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NLA News - homeMarch 2006 Volume XVI Number 6

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

An Evening With Marion Halligan
Date:Thursday 23 March
Time:6pm
Venue:Conference Room
Cost:$5 Friends,
$10 non-members
Bookings Essential: (02)6262 1698

Day Trip to Braidwood
Date:Tuesday 28 March
Time:8am - 5:15pm
Venue:Coach departs from Library
Cost:$75 Friends,
$85 non-members
Bookings Essential: (02)6262 1698

For bookings, details of membership and subscriptions, contact:
Friends of the NLA
National Library of Australia
Parkes Place
CANBERRA  ACT  2600
Tel: (02) 6262 1698
Fax: (02) 6273 4493
Email: friends@nla.gov.au
Website: www.nla.gov.au/friend

March Friends

This month we have two wonderful activities for our Friends. At 6 pm on Thursday 3 March, Canberra author Marion Halligan will talk about her new novel. The Apricot Colonel, published by Allen and Unwin in early February, begins on that ominous day in Canberra three years ago when the bushfires hit. But this work, like Halligan’s other novels, reveals itself to be fundamentally about the complexity of human relationships, desire, truth and the sensuality of food, with a couple of murders thrown in too.

Marion Halligan always knew she would be a writer and, despite starting later in life, she has won numerous awards including The Age Book of the Year, the ACT Book of the Year, the Nita B. Kibble Award, the Steele Rudd Award and the Braille Book of the Year. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Apricot Colonel and come along to the Library to hear Marion speak. You may already know that she is a wonderful writer, but she is also a highly engaging and entertaining speaker. Marion will read from her work, answer questions and will be available after the talk to sign copies of her novel. To ensure you don’t miss out, reserve a seat by phoning the Friends office on (02) 62 62 1698 (Friends $5, non-members $10).

Have you heard of Braidwood? If you live in Canberra you will know it is an almost mandatory stopover for those driving to the South Coast. If you don’t live in Canberra you may have seen parts of this historic town in the iconic Australian movie, The Year My Voice Broke. Braidwood is the destination for the next Friends daytrip. The historic significance of the town dates back to 1839, and a great number of the shops, cafes and restaurants occupy 19th-century buildings. It is this rich history that has attracted our tour organiser and Chair of the Friends Committee, Terry Birtles. The trip will include a visit to ‘Bedervale’, a National Trust homestead, and a talk by Dr Christine Wright, Friends member and Chair of the Braidwood Historical Society. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea are included in the ticket price of $75 for Friends and $85 for non-members. The bus departs from the National Library at 8 am on Tuesday 8 March and returns at 5 pm the same day. Bookings essential, phone (02) 62 62 1698.

JILLIAN EDWARDS
Acting Executive Officer
Friends of the National Library of Australia

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