Travelling overseas we find out what others truly think of us, and sometimes it might shock us to know we are seen as a racist nation when we think of all nations within our nation.

Small country towns have made a place for all peoples, and striven hard to attract, employ and make sure they feel at home in their new homes far from their birthlands.

But there is a space for coming together for all peoples, and despite the debates many make a place for friendship with all peoples, first in this land, latest in this land. The land does not discriminate but offers up its surface for all to walk on, and its beauty for all to enjoy.

And there are those who serve quietly and humbly – thinking of others before themselves. They are ever searching for the happiness of others, and in that is their own. They show all of us how to be and inspire us to rethink who we are as Australians, as world citizens.

And the youth will make a new future, reach out across all boundaries and take up our cultures within culture and meld it into something we don’t yet fully know, or let’s hope so because no person, no cultures, no culture can reach perfection and understanding is the beginning of the journey for perfection. It’s alright to have a good laugh along the way. Joy makes us think more clearly – make our futures more dearly.

My wonder for today – Australians, and the Australia that could be.

(c) June Perkins

This was posted in my wonder a day for January Challenge. You can see the rest of this challenge as it unfolds at  Pearlz Dreaming

We are so lucky to have so much at our door step. This beach is a bit changed in shape since cyclone Yasi but it’s coming back ! Much harder for the people who had houses near it, with many of them having to leave.

I wonder how they are doing? I know how some of them are, and even though they have left they are strong, thriving and have good memories of days at the beach.

What is the most beautiful thing at your doorstep?

Please feel free to post a link in the comments section of this post to a photograph, or a post on this topic.

(c) June Perkins all rights reserved.

You can see the rest of this challenge as it unfolds at  Pearlz Dreaming

]]> http://unitysgarden.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/blog-challenge-at-pearlz-dreaming/feed/ 0 pearlz 2012-01-04 hull heads http://unitysgarden.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/power-of-music/ http://unitysgarden.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/power-of-music/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:06:41 +0000 pearlz http://unitysgarden.wordpress.com/?p=588 Continue reading →]]>

Guitar Power Series - June Perkins, all rights reserved

I have been playing with some of my photographs – and am currently working on a series about guitars and gardens.  Above is a recent collage which has been then digitised into a poster.

Below is one dedicated to a fine young guitarist I know.  I am still working on this one, and am adding further touches to it.   It’s almost there.  I love playing with photographs in digital programs.  It’s amazing what happens when perched at the computer thinking about the images and bringing them together in new ways.

Power of Muses .. (c) June Perkins

 (c) June Perkins, all rights reserved.

Hi June, and thanks for this post, it raises something that I’ve thought about a lot – why is it that we are so reluctant to accept help?

It can be really confronting to accept the help of others, but we all know how great it feels to help someone who’s in need. It seems to me that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is to let people know how we’re going and allow other people to help us – although you’re right, it can be very hard to do for lots of different reasons, and equally uncomfortable to offer help, even when we really want to. You’ve opened up a big topic here June! Thanks for sharing your story.

-Cath Dwyer, ABC Open Producer on ‘Ute Angels’ Aftermath ABC open guest blog.

Go June! You’re a wonderful writer and storyteller. Your energy motivates and inspires me in my work and I really appreciate how much attention you pay to every detail of the Aftermath project. Thank you!

Miranda, ABCopen Producer

Very insightful and touching June. Thanks for sharing some of the complex and contradictory feelings you and your family experienced. Angels in shorts and T-shirts… love it!

-Shelley, Cairns. on ‘Ute Angels’

June, I can feel the joy coming through the screen, you must have all loved this creative experience! Thank you for this post

- Monica, Soul Food Blogger

Maintaining the creative impulse most certainly helps us survive the worst of events. This is an inspirational post June.

– Heather Blakey on ‘Hope Roof’ Aftermath ABC open.

