To work as poetry editor for Overland is an honour and a privilege, and the most rewarding work I’ve ever done. For decades, Overland has been one of the only Australian publications in which you are guaranteed to read poetry that will evince radical politics and aesthetics, and which will challenge your conception of art and the world. Having said that …
If I was to not be working for Overland, I would still subscribe. If I was not a practicing poet, writer, critic, I would still subscribe. Even if I felt I didn’t need some guidance on the nuances of racial politics, queer politics, gender politics, international affairs, neocolonialism, Aboriginal rights, the labour struggle, climate change et al., I would still subscribe to Overland. Even if I hated the anaphoric propaganda of this very appeal to subscribe to Overland, I would still subscribe. Even if I could end the plague, I would still subscribe.
If I were to be challenged to a duel by Peter Dutton, I would especially subscribe to Overland. If I were seeking the means to resist, and to abolish whatever late-stage clusterf!@#$ of neoliberal capitalism we’re in now, I would especially subscribe to Overland. The struggle for the left is real. The struggle against fascism is real.
Subscribe to Overland. Support radical politics — its writers, its artists, its communities.
Toby Fitch, poetry editor
pictured: flashback to 1955 when Overland was just one year old and cost a shilling. Opening this issue Dr H V Evatt writes: ‘The truth is that the battle for freedom of expression is never won. It has to be fought in every generation. We must win the battle again and again, for we cannot assume that any victory is final.’ And so we go, over sixty years later.
So, how does Subscriberthon work? Anyone who subscribes, renews, donates or gives a gift sub over the next week goes into three prize draws – Major Prizes, Daily Prizes and Regional Prizes – for the chance to win some truly terrific prizes, including a week long writing workshop in Byron Bay, a 7-day Yarra Valley retreat, a 6-month coffee subscription, a state-of-the-art turntable, drinks and vinyl pairings, digital literature workshops, chocolate, coffee, and mountains of books and subscriptions.
Today’s prize
Fruit Salad
A mixed dozen of dreamy P&V wines to see you of out 2020
A fresh fruit and veg box from The Flying Zucchinis, delivered to your door!
$30 voucher to North Melbourne Books
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
A delicious block of plant-based Winnow Chocolate
The following amazing titles from Scribe, Giramondo and UQP:
- Fire Front: First Nations poetry and power today, edited by Alison Whittaker
- Ordinary Matter by Laura Elvery
- The Fogging by Luke Horton
- The F Team by Rawah Arja
Major prizes
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Major Prize One
Write Like a Wombat
What’s in this major prize?
An exciting one-week writing retreat at The Burrow at Wombat Bend in the Yarra Valley (includes seven nights accommodation in a beautiful cottage on a Land For Wildlife property, and breakfast provisions)
A one-year subscription to Crikey
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
A book pack from Transit Lounge, including the following titles:
The Returns by Philip Salom
Everything in its Right Place by Tobias McCorkell
The Rock by Aaron Smith
Broken Rules and Other Stories by Barry Lee Thompson
Revenge by S. L. Lim
✎ ✐
Major Prize Two
Vinyl Revival
What’s in this major prize?
An absolutely state-of-the-art turntable from Vinyl Revival.
Two mind-blowing pairings from Funky Duck Vinyl:
Both Sides of the Sky (Jimi Hendrix) + Blackbilly Sangiovese &
The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East (2LP) + Mountain Goat Steam Ale 6 pack
A one-year subscription to Crikey
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Major Prize Three
Sail Away
What’s in this major prize?
8 nights in Byron Bay for one of the (in)famous Global Hobo writing workshops, hosted by your experienced writing tutors, Gemma Clarke, Nat Kassel and Mariama Mansfield-Njie!
