Write Wing
Write Wing Day Four
By Emma Rugg and Matthew Knott
Singing their praises
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REST EASY, JUNOT: Australian books dominated the Gleebooks bestseller list during the festival period, but none could top Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar |
They’re the soy on your sushi, the floss in your bathroom, the slip on your pillowcase – life’s silent essentials. Without going all Tracy Grimshaw on you, it’s fair to say that volunteers really are the Festival’s unsung heroes.
Every year, about 200 eager beavers, young and old, are recruited to staff info booths, work as ushers, runners, queue supervisors, escorts and marshals and assist people with disabilities. So with long hours without pay, why do they do it? Besides the promise of a free T-shirt?
“It’s my civil duty to society I think,” Ben Withaar, a shining example of volunteer pride, told Write Wing. Writers’ greenroom supervisor Jackie Clark said, “Well I love the books, and I love the behind-the-scenes aspect too. I’m a natural holder of the ladder. That’s my role in life.”
Things are slightly more culinary for Poafa Fifita, volunteering for high-school work experience. “The best bit is the food vouchers for the cafes!” But the on-the-ground action does have a darker side. Withaar has narrowly avoided death by walking stick after a run-in with an angry punter.
“Lucky the security guard stepped in,” he says. “Or my head would be a lot thinner. They’re the real heroes.” One self-proclaimed “bouncer”, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Write Wing most authors are “self effacing”.
But not all. “One had a huge, huge ego – he didn’t want to register, write his name down or anything.” An egomaniacal author? Never!
Overheard
“I have domestic staff but I wouldn’t call them servants.” – Ahh, champagne socialism, as demonstrated by a well-to-do woman outside Gleebooks.
“I told my Brazilian musician partner that there is no bohemia in Sydney. But his first night he came back home with an Iranian dissident, three Polish missionaries and some Spanish dude.” – Travel writer Carmen Michael on Friday, reminding Sydney folks their city has a zany side.
“Don’t waste your film.” – One unamused festival-goer tells a budding paparazzo she’s sick of photos of the ex-premier.
“It’s no good clawing your way into public office if there aren’t the entitlements.” – Bob Carr told this joke at his My Reading Life talk yesterday.
It’s a wrap
With another year coming to an end, Write Wing thought we’d scope out what was hot, what was not and what could be improved next year.
Jan Macindoe, a Glebian, said, “I think it’s better than the previous few years because of the new venue [Pier 2/3 at Walsh Bay]. The crowds have been spread out a lot more and there’s been less of a rush for food.”
Janice Linsell, from Soldiers Point on the NSW North Coast, said the Festival’s regional outreach could be greater. There were no Newcastle events except a talk by children’s author Terry Denton. “It’s the second-biggest city in the state so there could have been some events up there.”
Many punters got creative with solutions to ease the queuing squeeze. Bruce Bourke of Melbourne said a deli-style system could be introduced where punters get a ticket to reserve a place in line.
Pauline McMurchie of Jervis Bay – clearly not a woman with Communist leanings – said wholly free events should be scrapped. First dibs should be given to those willing to pay a small price – say $5 – with leftovers handed out gratis to those willing to wait in line.
One verdict was unanimous: the divine bacon and egg rolls must stay.
Overseen
SBS newsreader Anton Enus in the crowd at Junot Díaz’s talk.
Kylie Kwong rushing to hear Michael Pollan talk about his book TIn Defence of Food.
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Max Connery |
Play School star Rhys Muldoon deep in conversation with Labor speechwriter Bob Ellis, just days after taking Festival happy snaps with Bob Carr. (Is Muldoon thinking of “doing a McKew”? By capitalising on his popularity with the youth demographic, he could well become the next ALP celebrity recruit.)
A parking officer slapping a ticket on an official Writers’ Festival car parked in a no stopping zone at Walsh Bay. Don’t believe those cynics who say we live in a corrupt state.
Pic of the punters
Max Connery assures us he’s not related to a certain James Bond actor but Write Wing thought he cut a dashing figure on the pier, Junot Díaz’s new book in hand, beanie on head.
Additional reporting: Alexandra Beech and Lisa Harrison
We’ll be eternally grateful if you send your gossip to write-wing@hotmail.com