English News 

Inspiring Writing and Conversation

On International Women’s Day, I attended Maxine Beneba Clarke’s lecture, “Talking Back: Being a Black Female Author on the School Curriculum,” as part of The University of Melbourne's Dean’s Lecture series. The series is a collection of public talks about educational challenges and opportunities in Australia and around the world. Mrs. Tchantcho encouraged me to attend the lecture as it was relevant to the content we were studying in class. This would benefit my writing skills. And indeed, it did.

During the lecture, the writer explored topics such as the challenges faced by writers of colour on the Australian curriculum. She also delved into the importance of diversity in literature. Through her work, she forces the reader to see things from a different perspective from their own since her work is based on international experiences.  As I had to curate an individual voice distinct from my own in my writing for my 'World Classics' elective, I found this incredibly useful. In my English classes, we read from all around the world and discuss the cultural climate of the content. Clarke’s words about non-white writers' struggles and striving in the face of challenges gave me insight into the context of the works I read and increased my appreciation for them. 

Throughout the lecture, I was deeply inspired by the impact she has made on students’ education as a result of her work. Her main point was that including diverse writers on the syllabus changes the conversation. As she discussed, diverse work matters as it allows readers to see the world from different outlooks and enter new worlds created by authors who have led contrasting lives. After the talk, I was able to meet the Maxine Beneba Clarke in person and express my appreciation for the work of writers like her, who create change within areas like education (which I said in less eloquent terms because I was nervous). I am incredibly grateful that I got to watch the lecture and encourage anyone to get involved in workshops like these. 

Attending workshops and hearing from authors firsthand not only cultivates wonder for writers but also inspires the work you create. Some of the workshops in the upcoming festival are being hosted at Bunjil Place, so students don't even need to travel far.

Neriah Morales - Year 10