Serena Kirby, ARR.News
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Serena Kirby is a freelance reporter, writer and photographer based in regional Western Australia. With a background in public relations, education and tourism she’s had 30 years experience writing and photographing for local, national and international publications. Her current focus is on sharing stories from the sticks; its people, places and products and the life that lies beyond the city limits. She enjoys living in a small town while raising a tall teenager.
Ocean advocate: Marine biologist, Kat Mason
Marine biologist Kat Mason may have only been in Australia a matter of months, but her connection to the ocean runs deep. Raised in Bournemouth, a coastal town in the south of England, Kat’s early years were filled with an appreciation of the ocean but it was a childhood stint in Florida that truly sparked her curiosity about marine life.
Barrel Farm – A labour of love and family
Barrel Farm is one of Albany’s newest food and beverage venues and its creation was just a labour of love and very much a family affair. Owned and operated by the Buxton family, Barrel Farm has been the decades-long dream of parents, Peter and Peg Buxton ... Situated on one of Albany’s old dairy farms, it is a creative blend of old and new.
The bountiful garden
Spring is here and it’s time to start planting your vegetable garden. It’s also the perfect time to take inspiration from other gardeners who are passionate about what they grow and how they grow it. Many of us can only dream of being self-sufficient in regards to fruit and vegetables but for avid gardener, Artha Holmes, this dream is a daily reality.
Art at the heart: The importance of community arts
Community arts play a vital role in regional towns and for every visible benefit that art brings to a town there are ones that are far less noticeable. To shine a light on these benefits - seen and unseen - I sat down with Abbie Pedersen, director of the Denmark Arts Council in WA’s Great Southern region, to discuss this important issue.
Review – The Woman in the Waves
The Woman in the Waves is the second novel by author Camille Booker and it’s an extremely well-crafted work of historical fiction that mixes mystery, murder, mermaids and myth ... you may find this novel sits on the shore of your mind long after you have finished reading. A flotsam and jetsam of phrases and feelings will float in and out of your thoughts all of which leads me to say: ‘a book that lingers is a book worth reading’.
Review – Little World
Little World by Josephine Rowe is without doubt a very curious little book with a very curious little story. This is the third novel by this author who has gained great acclaim for her previous works and this latest book is destined to be another literary success. But having said that this novel is actually one that is incredibly hard to describe and even harder to categorise.
Beautiful bounty by the roadside: Somerton Farm roadside produce stall
Good news for small-scale growers is that there’s been a surge in the popularity of roadside produce stalls in recent years as more people seek-out fresh, seasonal produce that’s locally grown. This model of direct-to-customer selling lets consumers actually see where their food comes from, while also bypassing the middle man.
Review – Unsettled
"... this is far from being just an extremely beautiful piece of writing as it’s filled with deep thoughts and hefty substance and it takes a skilled writer like Kate to be able to take the reader by the hand and guide them into a conversation about the actions and attitudes of the colonisers and the consequences for those who already lived here."
A very different career track – Ivanna Hearn, train driver
Ivanna Hearn had been working in England as a nurse when she decided to give it all away and return home to Australia. Bureaucracy and disillusionment with nursing had gotten the better of her and once back in Australia she saw an ad for an unusual job in a country newspaper that made her feel optimistic about what sort of work she could do.
Review – The Bluff
"The Bluff" is definitely an unputdownable crime novel filled with deception, betrayal and greed. If you’re after a crime thriller that will keep you guessing right to the end and one that gives you plenty of other topics and issues to think about then "The Bluff" should be high on your reading list.