A beautiful article, June, you really do get to the “heart” of the matter and you’re blessed to live in such a caring community. After hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans people went in and restored family photographs for some of the inhabitants who had lost everything. It was poignant and heartwarming to see the looks on their faces as they were given back just a bit of their past. It’s so good to read a positive story about decent people. Keep up the great work!

-Porch Sitter, Soul Food Blogger, on ‘Heart Strands Hidden in the Cassowary Coast’ Aftermath ABC open.

Thank you for this wonderful insight into the strength and struggles of people recovering from Yasi. And so beautifully written! I look forward to reading more of ‘Aftermath’.

-Meg, Book Creator’s Circle and Junk Wave, on ‘Tupperware Houses’ Aftermath ABC open.

June, I’m so pleased you’re working on a series of articles about Yasi. This is a worldwide experience and your insights will bring knowledge to folks who don’t live in cyclone or hurricane zones, as well as comfort and hope to those who’ve experienced the fear and damage. I’ll be looking forward to your next article.

-Barbara Banta on ‘Tupperware Houses’ Aftermath, ABC Open.

Your commitment to documenting the aftermath of Yasi is remarkable. Through your words and images we can gain an understanding the struggles, recovery and resilience, both personally and in your community. With so many natural disasters are happening…I believe our mother earth may be vying for our attention. Thank you June for teaching and showing us how to work and heal together.

-Jani , Photo Journalist and activist, United States, on ‘Tupperware Houses’ Aftermath, ABC Open

You’ve picked a wonderful writer to do these posts. Not only did she experience it all but she writes with heart!

-Tammy (Agrigirl) United States, on ‘Tupperware Houses’ Aftermath, ABC Open

I can’t stop reading your blog June … you have such a talent .. and a beautiful soul. I’m hooked! It’s like being a kid in a candy store but with a sense of calm. Cx

-Carolyn Bofinger, Teacher and photographer, on ‘Pearlz Dreaming’ blog

Your writing is so beautiful, it comes from the heart and gives comfort to the reader. I wish that everyone in the whole world could read and absorb your written thoughts, and look at and into your amazing images, especially during this season of so many natural disasters. Thank you for sharing your thoughts from the heart.

-Vi, on ‘Pearlz Dreaming’ post.

-Pam Galeano, Children’s Author, on ‘Legend of Five Guitars’, Aftermath, ABC Open.

Dijanne, on ‘Legend of Five Guitars’, Aftermath, ABC Open.

This is one post that I wish all people of the world could read, June. There are people like you described that react the same whether it be a cyclone or someone going through infertility. Some of it hurts and is now helpful while some you just want everyone to know how helpful they are. I like the silent angels myself. They do what they do from their hearts without any ulterior motives.

After 911 there were so many in the US who bonded…whether out of fear or whatever. But there were also those who decided to chalk their problems up to anyone Muslim. Our neighbor was Muslim. He hung a flag outside and we neighbours were ready to defend his life if it came to that. The sad thing is that when all is well and done, those that weren’t personally touched by the tragedy (and some who were) have forgotten.

You, my dear June, are an angel. Your intentions are true and heartfelt. I have shared your posts with friends and they were so happy to hear about the cyclone and after effects first hand. Thank you from all of us for sharing your story. It helps us remember that no matter which country we live, we are all the same.

-Sally, on ‘Ute, towel and washing, Angels and; the dark side of cyclones’, Pearlz Dreaming post.

This is so beautiful and so true, June. I loved reading it; it gave me peace and hope. I love heavy metal music, and I love the moments of quiet the musicians offer, like Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters. It is kind of an anthem for me, as I think of my family.
To you and yours, hope and beauty in abundance.

-Gail ‘Angels, Blessings, Sunlight and the Aerodynamics of Optimism’ in ‘Pearlz Dreaming’ post.

Lovely report June. I think the people of Tully can be pleased with their roving reporter

-Paulien Bats on ‘on ‘A Prince, Cassowary Gift and Handshakes of Optimism’ – Facebook post/Pearlz Dreaming post.

