Published 9 November 20239 November 2023 · Subscriberthon 2023 / Main Posts On the second-last day of Subscriberthon, Overland’s co-chief editor Evelyn Araluen speaks truth to power Editorial Team To my friends and comrades, I’m not sure if there’s language to communicate how this last month has utterly changed me. This time a few weeks ago the busyness and chaos of bricolage arts and academic labour had so efficiently distracted me from my anxiety about the upcoming referendum that I forgot to prepare myself for its inevitable conclusion. Like so many Blakfullas I watched the results roll in between videos of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, and the firmness of this nation’s refusal of even such a symbolic conciliatory gesture of course paled in comparison to the violence being perpetrated against the world’s most vulnerable community before our eyes. As I and other Overland staff marched alongside 5,000, then 15,000, then 50,000, and then almost 100,000 allies to the Palestinian struggle through the streets of Naarm each Sunday, the referendum came back to me not through the grief or rage or despondency of those first few days, but rather through the tenderness and care extended to me by my friends and colleagues. Even more humbling is how my Palestinian siblings-in-struggle have responded to this pain and frustration with such generosity even in the depths of their own suffering. It shouldn’t surprise me—the Australian Palestinian community has a long history of solidarity with Aboriginal rights and self-determination. Perhaps one of the few silver linings we might find in this ever-darkening horror is the depth of consciencism and solidarity that has been ignited across our many intertwined communities. From the profound integrity of the Tzedek Collective’s work facilitating support spaces for anti-Zionist Jewish people and Jews Against Fascism’s many demonstrations to challenge the manufacturing of Jewish consent for Israel’s attacks, to the union comrades who as I write now are blocking an Israeli shipping line in Port Melbourne with nothing but their bodies and their spirit. Across the world millions are rising together, and the cry “in our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians” rings out in every language. As my co-editor Jonathan’s essay today will discuss, we have received criticism for our stance on Palestine. Most, I would say, has not come to us in good faith. It’s a funny thing to hear from your supposed patron for the very first time in your editorial tenure by way of an article more concerned with perpetuating IDF propaganda than the profound and escalating scale of violence we are all witnessing in the clearest and most indisputable terms. We have always been open to criticism, and we remain grateful to those in our community who guide us in our work with generosity and integrity, no matter how our positions might diverge. In addition to the incredible labours of Palestinian activists working to educate and mobilise us all here in Australia, I especially want to acknowledge the incredible Jewish advocates for Palestinian liberation and self-determination who have continued to show up and speak out, even through their own grief and trauma. May we all learn from you. We’ve received tremendous support from the Overland community over the last few days, and I thank everyone who has subscribed, donated, or spoken up. We see you and are so grateful. We’ll never get everything right, but it’s an honour to work for a community of readers and writers who understand the importance of platforms such as Overland, and who are prepared to fight for independent media in Australia. The work isn’t over. Let us never forget Palestine. Bugalwan and solidarity to you all, Evelyn If you support the rich literature, poetry and essays in our (online and print) pages, show us by subscribing, renewing or donating during this one very important week. Anyone who subscribes, renews, donates or gives a gift subscription until midnight Friday 10 November goes into three prize draws—major prizes, daily prizes and regional prizes—for the chance to win some very cool prizes (our coolest yet). You also get a year’s worth of great poetry, essays and literature to look forward to! An annual subscription—which includes four print issues, the daily online magazine, invitations to subscriber events, discounted entry to Overland competitions, and other opportunities and giveaways—is just $70 full and $50 students/unwaged. We also have a $50 digital subscription, for those of you running out of space on your bookshelf! Speaking of prizes, we are extremely thankful to our generous friends and supporters who made this year’s Subscriberthon possible! Read about them and their work here. Major prizes MAJOR PRIZE ONE What’s in this major prize? A stunning original artwork by Sofia Sabbagh, sponsored by the kind folk at CoPower: Snow Gums on Mt Bogong, October 2023. Oil and acrylic on canvas. 