I am by way of being an aging activist/community artist still trying to decide what to be when I grow up. I am what they used to call Aspergers.
I live in the Town of Mallacoota in the land of Oz. I write, make art, work on community stuff, grow herbs and veg, disrupt, make videos, teach stilt walking, help out in the Music House and sometimes do a program on local radio.I am front person for local Australian Greens, @XR_MALLACOOTA and MADDAM (Mallacoota And District Drama Art Music).

I have 2 grown hairy male children, dogs and an ancient Nissan van called Agnes.

My taste in music is eclectic. I like edgy. I don’t like C and W or stadium pop. Like 20C concert hall music especially string quartettes. Like LX music. Prog Rock tragic. Follower of Oz indi music of most sorts.

I find most gallery art indistinguishable from decor and/or light-weight intellectually pretentious masturbation. Rarely you find a genuinely compelling authentic vision – Josie Jacobie comes to mind.

I read speculative writing, science, environmental, psychology, ancient history, Oz poetry and skeptical material

I read The Guardian, The Conversation, Overland, COSMOS and Crickey for news. I am fond of some ABC and BBC podcasts.

I am recently on Twitter, think FB is toxic.

I have been mucking about on the web (from before it was the web) under various guises since the early eighties.
I gave up smoking and drinking some time ago I’m not counting.

Art should be out in the streets being done by everyone. As they say – ‘If you are not living on the edge you are taking up to much room.’

pony by xyzdreadnought

RETURN TO

Some notes on my email address

The Hag and the Hungry Goblin or Tom a Bedlam is a poem that has fascinated me since it was first bought to my attention by my Brother and Sister in law who edited a fanzine called ‘The Hag and the Hungry Goblin” . It’s author is unknown but he was a poet of considerable talent. The rhymes and rhythms are complex as is the imagery. Whether the poet was mad or whether he was writing about madness we will never know. Its date of creation could go back to the early 15th century as Bedlam is mentioned by Shakespeare and documents are extant from 1405 that mention it as a hospital for lunatics. Even though Tom”s visions are cosmic the madness is personal.

Here in the first year of the second decade of 21st century. ‘….. on this beach of the tumid river’ everything is contingent, emergent, contextual and self referential. A finer definition of madness would be hard to find. The madness has moved from subjective experience to the existential arena. Tom was mad in what was a sane ordered world (though fallen). Today we are more or less sane in a mad mad mad world.

October 1 2019

It doesn’t seem anything like eight years sinse I wrote this. The women who I was with when I took the picture of the Moon over Bottom Lake is now dead. Cancer. The daffodils returned again to annoy Grishnark, they come earlier every year.

From the hag and hungry goblin,
That into rags would rend ye,
The spirit that stands
By the naked man
In the Book of Moons, defend ye,

That of your five sound senses,
You never be forsaken,
Nor wander from
Yourselves with Tom,
Abroad to beg your bacon.

While I do sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
Be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

Of thirty bare years have I,
Twice twenty been enraged,
And of forty been
Three times fifteen,
in durance soundly caged,

In the lordly lofts of Bedlam,
With the stubble soft and dainty,
Brave bracelets strong,
Sweet whips ding-dong,
With wholesome hunger plenty.

And now I sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

With a thought I took for Maudlin,
And a cruse of cockle pottage.
With a thing thus tall,
Sky bless you all,
I befell into this dotage.

I slept not since the Conquest,
Till then I never waked.
Till the roguish boy
Of love where I lay
Me found and stripped me naked.

While I do sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

When short I have shorn my sow’s face,
And swigged my horny barrel,
In an oaken inn,
I pound my skin
As a suit of gilt apparel.

The Moon’s my constant mistress,
And the lonely owl my marrow.
The flaming drake
and the night crow make
Me music to my sorrow.

While I do sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

The palsy plagues my pulses,
When I prig your pigs or pullen.
Your culvers take,
or matchless make
Your Chanticleer or Sullen.

When I want provant, with Humphry
I sup, and when benighted,
I repose in Paul’s
with waking souls,
Yet never am affrighted.

But I do sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

I know more than Apollo,
For oft when he lies sleeping
I see the stars
at mortal wars
In the wounded welkin weeping.

The moon embrace her shepherd,
And the Queen of Love her warrior,
While the first doth horn
the star of morn,
and the next the heavenly Farrier.

