from Kerry Frost, Chair, National Association For Loss & Grief NSW (NALAG)
We are honoured, for the third time, to be a proud sponsor of the Grieve Writing Project. NALAG volunteers see firsthand the emotional and devastating effects the chaos of grief brings. Tapping into creative outlets often allows processing of the emotions of grief in ways that can be powerful and deep. NALAG finds the Grieve anthology a valuable and powerful tool for healing, not only for those brave people who have expressed their grief in the anthology, but also for our clients who find the Grieve publication a valuable tool for hope after the experience of grief. |
from Darren Eddy, Australian Funeral Directors Association. I have been privileged to have been a judge for the Grieve Project since the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) joined as a major sponsor some years ago. As funeral directors, we are exposed to every facet of grief and mourning on a daily basis but rather than see this as a burden we feel honoured to be in this position - a position to help in the deepest way - something very few people are willing or able to do. AFDA members view this project as vitally important to our community and wholeheartedly support the Hunter Writers Centre with this important initiative. The anthology has also proven to be an excellent resource made available to the families we care for. Personally, judging the entrants often exposes me to stories that are personal and intimate, filled with raw emotion, sometimes a sense of futility and helplessness in the grief felt. These things can be difficult to read but I have reconciled this difficulty, personally, by believing that by writing and sharing these stories it provides the writer with a healing outlet of shared experience and in some small way may facilitate the necessary first steps towards their new life situation.
from Désirée Jacobsen, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement which sponsors two prizes valued at $2000
The Grieve Writing Project gives creative license to explore a topic that many find difficult to broach, let alone comprehend. The role of creativity in learning to cope with loss is well-documented and literature is testament to the power of writing as a healing process through and beyond the pain, helping to make sense of the mystery that surrounds bereavement and loss. The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is a proud sponsor of the Grieve Writing Project. Thank you for sharing your art, so that others may, in time, heal as well |
From John Hardy, Director, Chief Executive, Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation
From my experience gained through the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation, the issues facing people affected by or suffering from self harm and mental illness can so easily compound through feelings of shame & embarrassment brought about by the stigma, fear & ridicule of others leading to isolationism and secrecy.
The Grieve Project offers the critical facility to speak out, to unburden, to share and seek help and support from others. It is a truism, sharing with family & colleagues can reduce emotional pain while innate psychological healing mechanisms automatically come on line. It is hard for many people to realise that simply listening and showing understanding and comradeship is remarkably helpful to those dealing with seemingly insurmountable problems. The Grieve Project is an outstanding example of just such an outlet, a means of showing others the power of sharing. I am eagerly looking forward to reviewing this year’s contributions.
From my experience gained through the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation, the issues facing people affected by or suffering from self harm and mental illness can so easily compound through feelings of shame & embarrassment brought about by the stigma, fear & ridicule of others leading to isolationism and secrecy.
The Grieve Project offers the critical facility to speak out, to unburden, to share and seek help and support from others. It is a truism, sharing with family & colleagues can reduce emotional pain while innate psychological healing mechanisms automatically come on line. It is hard for many people to realise that simply listening and showing understanding and comradeship is remarkably helpful to those dealing with seemingly insurmountable problems. The Grieve Project is an outstanding example of just such an outlet, a means of showing others the power of sharing. I am eagerly looking forward to reviewing this year’s contributions.
From Doris Zagdanski, Grieve judge since 2015:
The Grieve Project allows people to 'tell it like it is'. Last year, I loved everthing I read, I loved the honesty, I loved the perspective, how writers say it how they feel it. I think when we write, we're able to say it without censoring it. In my 20s, I lost an infant daughter to SIDS. It was a terrible time in my life especially because I was so young. I knew nothing about grief. Nobody in my family had died, it was such a struggle to know how to cope, to know what to do. I worked it out after a few years searching for information. And I found it really helpful to start writing. I found the experience of writing to be cathartic, a way to express feelings that I couldn't discuss with friends or family. People need to know there is no "right" or "wrong" way to feel when coping with the death of someone they love. When people read somebody else's story, they think 'I’ve been there too'. |
Doris Zagdanski will be presenting the awards generously donated by the Australian Funeral Director Association and My Grief Assist
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from Nina Watts-Carrier, GoodGrief.org
I believe that there is power in telling our story. Grief is a pain that is often incredibly difficult to articulate. Our grief is as unique as our relationships. Grief is a certainty in life however; we are all going to experience unwelcome change and loss. I work for Good Grief, one of our aims is to normalise grief. We believe that through education we can empower people to understand and live with their grief in a way that is constructive and valuable.
When I was 15 my aunt unexpectedly died after a very brief illness. I was incredibly close to her and it was the most traumatic thing that had ever happened to me. I still miss her today. Her death shook my family, and extended family, to the core and, unfortunately, as a family we were fractured thereafter. The idea of enduring relationships has particular resonance for me.
