In November we met under the shade in the Humanities Courtyard to hear some words from Speakeasy readers old and new. Here's Jess Miller's musings on the day:
I think back on 2014 and remember the end of
the semester with the most fondness. So much was happening! I and most of my
friends were finishing our undergraduate degrees! Yet what I loved about that
last week wasn’t handing up that major assignment or leaving that tutorial room
for the final time—it was actually the year’s last Speakeasy campus event.
I’m sure it
sounds like I’m saying this just for effect, but let me assure you that I’m
being completely earnest about this.
It was a
perfectly sunny Friday afternoon, for one thing. And for another, a fantastic
amalgamation of year levels, student spectators and the odd academic had
gathered on the grass to hear the talent (and bravery), as Flinders Creative
Writers performed their short stories.
It was impressive
to hear the scope of genres across the day, from fantasy to romance to crime
fiction. In fact, there was such a variety of readers that it became necessary
to stretch our legs at half-time. And with the
expanse of the Humanities courtyard to play with, what better than a game of
croquet, brought along by our lovely Speakeasy co-director, Lauren?
With free
food and wine in our stomachs, it was a joy to both listen and perform; even
afterwards, with the speaking podium put to rest and the drink bottles empty,
nobody felt like leaving. It’s really a testament to the relaxed, friendly
atmosphere when at the end of it most of us only left to catch our last
available buses.
A somewhat
belated (but still valid) thank you to Lauren and Alicia for putting on yet
another highly successful Speakeasy event—may the next one brim with even more
success! (And more croquet! Obviously, come to hear the creative writers, but
also, come on guys, it’s croquet.)
Words by Jess Miller