What a beautiful account. Thanks so much, June. I saw you on SBS news briefly. So excited! What a bright hot day, though. Glad there was ice-cream!

- Jo Grimmer- on ‘A Prince, Cassowary Gift and Handshakes of Optimism’ – Facebook post/Pearlz Dreaming post.

I see you writing a syndicated column or something that a number of newspapers (or their on-line equivalents!)

-Paul Gerard, on ‘A Prince, Cassowary Gift and Handshakes of Optimism’ – Facebook post/Pearlz Dreaming post.

Great piece of writing & pics to go with it – can feel the warmth!!

-Noel Broomhall, on ‘A Prince, Cassowary Gift and Handshakes of Optimism’ – Facebook post/Pearlz Dreaming post.

Your words touch my heart. Yesterday a friend taught me a new word “weltschmerz”. It’s a German word that means world sadness. I hear it in your poem. Thank you for expressing it so beautifully.

-Suzanne on ‘Moving beyond the wounds’ Pearlz Dreaming post.

It’s great to have such a strong group of contributors who are so willing to share their experiences with the rest of the country.

Sonya Gee, ABC open producer on Aftermath bloggers on Aftermath ABC open.

You are . . . a tower of wisdom. You have taken from the destruction of a storm the gifts it had to offer, and there were gifts, so well hidden that only a chosen few would discover them. Thank you for this speaking to me/to us from your soul. I was spell bound by your words and the depth of vision they presented.

-Vi on ‘Farewells, meeting old age, lessons of a quail and the wayland song…’ on Pearlz Dreaming post.

Great post June … blogging is a fantastic tool to just document life and love and everything that encompasses it. I’d like to think someone, somewhere got something out of each post I write but in the end, I know that I definitely do in writing each one, so that is what counts. Your posts are always so insightful and inspiring. Your storytelling, brilliant. ABC open is so amazing in being people together and providing opportunities for real people to tell real stories. Well done gorgeous. I’ll always enjoy reading your words. Always. Cx

–Carolyn Bofinger, Photographer and Blogger

To read the work commented on here click on this link Discovering

Wow! June this is fantastic! What amazing work from both you and Sheridan.

On Discovering, Stephanie, Artist, On Discovering, curator Ontario

Thank you June for this beautiful and generous gift. Will share it with my contacts.

- On Discovering, Joanna, Writer, Australia

Staggeringly beautiful June … such wonderful, wonderful work … thank
you for sharing with us.

- On Discovering, Jill, Textile Artist, United Kingdom

I am at a loss for words. Your images are so beautiful they bring tears to my eyes. It is obvious that you are one with the world that you photograph and write about. Your vision comes from your heart and even deeper than that, your soul. Thank you for sharing your work with us.

I really liked “Palm Fronds”…that was at the beginning. “Fireside Dreams” was so thought provoking and was probably my favorite. But then there was “Mirroring” it represented such delicacy and “Being Birdsong” was really beautiful.

-On Discovering, Vi, Poet, student of digital arts, Arizona

I love the e-book. Wonderful poems and pictures. Lovely!

-Jane Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, USA

Beautiful production in total. Wonderful to realize people in Australia share similar values.. Professor Arnold’s insight linking USA’s Rachel Carson and Jeffers from the turn of the century to 1960’s confirms a continuing value.. June’s photographic work and poems are exquisite. On Discovering, J Webb, medical professions, Sacramento, California

Stunning presentation. Shows nature is powerful. Reminds me of the fires here and how we became strugglers and then gained respect for the power of earthquakes and fires. Also, every parent, school, church that works with children would benefit from this e-book. Parents being there as children learn and then the child’s work is outstanding as well. A different world, different perspective, shared values.

- On Discovering Rachel, nurse, Chico, California

Exquisite work – great presentation. Have looked at it several times. Shared with colleagues. Very special.

- On Discovering, Marian, artist, Indianapolis, USA

Your presentation was exceptional, inspirational.

