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Author: Barry Gittins

  • AUSTRALIA

    Just around the corner

    • Barry Gittins
    • 18 December 2023

    The next week or so can be a very selfish time, but it does not have to be. Christmas brings hope. The prospect of peace. The possibility of joy. These coming days truly are the best time to be human, to share what we have and who we want to be.

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    To be Frank: In conversation with Catharine Lumby

    • Barry Gittins
    • 24 November 2023

    Catharine Lumby was a friend and beneficiary of Moorhouse’s mentoring and advice, and before his death, was approached by him to write a warts-and-all uncensored biography. In Frank Moorhouse: A Life, Lumby explores the life of this man of letters in all of its colour and contradiction. 

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Backwards to go forwards

    • Barry Gittins
    • 16 November 2023
    6 Comments

    How should our nation reckon with its colonial history and its lasting impact on contemporary society? From the stark realities of early settlement to the enduring legacies of injustice towards Indigenous peoples, this piece explores what it means for a country to grapple with its identity amidst a backdrop of change.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Will they gain a Voice? I sincerely hope so

    • Barry Gittins
    • 28 September 2023
    3 Comments

    The voices of Australia's First Nations communities are asking to be heard. With the upcoming referendum, the nation faces a decision both about equity and identity. How might genuine hope and understanding impact Australia's path forward and address longstanding disparities?

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Father down the road

    • Barry Gittins
    • 31 August 2023
    2 Comments

    Father's Day: a symbolic marker in Australia's calendar, often evoking mixed emotions. From fond memories of childhood to the challenges of modern fatherhood, the journey is both beautiful and complex as the role of fathers continues to evolve.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Taking the nation's pulse

    • Barry Gittins
    • 16 August 2023
    1 Comment

    Australia's wellbeing report reveals a nation under strain. The report, aligning with Treasurer Jim Chalmers' vision of aligning economic and social goals in Australia, evaluates mental health, income equality, and connection as communities still feel the aftershocks of the pandemic.

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    How the road unravelled: In conversation with Kate Holden

    • Barry Gittins
    • 14 July 2023
    2 Comments

    Kate Holden’s The Winter Road is a ranging meditation on a 2014 execution-style murder committed on a dirt track in Croppa Creek, in northwest NSW. Barry Gittins speaks to Kate Holden about her prize-winning account of the crime, reminding readers of the uneasy history of predation in this country and the damage it does to the land and to the people on it.

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    Who tells your story?

    • Barry Gittins
    • 11 July 2023
    2 Comments

    From our most cherished childhood memories to the hard-won wisdom of our adult years, stories are the threads that bind us together, the tapestries that shape our identities. But who gets to tell these stories, and how are they preserved for future generations?

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    What is the good life?

    • Barry Gittins
    • 24 May 2023
    2 Comments

    The Personal Wellbeing Index in Australia points to an all-time low in life satisfaction, particularly among young people. Could it be that the path to living well lies not in grand pursuits of wealth and fame but in the smaller, modest moments of joy, peace, love, and hope? 

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    Near life experiences

    • Barry Gittins
    • 18 April 2023

    Near-death experiences can serve as stark reminders of the fragility of life, prompting us to cherish the moments that transcend routine and monotony. Whether it's the wit of a child, the intimacy with a partner, or the tranquility of nature, these moments awaken us to the gift of life. 

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    In love, prefer one another

    • Barry Gittins
    • 30 March 2023
    5 Comments

    In a world of differing opinions and clashing worldviews, finding common ground can be a challenge. But by staying curious and open-minded about others' experience and practicing patience and compassion, we can learn to work alongside others with different viewpoints. 

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    The Fall of Man

    • Barry Gittins
    • 02 March 2023
    1 Comment

    Autumn's arrival may bring with it uneasy visions of creeping mortality. With younger and keener generations marching on, the impetus for older generations is to share the wisdom we've gathered and remind ourselves we're still breathing, still contributing, and still sound of limb and mind.

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