$300 towards flights and/or transport to Byron Bay
A limited edition Overland tote, with original intricate illustration of solidarity by cartoonist Sam Wallman
An enviable book pack from Scribe, including:
The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay
Rise & Shine by Patrick Allington
The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs
Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta
A one-year subscription to Crikey
Regional prizes
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Australian Capital Territory
A one-year print subscription to Voiceworks
The Good Copy ‘Stop. Grammar Time enrolment (online)
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
A delicious block of plant-based Winnow Chocolate
A UQP tote bag
These excellent UQP titles:
Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe
Ordinary Matter by Laura Elvery
Mammoth by Chris Flynn
Just Money by Royce Kurmelovs
Talkin’ up to the white woman by Aileen Moreton-Robinson
Ask Me About the Future by Rebecca Jessen
These excellent Magabala titles:
Guwayu–For All Times, edited by Jeanine Leane
Maar Bidi: Next Generation Black Writing, edited by Elfie Shiosaki and Linda Martin
A collection of Cordite titles, including:
About the Author is Dead by Pascalle Burton
These Wild Houses by Omar Sakr
Breathing Plural by Em König
Yuiquimbiang by Louise Crisp
Dirty Words by Natalie Harkin
Labour and Other Poems by Astrid Lorange
Walk Back Over by Jeanine Leane
✎ ✐
New South Wales
A one-year subscription to The Monthly
Three pottery classes at The Pottery Shed in Surry Hills
Free coffee every day for a month at Bourke Street Bakery
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
A one-year subscription to Crikey
A delicious block of plant-based Winnow Chocolate
The following mixed titles:
Jack by Marilynne Robinson
Sharks in the Time of Saviours by Kawai Strong Washburn
Oh Happy Day by Carmen Callil
How To Break Up With Friends by Hannah Korrel
There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett
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Northern Territory
A really cool Print Pals lino kit from Print Safari
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
A delicious block of plant-based Winnow Chocolate
One-year membership to NT Writers Centre
A one-year subscription to Crikey
We Are Here, edited by Meg Mundel (Affirm Press)
A collection of Penguin Random House titles, including:
The Spill by Imbi Neeme
Life After Truth by Ceridwen Dovey
The Coconut Children by Vivian Pham
Vida: A Woman For Our Time by Jacqueline Kent
✎ ✐
Queensland
2 x $50 voucher to Avid Reader (to be spent in store or online)
A one-year subscription to Jacobin
A one-year membership to Queensland Writers Centre
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
A delicious block of plant-based Winnow Chocolate
A limited edition Overland tote, with original intricate illustration of solidarity by cartoonist Sam Wallman
Craftwork Roasting coffee beans (250g)
The following excellent UQP titles:
Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe
Ordinary Matter by Laura Elvery
Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko
Born Into This by Adam Thompson
Only Happiness Here by Gabrielle Carey
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South Australia
A one-year subscription to Southerly
Two passes to Laneway Learning (online)
A one-year membership to Writers SA
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
A limited edition Overland tote, with original intricate illustration of solidarity by cartoonist Sam Wallman
A one-year subscription to Crikey
The following Recent Work Press titles:
I Don’t Know How that Happened by Oliver Driscoll
Airplane Baby Banana Blanket by Benjamin Dodds
Some Sketchy Notes On Matter by Angela Gardner
Unbelonging by Nathaniel O’Reily
Man-Handled by Melinda Smith
Wild Curious Air by Jill Jones
These fabulous mixed titles:
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
Half Wild by Pip Smith
Just Like You by Nick Hornby
Mother of Pearl by Angela Savage
Things Nobody Knows But Me by Amra Pajalic
The Kowloon Kid: A Hong Kong Childhood by Phil Brown
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Tasmania
A one-year subscription to Island
A delicious block of plant-based Winnow Chocolate
A bottle of Noisy Ritual 2019 Heathcote Shiraz
Craftwork Roasting coffee beans (250g)
A collection of Affirm Press titles, including:
Shirl by Wayne Marshall
Eight Lives by Susan Hurley
Anchor Point by Alice Robinson
Water Colour by Greg French
Barking Dogs by Rebekah Clarkson
My Tidda, My Sister by Marlee Silva (HardieGrant Publishing)
A fabulous collection of Seizure titles, including:
Offshore by Joshua Mostafa
Dark Wave by Lana Guineay
Listurbia by Carly Cappielli
Late Sonata by Bryan Walpert
The Bed-Making Competition by Anna Jackson
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Victoria
Melbourne Djembe West African Dance or Drum class pass x 2
A one-year membership to Writers Victoria
Limited edition Overland t-shirt, with original intricate illustration of solidarity by cartoonist Sam Wallman
Two ground passes to Montsalvat
A fresh fruit and veg box from The Flying Zucchinis, delivered to your door!
These UWAP titles:
Scratchland by Noëlle Janaczewska
Anh and Lucien by Tony Page
Recipe for Risotto by Josephine Clarke
The Weave by Thurston Moore and John Kinsella
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Western Australia
A one-year subscription to How We Roll 100% recycled eco toilet paper
An exciting book pack from Better Read Than Dead, including:
Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko
There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett
Half Wild by Pip Smith
Behind the Enigma: the Authorised History of GCHQ by John Ferris
A one-year subscription to Westerly
A delicious block of plant-based Winnow Chocolate
The following enviable titles from Fremantle Press:
Of Memory and Furniture by Bron Bateman
Small Steps: a Physio in Ethiopia by Julie Sprigg
How to be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer by Georgia Richter and Deborah Hunn
Return Ticket by Jon Doust
Shore Leave by David Whish-Wilson
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New Zealand
An incredible collection of titles from Victoria University Press, including:
Funkhaus by Hinemoana Baker
The Swimmers by Chloe Lane
Monsters in the Garden by Elizabeth Knox and David Larsen
Dead People I Have Known by Shayne Carter
A one-year subscription to Crikey
Limited edition Overland T-shirt, with original intricate illustration of solidarity by cartoonist Sam Wallman