-Letizia de Roza, Book Creator’s Circle, on Talk to BCC.

On Video Storytelling

Great record of the good work of good people in great communities. And well done June with the video making – I am curating the ABC Open “Aftermath” content that you contributed this video to and I have watched you just get better and better. abc.net.au/open —ABC Open North Coast NSW, On Back on Track video

Jani Murphy, Photographer and Photojournalist, On Operation Angel documentary

WORKS REFERRED TO

June’s Aftermath Blogs

Discovering

ABC radio cover my video blogging

Circle of Life - By June Perkins

Recently my family went to visit Edmund Kennedy National Park. Like so much else around us it has been ravaged by Cyclone Yasi and is showing scars.

The scars include stinking dead fish on the beach – and trees alternating between neatly piled to chaotically strewn around depending on where they are in relation to the access road.

My children rolled hoops along the beach as I thought about the circle of nature’s distruction and renewal, the circle of life, a circle of weather patterns and a circle of recovery.

Looking forward I could see that the national parks would recover and that it would take ongoing patience to see a beauty in their stark branches which allow one to see the sky so clearly.

The day before our trip to Edmund Kennedy my eldest son presented a personal knowledge pursuit project on physics of guitar. He was so nervous. Yet he had enjoyed the study of the year and his control of his time immensely. He likes to know everything about his guitars and spend a lot of time with them. I have a photograph of him playing his guitar the day after the cyclone as he walks down the road outside our house. I will always remember him playing it in the candlelight as the storm began to build up.

I wrote a post for abcopen about guitars and their part in our cyclone experience Legend of Five Guitars but the funny thing is we now have more guitars, as a friend Omid gave a bass to my eldest son (which was also used in his PKP project.)

Galeanos - by June

Early this week I went to visit Pam and Joe Galeano to do some more work on the video story series I am doing on them. Pam took me for a drive around their property. We had a great time looking through her old albums too. This bought up so many more stories.

I think Pam and Joe could write a very interesting memoirs but they are pretty modest people.

As we drove to the very end part where they have a little patch of rainforest she related how usually there were thicky leafy overhangs from the canopy that cross over the road and in a high 4wd they would crash into you.

However now there is no canopy. I looked up to the sky and could see the tufts of green on the end of peeled trees and – it was then that Joe’s words from earlier in the day came to me.

”nature will recover, it always does – it’s people that mourn when it is damaged.”

Although he does think Yasi was a particularly tough cyclone and it make take many human years for that recovery to fully show itself to locals.

Thinking of photography I know I like to take portraits of people that come with a story. I admire people who can do weddings and families that they don’t know and can build an easy rapport with the people involved quickly.

Yet for me intimate storytelling photography which requires longer to pull off holds special appeal. I like to know that story behind the face I photograph and to have the time to hear it, retell it and convey it with an image.

Interesting faces which say something in every crease or twinkle of the eyes, or locations where the people usually reside (not studios) then hold special appeal.

I took several pictures of Pam and Joe in their country – environment and was very happy with quite a few of them.

My circles of recovery come from conversations that lead to these photographic moments – and writing them reminds me of how far myself and others have come.

I was delighted to learn one friend yesterday finally had her roof back, but sad to learn another has to wait until January 2012. Other friends are having watershed years where special amazing things are happening. They take on new jobs and challenges and have already been able to leave Yasi behind. Yet not everyone can.

I’ve been having interesting facebook chats on the recovery process too. Thanks to all those who take the time to chat and understand that some of us still need to unpack the recovery process.

Yesterday we had an amazing end of year surprise – we won the Christmas shopping vouchers that all the small businesses sponsor with the Tully Times. You fill out a form everytime you shop with a local business and go into the Christmas draw – it is an amazing prize.

It’s such a variety of vouchers – the butchers, bakery, seafood, photographic stuff, and the uniform shop and hairdressers. Amazing as I have been cutting the whole family’s hair to save money. I wonder who will use that voucher. It could be me?

