Riverina Writing House is a brand new local independent publishing house and centre for writers and writing.

Leeton's very own publishing house where we will make books that tell the stories of us - our people, our history, own home, our landscape.

On August 6 from 6pm at The Freckled Duck at The Hydro we will be launching the first book published under the Riverina Writing House banner. Chapbook number two the second volume of collected works by Leeton Writers Collective.

All welcome to come and celebrate. COVID protocols to apply.

I've been thinking the idea of starting a printing house for a while and have spoken about Riverina Press here in the column before, but that idea has evolved.

What is needed is a local arts and cultural institution that creates and celebrates stories and literature.

A publishing house, and a place to meet, teach, work, hold discussions and write.

A permanent entity that upholds our historical literary pedigree, builds a library of work that represents our unique Riverina aesthetic and gives everyone a voice to tell their stories. All ages, all walks of life, all backgrounds, everyone has a right to have their story told.

Riverina Writing House is going to make that happen.

If people wonder how it is that I have come back home and find myself with this wonderful community of creative people around me and feel compelled now to turn this seed of an idea into a flourishing book-making project that will enrich and empower the town - it's simple. This is my home.

My great-grandparents are buried in the Leeton cemetery along with all my grandparents, many great aunts and uncles, other ancestors, and dear friends.

IN OTHER NEWS:

When I was not here, I was homesick for here. When I came back last year and found myself in lockdown, I knew it's where I belonged.

When I was a child, I was always writing. I wrote in a notebook while I walked around the farm, down at the river, out at Collinroobie, Bunganbil, Merribee, Cocoparra, cold winter mornings in the dark by the fire, hot, hot summer days holed up under the fan, at the beach on holidays, on long family drives, at my grandparents' - always writing, and always reading.

Then writing at school, for the eisteddfod, for work, writing and then making poetry books.

Against that backdrop, the question becomes not why are you setting up Riverina Writing House, but how come it took you so long?

All the beautiful people who are part of Leeton Writers Collective and the residency project - first at The Hydro, currently at The Leeton Museum and Gallery - provide the foundation, the inspiration and the impetus for this next step.

The whole community - all the elders with wonderful stories to tell, all the beautiful young people, finding their way in this hard-to-fathom world, with stories to tell, voices to unleash.

This will be our publishing house, our centre for writers and writing, our home of storytelling.

Come along, buy a book, get it signed by our famous local authors. See history in the making.

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