GIDDY-UP FOR POETRY IN BINALONG

 

Gallop in to A Brush with Poetry this afternoon 1.30 for 2.00 pm (or arrive when you can). Bring a poem (or a song) or just come to listen. It's serious, it's fun, it's moving, it's a bit silly, it's bush, it's contemporary, it's story, it's bloody good poetry. Something for everyone. Bring a friend. New and experienced very welcome ... poets/performers that is as for the friends that's up to you. It's in The Hive at the back of Café on Queen, Queen Street. (This is a photo of the Binalong Mechanics Institute this morning — not to confuse you — just to show you a typical Binalong day. There's a time when that might've been me! Seriously.)

I'll tell you about the amazing Jacqui Malins installation Wrack and Salvage later. Today is the last day. Take a trot (groan) over the Belconnen Arts Centre if you can't get to Binalong. Cheers.

I STILL DREAM OF HORSES

 

 

 

 

I Still Dream of Horses: A girl, her horse and the stories of their lives (RRP $18.95. hb. 200pp. 2020) by Binalong’s Leanne Heffernan is a memoir you will gallop through.

 

Consuela, an 18 year-old appaloosa mare, takes us from the day she was purchased for fourteen year-old Leanne through all the twists and turns of her long life. Her memories include the joys of her young owner and her horse loving friends, horsie friendships and the bitie politics of public agistment, and new animal friends including a moppity clydie and a crazy Billygoat. There is a myriad of challenges and changes for both Consuela and Leanne as time goes on but their love for each other never sways. Consuela spends a lot of her time in Canberra allotments but eventually heads for regional fields and finally Binalong itself.

 

Saw a notice for this book on the Binalong Post Office notice board just recently. I wouldn’t have paid much attention to it as our horse days are long behind us — yes we did do the pony club thing with the kids and had a couple of beautiful Clydesdales at one time. Except that … another Binalong author? Stage left to Bill Kosseris’ wee shop! ‘Thought I should buy this book Bill as it’s a Binalong author.’ ‘Oh yes,’ he says, and in the way of small towns, ‘she lives up there in so and so’s house …’ Houses are not placed by their addresses but by their histories. My new neighbour! All the more reason to check this book out.

 

I’m not sure what the target market is. I’m thinking it’s a book for teens — if they can wrestle it off their mums first  But then again it was highly recommended by a younger discerning reader in Bill’s shop at the time. Thank you Ella — you were right — I Still Dream of Horses is a REALLY good book. Keep the tissues handy but be prepared for a good chuckle too. An un-put-downable memoir with a difference.

 

If you are not near Binalong in the Yass Valley, NSW, you can also order from the author (add $6.95 p&p) via https://www.istilldreamofhorses.com/buy-now Amazon has paperback and kindle versions and by the way says it is for ten year-olds to adults. Visit: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Dream-Horses-Leanne-Heffernan-ebook/dp/B08L8VV6F8

 

If you are in the area why not make Binalong your next country delight. 

 

PS Apologies Leanne for my sloppy photo