Writing
Sex, zips and feminism: Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying after 50 years
While its racism is the great flaw of Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying, it still has much to say to today’s reader.
Betty Can Jump at the Pram Factory: the radical 1970s play that built a scene – and changed Australia
In this piece for The Guardian, I describe finding myself on federal election day in 2022 handing out how-to-vote flyers with the film and TV actor Bruce Spence, and I look at how federal arts policy has nurtured the arts since the 1970s.
Betty Jumps High
This essay for Openbook magazine is about how the women behind Betty Can Jump first had the idea for their radical play.
Friday essay: ‘with men I feel like a very sharp, glittering blade’ – when 5 liberated women spoke the truth
This article for The Conversation contains edited extracts from Staging a Revolution: When Betty Rocked the Pram
Apocalypse Baby
An essay I wrote for Meanjin about television’s lost and found children, childless and desperate mothers, and callous and caring states.
A Change in the Weather
A story I wrote for Meanjin on life, death, memory, weather, feminism … and Nick Cave's mum.
The Sydney Women’s Film Group and Betty Can Jump
Before #MeToo, 1970s Australian feminists used film and theatre for women's liberation. Read my story for The Saturday Paper here.
Hefner didn't invent the sexual revolution, he took credit from women
On the death of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, the ABC asked me to consider his legacy.
Don't try this at home: from Duchamp's urinal to Wim Delvoye’s Cloaca
This Daily Review essay on Duchamp's urinal, contemporary art & buying artworks from friends was inspired by a new show of works by the talented artist Paloma White.
The only way is up (via anxiety and endless self-promotion)
Read my story for Overland about LinkedIn, self-promotion, anxiety and Derek Zoolander.
The Gifts of John Forbes (Meanjin)
A memoir remembering on my friend, the late poet John Forbes. First published in Meanjin in the Summer 2016 issue.
I don't mean to be personal
A piece I wrote after an opinion piece I wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald went a little viral for all the wrong reasons.
The twinned story of journalism and feminism
A story I wrote for Women’s Agenda about the entwined history of feminism and journalism.
Gender equality: are schools leading girls down the wrong path?
This essay about girls and schools and feminism was first published by Women’s Agenda.