Forgotten how hard writing was ...

If the Australian identity in the early Australian literature of the 1840s can be attributed to the new settlers’ ‘quest for belonging and identity’ and the often violent, clash of Indigenous and immigrant cultures as well as a longing for home ...

After two weeks in New Zealand I had forgotten how hard writing was and only managed four paragraphs yesterday. I read the Thesis Whisperer's blog for inspiration - I like her sense of humour! I especially like the blog about taking a thesis writing retreat in New York although I'm always happy to settle for Jan's cabin in Tassie.

Babysitting today but with XP having a morning nap sleeping in the cot next to me I seem to have found a new speed. Something nice about having a companion when you are working alone. Of course, not to be left out WM is going with me to the Bailleu on Tuesday to borrow some books and, while I have a coffee, to soak up the academic air. Kel and B spent weekends at Monash University Library in the 90s with me when I first began researching Australian children's lit with the reward of an icecream in the Union building for good behaviour afterwards. They were always excellent and I developed a liking for cappucinos. Once we left Paddington Bear under the photocopiers and returned to find him waiting patiently. Paddington has just been dusted off for XP - a little bedraggled but always much loved. Update: I have completed 350 paragraphs and have probably the same amount to go! But this year I have every Monday off to write. Plus I have booked into 4 Thesis Writing Bootcamps.

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My Thesis - what's it about?

I am always thrilled to be contacted by those who by chance find my blog. I have been blogging for three years and am hoping to complete my first draft by the end of the year. I thought it timely to re-publish what has already been published. The following is from my presentation at the University of Kassel, Germany. In 1904 Olga Ernst, a pupil teacher, wrote Fairy Tales from the Land of the Wattle. Although she was just sixteen years old, Ernst was one of a small group of writers in Australia who attempted to nationalise the fairytale towards the end of the nineteenth century, signalling quite clearly that they intended to affix the elves and fairies of Europe onto the Australian landscape aiming to fill a void that was keenly felt by the children of emigrants and the Australian-born children of emigrants. (Walker, 1988) The beginnings of the Australian bush fantasy genre can be linked with the desire to bring the comfortable and familiar into the new and distinctly non

Judged by the audience.

I started this blog as a way to reflect on intriguing aspects of my research. I wonder about who is reading this blog? It is nice to get emails and the occasional comment. I ponder about the regular visitor from Slovenia and am delighted that I was discovered by Heyne family members quite by accident. The most visited posts are: A PhD! What's in it for me? Sept 12,2010 Teaching in the blood Oct 19, 2010 Rosalie's Reward Oct 16, 2010 Tassie Tales Aug 15, 2010 Toxic Friendships Jun 19, 2010 Producing a poster - AARE Conference Oct 24, 2010 So... how popular are the Grimms? March 6 2011

A new audience for 'old' Australian fairy tales?

The Internet offers collaborative possibilities as well as the ease of sharing. This blog, maintained as a writing tool for five years, has shared research that may not appear in my thesis. It also explored the personal narrative of a PhD journey as well as my relationship with Ernst’s work. Interested relatives and other acquaintances interstate and overseas discovered my blog through search engines. They have added to the research data available in State and Lutheran archival records and made personal papers and photographs available. Patterson and Lindberg (1991) claim that, ‘the private papers of authors and artists are important to the cause of learning’ (218) on two levels: one to allow insight and understanding about, the creative process of the author and at another as the ‘cultural heritage’ of how an author’s work has shaped or reflected for the reader, their environment. Relatives who have contacted me through my blog have offered further insight through their anecdotes, p

Early Australian fairy tales

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