452 x 594 mm. “This work is inspired by the snow gums on Mt Bogong, where I supported the research into the decline of bogong moths/debera on Taungerong and Yaithmatang Country. While bogong moths are a migratory, ephemeral keystone species in the ecosystem, snow gums are there all year round, glowing in the wildflower heathland and supporting the colourful community of plants, animals and humans. It is with grief that I paint the alpine region, knowing it is one of the communities most threatened by climate induced catastrophes.” MAJOR PRIZE TWO What’s in this major prize? A double pass to each of La Mama’s primary season shows in 2023/24, plus 2 x drink tickets per show and the La Mama book (MUP). MAJOR PRIZE THREE A HUGE haul of House of Darwin goodies, the hottest 100% Indigenous owned, NT-based social enterprise around. This extra-special pack includes: A limited edition skateboard deck, sporting the original design of NT artist Ray Mudjundi A pack of Salty Plums A Laundry Gallery weaving kit A pack of HOD stickers A HOD stubby holder A HOD enamel mug A HOD Barra cap (coal) A HOD ABC tea towel Today’s daily prize is … What’s in this prize? A merch pack from PBS A hamper of goodies from Bee Sustainable A digital subscription to ABR A double pass to see Caroline Polachek at The Capitol, thanks to the Wheeler Centre Recent back issues of Archer magazine Regional prizes AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY What’s in this prize? An annual subscription to Westerly magazine An annual subscription to HEAT magazine A $100 voucher for Noisy Ritual wines A $30 voucher for Bookshop by Uro A membership for MARION writers’ centre NEW SOUTH WALES What’s in this prize? A membership to Writing NSW An annual subscription to Griffith Review A 3-class course voucher (plus free practice lesson!) for The Pottery Shed A $30 voucher for Bookshop by Uro A selection of great books from Fremantle Press NORTHERN TERRITORY What’s in this prize? A NT Writers’ membership An $100 Red Kangaroo Books voucher A Magabala Books book pack A $30 voucher for Bookshop by Uro A pack of House of Darwin stickers QUEENSLAND What’s in this prize? A 1-year Meanjin subscription, plus a pack of back issues, and a Meanjin tote bag A UQP book pack of recent and newly-released titles 2 x QLD Writers Centre memberships A $30 voucher to Bookshop by Uro SOUTH AUSTRALIA What’s in this prize? An annual Writers SA membership A $30 voucher to Matilda Bookshop An annual subscription to Voiceworks, plus back issues A $30 voucher for Bookshop by Uro A selection of great books from Vagabond Press TASMANIA What’s in this prize? A $100 voucher to Du Cane Brewing A 3-issue subscription to Island magazine A print subscription to Australian Poetry Journal A $30 voucher to Bookshop by Uro VICTORIA What’s in this prize? A double pass to see Caroline Polachek at The Capitol, thanks to the Wheeler Centre A $30 voucher to North Melbourne Books A membership for Writers Victoria, plus issues of The Victorian Writer A Triple R membership and merch pack A $100 voucher for Noisy Ritual wines A $30 voucher to Bookshop by Uro WESTERN AUSTRALIA What’s in this prize? A book pack from Fremantle Press A subscription to Westerly magazine A poetry book pack from Upswell A $30 voucher to Bookshop by Uro TAKE ME TO THE SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS Editorial Team . More by Editorial Team › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 8 November 20248 November 2024 · Poetry Announcing the final results of the 2024 Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers Editorial Team After careful consideration, judges Karen Wyld and Eugenia Flynn have selected first place and two runners-up to form the final results of this year’s Nakata Brophy Prize! 4 October 202418 October 2024 · Main Posts Announcing the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers 2024 longlist Editorial Team Sponsored by Trinity College at the University of Melbourne and supporters, the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers, established in 2014 and now in its ninth year, recognises the talent of young Indigenous writers across Australia.
