Gillian - at Armidale

I remember going to one of my beloved university sessions in Armidale.
It was a cold Autumn,
but the wonderful carpet of autumn leaves
was always worth a dance or two
spinning the leaves into a frenzy
a mad
endless
chaos

the hill to climb each day to lectures from the student quarters
was rather steep
and rather long
so we had the time to dance

But I remember most
the last night
waiting for a bus
a running late bus
that was to take us back to Sydney.

All the bags
gathered with a bunch of weary students
waiting and waitng
for a bus
beneath a stark street light

Time seemed trapped in
a breathless limbo

until a guy suggested
that we take it in turns
to recite some poetry.

After all, we were English students.

He took the first round

Suddenly
we were winged to
a magic realm
of minds and heart
and songs of the soul

we relaxed
and drifted with
the impromptu music

others followed

but somehow

the first song
was
the best song

the bus arrived
lots of apologies

and somehow

we were sorry
we felt sad

we felt sad
that a special
window

had now
closed

Hunter - an overview

 His family lived on an island just offshore from the Queensland coast.
It was a small island, but access to the hub of life in Brisbane was easily mastered by ferry.

His family was middle class but they had dreams of climbing.
Hunter grew up in a world of law - his father, Alistair was a barrister.
And Hunter wanted to get closer to the law makers.

By the time he was 20 he was married to a sweet lady
who supported his dreams.
They had two children - a boy and girl - who attended local public primary schools,
but experienced high school years in the private sector.
Dad wanted them to know a little of both worlds.
Mum agreed.

But Hunter was hungry.
Legal worlds seemed like waxed effigies in a museum - nice but static.
He liked to initiate more immediate changes.

So it was
with encouragement of colleagues
he ventured into politics.

At first
it seemed he was 'a mover and a shaker' in the island community.
Roads were repaired, a school opened, tourist hubs emerged
and employment both on the island and on the mainland
suddenly became accessible for these islanders.

Hunter seemed to be a politician
that was nice
a people person
a human being.

But still
Hunter climbed.

Beyond the island
he saw a political niche
that meant he was
a politician for the nation.

with encouragement from colleagues
he climbed on...

Mum agreed.

Novel Character

First draft 14.7.15