Another surprise was having a blog with ABCopen make it onto another abc site for North Queensland. Originally it was featured here and of course the video is on vimeo.

I love making mini documentaries and taking photographs that tell stories – it feels like a vocation. Now I need to find more stories and more teams of people to work with. Heck maybe even a career path. Time for ebook and documentary bootcamps!

(c) Words and Images June Perkins, all rights reserved.

Photo Credit: June Perkins 'Yungaburra - Curtain Fig Tree'

Yungaburra is well known for it’s Folk Festival, and amazing curtain fig tree, but is also the home of a Book Fair.

This Saturday, 10th of September from 10am – 4pm book creators, book lovers, readers, writers and the general public will gather to listen to talks, and peruse the books particularly from North Queensland Authors.

Licuala Writers will be there to share and sell their first ever anthology, Under One Sky, recently released in the Aftermath of Cyclone Yasi.

I look forward to the weekend and reporting back how it goes and will let you know about some of the other writers I met!  I better take some money with me to buy some books.

Perhaps I’ll pop by and visit that awesome curtain fig tree again as it’s mighty, memorable and could figure in future stories I write!

(c) June Perkins, all rights reserved

Leandro visits Tully, photos by June Perkins

For someone who normally likes to take, rather than be in pictures, having a portrait done is a tad scary. I’ve been asked to do this by ABC for their annual report, where they are featuring some of their guest bloggers ‘engaging the community in conversations,’ and sharing more about the ABCopen project.

I needn’t have worried because Leandro Palacio, a newly appointed ABCopen producer, who resides in Cairns, puts me immediately at ease. He is so new his page on ABCopen is about to go up and isn’t there yet.

Leandro is from Argentinia originally and most recently lived in Melbourne for ten years. He has made the move to Cairns with his young family and is really enthusiastic about working for the ABC. He is about to make a trip to Cape York. I am sure we will read a blog or see a video of the work he does up there soon.

He has had an interesting life, and you can probably tell I forgot my photograph was being taken and instead began preparing a blog on the visit through an informal interview. I had already asked Leandro if I could do a blog on having the portrait done. He was happy for me to do that.

He liked the spot I had chosen for the photograph – Alligator’s Nest – but like everyone visiting wondered about that name. The true story is on the sign and it’s all to do with some local history. Maybe next time you visit Tully you might like to look it up. It is not because there are Alligators there.

Mystery? Tell me why you think it’s called that? Maybe you can give a creative answer and see how close you get.  Do that before researching the truth.

Recently heritage trail signs went up all over Tully. I might walk around and try and find them all, I have found quite a few and we do read them and they help us to know the history of the area better. It is helpful that they are on location and you can learn history as you walk.

I learnt how to use the self timer on my camera with some assistance from Leandro. I have recently purchased a new camera and am still learning how to use it. The ABCopen producers do a workshops to skill the community up and Leandro has especially run these for young people in his past occupations. He has taught video skills too.

It is exciting to think of the ABCopen producers inspiring a generation of new and young film makers and photographers who may have had a spark lit in a regional community workshop.

I am certain from Leandro’s easy going manner, obvious listening skills, and gentleness that he is going to do a wonderful job for the ABC and out in the community. I am sure that Mick Bromage his Townsville Counterpart is going to have a great time having another producer in North Queensland!

Leandro tells me that all the ABC open producers recently met each other, they had some training and visited QANDA, and got a chance to bond as a nationwide time. I think some of them are going to go on and do great things.

Keep a look out for them in your local community and do go and visit this exciting project of the ABC to see how you can get involved and ‘join the conversation.’

VISIT   ABCopen Project.

(c) June Perkins, all rights reserved, words and image.

Leandro - portrait of the portrait taker - by June Perkins

Me thinking about so many trees gone - self portrait

So what is the typical day in the life of a blogger?  Like all writers bloggers are looking for inspiration.  They may write the day up they have just had, or a special memory day from several weeks ago, or even further back.

