Legacy Lady by Andrea Rowe

I am the dust on the mantle, the sepia steely-eyed matron.

I am the memory of Committee Presidents, the name on Honour Boards,

saluting legends, leaving legacies.

The plaque in the park.

The bequest to a town.

The clipboard ticking Mistress who would not let them down.

I am the pioneer, the scrutineer, the woman who cajoled and campaigned, who whined and whipped them into shape.

I am the Lady of The Coast who bossed the blokes;

“Now see here, now look here, now we’re here!”.

I am the woman who marched from kitchen to committee table,

who saw what mattered, what must be done. What will be done.

I put my best foot forward, dug my clipped nails in,

sucked my courage into my girdle with no time to check that shoes matched skirt.

I raised my suburban voice so that the dust on mantles would not settle without a good community shake-up.

I am the woman who watches you build upon the foundations that I laid out long ago.

This is my voice

New Experiences by Kim Robyn Smith

‘Well, aren’t you going to help me?’ Gennene cried. She wrestled with flaps and folds of the lightweight tent. ‘Nope.’ ‘Why the hell not?!’ Gennene said. ‘And by the way that’s a rhetorical question!’ Phil answered anyway. ‘You know I hate camping, Gennene. You can...

Aussie Tucker by Kim Robyn Smith

Aussie Tucker ‘We’re Bogged? Here on the side of Moorooduc Road?’‘Yes, Jodie, that’s what I said!’ Brett ran his hand through his thick hair.They stared at the food van.‘We can’t just leave it here!’ Jodie cried. ‘We’ll get in so much trouble if we don’t arrive at the...

Big Day Out by Kim Robyn Smith

‘Come on, Margaret,’ Joan said. ‘Just walk out with this group.’ With Joan at her heels, Margaret obeyed and shuffled out with the aid of her walker. The two elderly friends tottered down the footpath and turned into the main street of Hastings. ‘Let’s look in the...

Winter Words Week 3: Catatonic by Andrea Rowe

MICROFICTION MANIA MONTH 2020 Read the 150 words (or less) works of our weekly winners who were given specific place, character and word prompts to write to.This was a People’s Choice voting initiative for our members during lockdown.Word: CatatonicPlace: Frankston...

The Guardian by Rebecca Fraser

I am a Guardian. Like my mother and her mother, and her mother before;
Nurturing, protecting, weaving
the tapestry of family and community with small, tight stitches.

CYCLE CULTURE by Kim Robyn Smith

They gather at the Homemaker Centre. Large groups congregate, dictated by ability. Pink lycra- clad ladies hover in anticipation of the beginner’s cruise. The cyclists meander out onto the Nepean Highway. A single bright beam streams from the front and rear of each...