While I do sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

The Gypsies, Snap and Pedro,
Are none of Tom’s comradoes,
The punk I scorn,
and the cutpurse sworn
And the roaring boy’s bravadoes.

The meek, the white, the gentle,
Me handle not nor spare not;
But those that cross
Tom Rynosseross
Do what the panther dare not.

Although I sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

With an host of furious fancies,
Whereof I am commander.
With a burning spear
And a horse of Air,
To the wilderness I wander.

By a knight of ghosts and shadows,
I summoned am to tourney
Ten leagues beyond
The wild world’s end-
Methinks it is no journey.

Yet I do sing “Any food, any feeding?
Money, drink, or clothing?
Come dame or maid,
be not afraid-
Poor Tom will injure nothing.”

So hopefully this reborn blog will be my, doubtless vain, attempt to ride a moon beam through the larger lunacy.

CV

Year 12 Matriculation in English Expression, English Literature, Art, Biology, 18^th Century History
Diploma of Primary Education, Frankston Teachers College – Majored in English, Graphics, Drama and Philosophy.
Incomplete Degree in Education at Melbourne Teachers College – Majored in Drama, Philosophy and Film & Television ➢ Dream Weaver Introductory Course, Swinburne
Course in Creative Volunteering
Certificate three in Workplace Training and Assessment
Certificate Three Traffic Management
Level 2 First Aid

2017 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Works created for ‘Rock Pools Exhibition’ Mallacoota Arts Space’

Freelance Writer and Poet

Installation – ‘Pepperland’ at Frouteville 2017

Lead Artist in ‘Broken Seas’ Mallacoota Easter Mural Project 2017

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management. Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Decorations for EG Green Ball

Sets/Technical Peter Pan – Mallacoota P12 College

Production/technical Mallacoota p12 Music Program Production/Technical Mallacoota Community Markets Coordinator – ‘Music Art Drama at the Muddie’. Production/Technical Mallacoota Community Markets Production/Technical Mallacoota Fun Run.

2016 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 School Band.

Coordinator Mallacoota Easter Mural Project 2016

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management. Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Creation of entrance ‘(F)routeville 2016’

Producer/Presenter of ‘Sounds Like Australian Music’ 3MGB.

2015 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 School Band.

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management. Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Creation of entrance ‘(F)routeville 2015’

Production/technical Mallacoota p12 Music Program Coordinator – ‘Music at the Muddie’.

Production/Technical Mallacoota Community Markets Production/Technical Mallacoota Fun Run.

Producer/Presenter of ‘Sounds Like Australian Music’ 3MGB.

2014 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 School Band. Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management.

Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Parade Images for Soroptamists ‘Revive the Valley’. Production/technical Mallacoota p12 Music Program Coordinator – ‘Music at the Muddie’.

Production/Technical Mallacoota Community Markets

Production/Technical Mallacoota Fun Run

Producer/Presenter of ‘Sounds Like Australian Music’ 3MGB.

2013 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 School Band.

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management. Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration- Pyramid Beach Installation (F)route Sea Orchard beach installation.

Parade Images for Sale Regional Arts

Production/technical Mallacoota p12 Music Program Coordinator – ‘Music at the Muddie’.

Production/Technical Mallacoota Fun Run

Production/Technical Mallacoota Community Markets

Producer/Presenter of ‘Sounds Like Australian Music’ 3MGB.

2012 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 School Band.

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management.

Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Video documentation Eco Cubby Mallacoota P12 College.

Coordinator Mallacoota P12 College Stilt Project

Producer/Presenter of ‘Sounds Like Australian Music’ 3MGB.

2011 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 School Band.

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management. Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Coordinator Mallacoota P12 College Stilt Project

Producer/Presenter of ‘Sounds Like Australian Music’ 3MGB.

2010 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 School Band.

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management. Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Coordinator Mallacoota P12 College Stilt Project

2009 Coordinator for Mallacoota P12 New Kids on the Block Radio Project.

Co-Cooordinator of Mallacoota P12 Drama Club.

Production Manager Mallacoota Arts Council

President Mallacoota Halls and Recreation Reserve Grounds Committee of Management. Convener of Mallacoota Artways Pathways Project Coordinator of Mallacoota Solstice Celebration.