I have found a new pattern to my blogging with ABCopen because now I am approaching it in a way that means I have to be briefer, work with only one image, and place relevant links within the post and underneath.

I tend to hurl a draft down quickly and then let it sit for a few days, whilst I think what was the goal of that blog I was writing.  Sometimes the blogs come naturally, easily- and other times I am casting around for an idea that will get to the heart of what the recovery process is like in North Queensland.

The goal is always about resilience, courage and joy, and yet the path to those qualities may be complicated, and have up and down moments.  I want to convey all that but ultimately uplift people to heal even more.

Once a blog is complete – the next phase is ‘conversation’ about the topic of the blog with the public.   Whilst this conversation is going on I am already one, two or even three blog topics ahead.

I am gathering information from life, news, truth, rumour, conversation, photographs and the special way writers and artists have of being in the world.

Every now and then special events come along, but even if they don’t I have to dig deep to find something of relevance to blog. I realise that a lot of journeys we take are internal not just external.  Sometimes you can blog about that.

To follow the journey of recovery and resilience as I blog it, do go and visit the following

AFTERMATH

There are also some amazing people there, some very new to blogging, who are sharing their experience as well.  I like to visit them to make comments and converse with them about how they are going. Why not do that too!  Bloggers blog to engage in conversations and be part of the world.

(c) June Perkins

This article has been published in the Critical Mass Blog.

Please leave comments on that blog, as well as here.   I am sure Queensland Music Festival and Tutors want to know what you thought of the workshops if you were there.

Song Trails in the Cassowary Coast Part 2: Making A Song

To make a song – guitar, keyboard, people, words – Courtesy June Perkins

I can’t believe I had never heard of Song Trails before this year.  Vanessa Bromley who runs our local Tully music shop and Evolve told me it was coming through Cassowary Coast and asked if I wanted to be put on an ‘expressions of interest’ list.

It wasn’t definite the trail would be heading our way so she was drumming up interest.  I said, ‘Sure why not? Count me in!’ Then later I heard from our Cassowary Arts Officer, Kath Barnett- all systems go!

I have written poetry since I was eight and completed four years in classical guitar training over twenty years ago.  Since that time I have never neglected my guitar although I have  played mostly popular and folk tunes to amuse the kids and myself.

The poetry has been going well and I have published a few pieces and co-edited an anthology for the Licuala Writers of the Cassowary Coast called  Under One Sky, but it is only recently that I began to write songs.  The main catalysts for my song writing efforts were shifting from city to small country town living, as well as wanting to add music to our group’s public prose and poetry readings.

Cassowary Coast, our home since 2006, is super wet and a complex place when you dig under its surface.   Now, we have had the dubious experience of being through two severe cyclones and living in their aftermath.  We’re in a fertile place for experience that inspires words and music- as well as being great for growing sugar cane and bananas.

The concept of Song Trails intrigued me when I found out more about it – just how were forty people with four talented song writers, going to create songs in four hours? When we arrived and found out that we only had one hour and thirty minutes of the time for the song creation, and production I was mildly terrified.  Can you really co-write a song in such a short amount of time with people you might not even know?

As I explained in Muso Intros the workshop artists first introduced themselves and ran an informal panel to put us at ease before we got down to song making.  We were then asked to immediately put into practice some of the principles they had shared with us.  We moved into our song- writing groups: two groups of twenty, with two artists to lead us.  I found myself in Peter Farnan and Leah Flannagan’s group.

Peter and Leah say ‘go with the flow’ – courtesy June Perkins

Our first exercise was two minutes of automatic writing on the key word ‘Ahead.’  We were asked to put down anything that came into our head.   We were ‘free-writing.’

Participants Freewriting – Courtesy June Perkins

Then people volunteered to read their productions – and words flowed from our pages to our mouths, to the group, to butcher paper and white board.  Farnan asked us to read slowly and stopped us at phrases or key words that sprung out at him.  We ended up with a group set of phrases and key words to work with.

