This series of nine long-form essays is the result of a mentoring program where emerging writers are paired with established ones to produce a 5000-word essay. Long-form essays impel the reader to examine an issue more fully. Mentors (Amanda Hooton, Michael Brissenden, Paddy Manning, et al), introduce each essay, providing insights into the processes of long-form writing.
Margaret Simons, in her introduction to Esther Linder’s piece noted that the insertion of the writer’s ‘own perceptions and understandings’ was difficult, but necessary. Linder’s essay, ‘Broken Chains’, investigates the obstacles in getting food from paddock to plate, and her trip to Forbes – at Simons’ insistence – proved pivotal in ‘bring[ing] the story alive’.
The first essay, ‘Resistance Training’, by Arlie Alizzi, ostensibly relates to the sport of powerlifting, but the essay unfurls debates on gender dynamics, patriarchal administration, and trans rights. The patriarchy of the Catholic Church is the subject of Claire Keenan’s piece. She discusses her own faith journey amid sexual abuse scandals and the treatment of gay and/or gender diverse parishioners. Dan Jervis-Bardy covers the forgotten death of a two-year-old Sudanese-Australian, in ‘What Happened to Safa Annour?’ Would more have been done had Safa been white?
Hessom Razavi in ‘The Best Way Out Is Always Through’ implores Australia to ‘lift its game on refugees and asylum seekers’. He walks in both worlds, having arrived from Iran and marrying into an ‘Aussie’ family.
There’s a neat segue into the following essay, ‘Fighting On’, by Liz Gooch, which compares the plights of female martial arts fighters – one fled to Australia, the other remained in Afghanistan.
Penny Craswell’s ‘On Cups’ is a reflection on the utility and beauty of drinking vessels. If readers believe trans rights to be a contemporary issue, Sam Elkin argues otherwise in the penultimate essay. The final essay, ‘No One Is Safe’, by Wing Kuang, exposes the gaps in consent training for international students.
These are all strong essays in Stories That Want to be Told, fine-tuned and polished by accomplished mentors. All should be congratulated.
Reviewed by Bob Moore
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Judith Neilson Institute champions quality journalism and storytelling in Australia and around the world through grants, practical education programs and events with global leaders that will enlighten, provoke and inspire.
The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas was established in late 2018 when philanthropist Judith Neilson committed at least $100 million to create a centre for journalism, based in Australia but with global reach and ambition.
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