Coordinator Mallacoota P12 College Stilt Project

2007 – 2008 Family Commitments

2006 Workshops in puppetry, stilt walking and mask making/performance at various location around SE Vic Production Coordinator of Mallacoota Arts Council; Radio Production of school based radio program President of Mallacoota Arts Council.

2005 Workshops in puppetry, stilt walking and mask making/performance at various location around SE Vic

Production Coordinator of Mallacoota Arts Council; Radio Production of school based radio program – (Radio 3mgb)

Presenter with Radio 3mgb; Design and Management of various websites; Facilitation of activities in MDHASC Men’s Shed

2000-4 Workshops in puppetry, stilt walking and mask making/performance at various location around SE Vic

Production Coordinator of Mallacoota Festival; Production Coordinator of Mallacoota Arts Council & Mallacoota Festival

Facilitation of activities in MDHASC Men’s Shed. Visual Arts Community project – ‘Gathering the Guilds’ Stratford

2000-1 Technical Coordinator Mallacoota Festival, Gravel Pit Opera; Visual Arts Community project ‘Gathering the Guilds’, Stratford

1999 Mallacoota Arts Council Technical Coordinator; Festival of the Southern Ocean Community Arts Coordinator Community Arts 2000 Project; Free Lance Web Publisher & Computer Graphic Artist; Coordinator of Vicnet’s Point of Presence

1998 Mallacoota Arts Council Technical Coordinator

Festival of the Southern Ocean Community Arts Coordinator Community Arts 2000 Project

Mask Maker – Phantom of the Opera; Free Lance Web Publisher & Computer Graphic Artist;

Mallacoota Coordinator for the Vicnet’s Point of Presence; Technical and Software backup for Mallacoota Telecentre

1995-7 Coordinator of – Mallacoota Telecentre; Mallacoota Arts Council Technical Coordinator;

Festival of the Southern Ocean Technical Coordinator; Mask Maker – Phantom of the Opera

1994 Carnival in ‘Coota Visual Arts/Technical Coordinator; Mask Maker – Phantom of the Opera; Properties Manager for the Victoria State Opera; Property Maker/Designer for This Way Up Pty Ltd.

1993 Visual Arts Coordinator & Technical Coordinator for ‘One Good Turn’ Community Play, Lakes Entrance Technical, Visual Arts & Stilt Workshops Coordinator for Celebrate the South Festival, Foster

Carnival in ‘Coota Visual Arts/Technical Coordinator; Property Maker/Designer for This Way Up Pty Ltd

Mask Maker – Phantom of the Opera; Properties Manager for the Victoria State Opera

1991-2 Visual Arts Coordinator/Work-shopper for Bairnsdale Youth Festival; Carnival in ‘Coota Visual Arts/Technical Coordinator.

Mask Maker – Phantom of the Opera; Properties Manager Victoria State Opera; Property Maker/Designer for This Way Up Property Master ‘La Boheme’ Aoetoa Opera Centre Aukland New Zealand

1989-90 Property Master IMG’s ‘Carmen’ Melbourne Tennis Centre; Carnival in ‘Coota Visual Arts/Technical Coordinator

Mask Maker -Phantom of the Opera; Properties Master for the Victoria State Opera; Property Maker/Designer for This Way Up

1988 Above, plus Technical Director Lygon Street Festival

1986-7 Properties Master for the Victorian State Theatre; Property Maker/Designer for This Way Up Pty Ltd

Visual Arts for Next Wave Festival; Technical Manager Margaret Lassica’s Extensions; Property Design and Construction for The Rocky Horror Show, Princess Theatre Melbourne;

1985 Properties Master for the Victorian State Theatre; Property Maker/Designer for This Way Up; Visual Arts Next Wave Festival Technical Manager Margaret Lassica’s Extensions; Lighting design for Dance ’85 Margaret Lassica’s Extensions Director of Styx Performance Troupe

1984 Lighting Design, Sound and Stage Manager for the Aust & New Zealand Choreographers and Composers Convention, VCA. Production/Stage Manager for Universal Theatres, Fitzroy.

1983 – 1982 Production/Theatre Manager for Why Not Community Theatre

1981 – 1979 Writer, director performer with B’spell Performance Troup. Freelance Community Artist and Theatre Worker 1976 – 1978 Member of Suitcase Theater. Freelance Community Artist and Theatre Worker.

You Tube Channels – Skullthorpe, Donald Ashby