Song in progress, courtesy June Perkins.

He noticed in our words – time shifting, a sense of loss, references to bed and associations with beds like mattresses  (perhaps because it rhymed with ahead) and interesting phrases like:

‘Everytime I think of flowers I wanna make fires’

This ended up being our chorus.

We were asked what key, ‘major or minor?’  We went for minor.  Farnan began to play chords on the keyboard and turned to Flannagan every now and then for her input, ‘what do you think here?’   Flannagan hummed a melody as he played more chord combinations.

As our chorus solidified people wanting a song compass asked, ‘Are you going to tell us basic song structure?’

Farnan urged everyone to go with the flow, explaining that ‘this song is organic and its structure will emerge in the process of doing.’   We went with the flow.

Our group song ended up with: a chorus, two verses, a bridge, a guitar solo and a gospel feel, through this surprising process.

As we added in the ideas from the group, and explored the snippets we had ‘automatically written’ we stripped away unnecessary words, and repetition, to make the lines scan better for the song and seem more mysterious.  As we did this new phrases came into being and made their way into our song.

At one stage our song was heading for Bob Dylan territory and then gothic, Black Sabbath day style – gravestones were in danger of appearing, perhaps the influence of some of the musical tastes in our group, but another element wanted some light – something positive and less bleak (although Farnan felt the words did not have to be read as bleak). Flannagan encouraged our efforts to balance the song, and so a mattress to protect (from one of our automatic writers) began to appear in the lyrics. Song writing can be a real ying and yang gig I’ve since concluded.

We sang the chorus with Farnan accompanying us on keyboard (he is a brilliant pianist), as we thought about whether the lines flowed into each other well enough.  Finally the discussion lead to verses that seemed to work.  The skeleton of our song came into a fully fleshed being.

Our song seemed to speak to me personally of the anger of being in a cyclone, and then recovering to win the day.  Maybe our automatic writing had unearthed something we needed to speak about, but we had not set out with a specific idea to do this.

I am not sure what it said to others so I hope they will respond to this blog.

Later we got together with the other group facilitated by Rebecca Barnard and Robert Forster, and shared our song, and they revealed theirs – a heart-warming  and cheery song with food at its centre from “Mama’s Kitchen,”  which I think will be shared on the live stream as well.

Robert and Rebecca sharing their group’s song – courtesy June Perkins

Our group formed a spontaneous Cassowary Recovery choir to sing to the other song writers.   We were inspired and maybe even healed  by the process of composing and belting out a gospel rhythm song expressing so much of what we have been through on the Cassowary Coast.

We closed the whole Song Trails evening with a brief sharing of our own songs.  I wish we had more time as there was so much talent in the room from our local area; it would have been good to  get to know them as individuals and maybe hear more of  our panel’s thoughts on our local song-writing efforts, but there just wasn’t time. Our guest artists were apologetic about this and gave us a few sentences or sang along enthusiastically.

Local Band – sharing their work – courtesy June Perkins (more at my flickr space)

Still the group unity in creating and the joy in performing that new work is really what Song Trails seems to be about; we can follow each other up.

Song Trails has inspired me to seek out talented musicians and singers to collaborate with and to keep working on my song writing skills.  You can follow my continuing song writing efforts and progression if you like on Gumbootspearlz youtube.

Why not share your comments about being in a song trails workshop?

Especially those of Hugenden; I heard your song last night at the Song Trails concert in Innisfail and cannot get it out of my head!  Neither can anyone in my family.  It is so beautiful and to think you got that all from the word “chill”, sends chills down my spine.

I’d love to hear from other Song Trailers on the critical mass or my Unity’s Garden Site.  It feels like we are one big family now.

**

You can visit catch June at Aftermath’s ABC’s Open Project.   She  has a song “Rain is All there is” for you to comment on if you want to help her in her song writing journey.  For more photos of the workshop visit Gumbootspearlz flickr.