2010 School Workshops

Each year the committee carefully selects a number of schools to be involved in our Poetry Writing Workshops in Schools. This selection is based on written expression from the schools themselves. In addition to this, school workshops are heavily sponsored by the Ipswich City Council councillors.  Many of the councillors like to nominate a school of their choice in their own divisions.  If your school is in the Ipswich Council's boundaries and would like to take part in the 2011 Ipswich Poetry Feast schools' poetry workshops, then please consider returning your expression of interest forms when they are sent out."    The poets presenting workshops this year are Graham Nunn, Meredith Costian, David Stavanger
and Marco Gliori. See our links to find out more information on these poets.

Can any one tell me ‘What is ‘normal’?

When I was studying statistical analysis at University 'Normal' was a point on a statistical curve where the majority of people would fall. Another reference point we would use was the mean, a statistical range which most people would fall between. However as members of  Society, our social conditioning often dictates what is the 'norm' or considered 'normal' .  Let me demonstrate what I mean by giving examples from my own social setting. Consider me in a busy shopping centre as a person with a disability; most fellow shoppers may not consider me 'normal'. But consider this, 'put me in a room of 40 something women and I may be considered as being of normal age, even if I still do not conform to what other's consider as normal.'
Now try a room of people with degrees. My Tertiary Education might make me appear normal, but how many in the same room have some type of disability? How about a room of published authors am I normal because I have published a book or outside the 'norm' because I have CP? I'll let you decide. What if I am in a room of people with CP, magically I appear 'normal'. Hey I just had a crazy thought put me in a room of women with CP who have a degree, and have published a book, then one surely could not argue I was not normal. The number of people in the room doesn't play a role in this statistical equation it's just the description or label of people in the room that is being argued.
What you may be wondering is my point? Simple, the definition of 'normal' is situational. It changes from one situation to the next. If a group of people with disabilities go to see a movie and the total number of people with disabilities, falls within the mean then it is normal for a person with a disability to go to the movies. As stereotypes exist in our society at least statistically Behavioural Scientists can challenge the misconception of the 'norm' and otherwise.
However, this is not the aim of my blog. My blog is to provide real life illustrations to challenge the misconceptions about people in society who appear to be different to those around us. I hope my blog today has challenged the notion that people with disabilities are generally uneducated.
Judge for yourself if I am normal or otherwise?
Debbie

Ipswich 150 and All Grown Up!

Ipswich just year or two




Sitting in a St Mary’s pew,

My mind wonders back a year or two,

When things like Riverlink were new,

And the cafe in Queens Park too.



We can now walk along the Bremer River,

Looking at its muddy waters as we shiver,

Awash after recent floods,

What’s happened to the Parklands we love?



Before Riverlink we did our shopping in the mall,

Posted snail mail at the post office in the our town hall,

Shared by the residents of Global Arts Link,

PO days in the old hall numbered, signed off in ink.



Look around at our historical city,

Our grand old buildings stand empty,

At least the old court house,

Is being used for art to be housed.



But now they tell me,

We need a new court house for the city,

So there’ll be the old court house,

And the old, old court house.



Mayor Pisasale calls this our coming of age,

The new for the old like turning a page,

It’s time to drive on the super highway.

That of the internet found in our library.



Look up from the books,

And out the window if you have a look,

There’s R.T. Edwards where you can buy a TV,

Instead of catching a movie.



Across the town bridge past Riverlink again,

The old railway shops just remember when,

The sounds of the coal trains came to a stop,

And crews of men worked around the clock.



Well the mark of time has changed them too,

Still the railway shops but now for kids and you,

They now house a rail museum,

And trains are out numbered by human beings.



And what of the coal, the cargo trains moved,

Well our mines met a timely death too!

But ask the residents of Collingwood Park,

They’ll tell you the old mines remind you of their art.



To drown our sorrows there’s always Jets.

The RSL and Metropol are easy bets,

Our local footy team should restore our pride.

But Redcliffe dolphins just kicked our hide.



Back at St Mary’s I’ve recovered my senses,

Ask the Mayor it’s not the things that I mention,

In which we should take our pride,

It’s the heart and soul of the people like you and I.



Debbie Chilton (c) Copyright 2010