently been engaged in the development and direction of a documentary, Lemnos: Heroes Behind Gallipoli. Lemnos is one of Greece’s Aegean islands. Here is the trailer for the production. LEMNOS - HEROES BEHIND GALLIPOLI The production team Pria is working with producers Elizabeth Kaydos & Jacinta Dunn. About … Continue reading Lemnos: Heroes Behind Gallipoli
From Coogee in 1950s to Global Marine Plastic Pollution
New growth on a Norfolk Pine Coogee of the 1950s was an idyllic place for children. It had changed little since the 1930s. Great Norfolk Pine Trees populated the foreshore parks exuding a beautiful resinous scent that mingled with the smell of the sea. Coogee Beach from the southern Point, with Wylies Baths in the … Continue reading From Coogee in 1950s to Global Marine Plastic Pollution
Sydney’s Eastern Seaboard
The eastern seaboard of Sydney was the place of my youth. As I've grown older it has become an important place of memories, but also a place that I've tried to understand more deeply. Recently I walked along a stretch of this land from Maroubra to Coogee. The coastline is mostly sandstone formed about 220 … Continue reading Sydney’s Eastern Seaboard
Unspoken Realities: A Comment on the Howard Era
Recently Penny Wong was asked, What's your vision of the best Australia can be, in the world? She replied: I have a view that foreign policy is obviously an expression of the assertion and prosecution and protection of one's national interests and values; it is also the expression of identity. Referencing Gough Whitlam she continued … Continue reading Unspoken Realities: A Comment on the Howard Era
Writing About the Vietnam War Era
This image is from December 1965. I was 18 years old, in this photograph. I've written about the Vietnam War era in two of my books: Seen and unseen: a century of stories from Asia and the Pacific, and Beyond Borders: conversations across boundaries. The most recent, Beyond Borders: conversations across boundaries, has a story, … Continue reading Writing About the Vietnam War Era
Story Readings in April
All artwork by Aurélie Charmeau My April readings are: 4 April A Forest Encounter11 April Bunga's Family18 April An Invitation25 April The Honey Harvest Zoom details:Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, 07:30 PM UK 9.30 am Central European Time 11.30am Athens 12.30am Jakarta 4.30pm Singapore 5.30pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7288045094Meeting ID: 728 804 5094 The Story These readings are chapters from a … Continue reading Story Readings in April
Russell Darnley Blog 