I’ve recently started writing pieces for the Good Grief Blog and one thing that strikes me is the language that we use, as a society, around bereavement. I feel that phrases like “lost” and “be strong” only further isolates those who have been bereaved. Death reminds us of how little we are actually in control and I think that can make people very uneasy.
Recent reading that has reverberation with me is “Dying a Memoir” by Cory Taylor, “The Rules Don’t Apply” by Ariel Levy and “Asking for It” by Louise O’Neil. The way that Nick Cave has spoken about his son Arthur I also think is incredible. For entrants of the Grieve Writing competition to share their deepest pain is incredibly brave and I salute them for it.
I believe that there is power in telling our story. Grief is a pain that is often incredibly difficult to articulate. Our grief is as unique as our relationships. Grief is a certainty in life however; we are all going to experience unwelcome change and loss. I work for Good Grief, one of our aims is to normalise grief. We believe that through education we can empower people to understand and live with their grief in a way that is constructive and valuable.
When I was 15 my aunt unexpectedly died after a very brief illness. I was incredibly close to her and it was the most traumatic thing that had ever happened to me. I still miss her today. Her death shook my family, and extended family, to the core and, unfortunately, as a family we were fractured thereafter. The idea of enduring relationships has particular resonance for me.
I’ve recently started writing pieces for the Good Grief Blog and one thing that strikes me is the language that we use, as a society, around bereavement. I feel that phrases like “lost” and “be strong” only further isolates those who have been bereaved. Death reminds us of how little we are actually in control and I think that can make people very uneasy.
Recent reading that has reverberation with me is “Dying a Memoir” by Cory Taylor, “The Rules Don’t Apply” by Ariel Levy and “Asking for It” by Louise O’Neil. The way that Nick Cave has spoken about his son Arthur I also think is incredible. For entrants of the Grieve Writing competition to share their deepest pain is incredibly brave and I salute them for it.
From Kim Borrowdale, Suicide Prevention Australia
Storytelling, no matter the form it takes, is what life is all about. It’s how we connect, how we communicate and how we heal and grow. In my professional life, I am humbled by the opportunity to support people to share their personal experiences and stories to influence societal and systemic change. When I lost a good friend, my colleague said something to me that really resonated with how I was feeling. She said that sometimes the emotions are softly present like gentle waves lapping the shoreline. Not hard to be with. Other times the emotions are more like a sudden uprising of a wave – unexpected & nearly too intense to breathe. Sometimes it is somewhere in between, and that’s ok. I am proud to support The Grieve writing competition - a platform that gives people a supportive space to express their loss and have their stories heard. Through this project, I am honoured to hear your voice and admire your creativity. Thank you for sharing your work. |
From Jayne Newling, author of 'Missing Christopher' As a judge of the 2016 Grieve writing project I was incredibly moved by the fearlessness and the heart-wrenching emotion all writers expressed in their individual stories of pain and grief. Fifteen years ago I lost my middle son Christopher to suicide and it was only through writing about this tragedy that allowed me in some way to cope with the crippling grief. I read many books throughout this period and just knowing that others had and were going through the same experience made me feel less alone. It was one of the main reasons I wrote "Missing Christopher" - to help others feel less alone. Some of the books which helped me include: Night Falls Fast by Kay Redfield Jamison, No One Saw My Pain by Andrew Slaby M.D. and Lili Frank Garfinkel and more recently and perhaps my favourite, the very moving Grief Is The Thing With Feathers by Max Porter. Through sharing our stories it lessens the stigma of mental illness and helps us to understand we are all not alone. Good luck to all entrants in this year's Grieve Writing Project.
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From Pat Feenan, author 'Holy Hell'
Grief presents itself to us in many ways. It's not always death which every one of us has to deal with, in their own way, at some time in their lives but rather the loss of a relationship, separated parents, the loss of a great job or even beloved pet can all leave us grief stricken. In my case it was some of the above plus the sexual assault of my eldest son by a trusted family priest. The betrayal of trust, the ostracising by our Catholic community and the traumatic legal processes all contributed to overwhelming feelings of grief but from that place came a strength I didn't know I had. I continue to advocate for victims and seek justice for those affected. I have found writing to be a very good grief tool in that it helps me to release my memories and thoughts to paper. I have been told by many people that my book has helped them. Thank you for entering the Grieve writing competition. I hope you too benefit from writing about your grief. |
From Judith Robinson, Palliative Care, Maitland
I am honoured to say this is my first year involved with the Grieve competition from this side of the table. I submitted a poem myself years ago drawing on my life experiences both personal and professional. Although unsuccessful I found the process positive, very reflective and deeply moving. Writing in a journal is a past time I cherish and turn to when looking for clarity. I have worked in an area of support for families at the end of life for many years and I see the qualities of compassion, love, resilience, acceptance and humour all the time. Human spirit at its best. I look forward to reading your contributions with sincere interest. |