New Project on Ursula Bethell

Researching the creative work of Ursula Bethell, Christchurch poet primarily but who was also an avid painter and gardener. She lived a varied and amazing life of social work, literary support and mentor to many emerging writers and also had a deep faith in God…The majority of her life was spent living with her companion Effie Pollen. When Effie died in 1934, Ursula Bethell was devastated, writing a "Memorial" every year for the next six years on or around the anniversary. October 1935 The green has come back, the spring green, the new green, Darling, the young green upon the field willows, And the gorse on the wild hills was never so yellow, Together, together, past years we have looked on the scene. The loved little bird is singing his small song, Dearest, and whether the trill of the riro Reminded, we wondered, of joy or of sorrow - Now I am taught it is tears, it is tears that to spring time belong. You were laughter, my liking, and frolic, my lost one, I must dissemble and smile still for your sake, Now that I know how spring time is heart-break, Now you have left me to look upon all that is lovely, alone.

New year project juggling...

So it's a new year - well, I know it's March but we still have that 'new year' feel don't we? I have a number of projects in various stages of development and whilst they all have their priorities its' hard to really get focused on which one will come up laughing as it were….so, heading into further research on an amazing kiwi designer and artist who went to san francisco in 1920…- more exciting news to come on him soon :) and looking for funding for post-production on my Cambodian film, featuring the lives of Cambodian women refugees who lived through the Pol Pot regime and came to live in NZ often after many difficult years in refugee camps on the Thai Cambodian border…its a busy kaleidoscope of topics and inspiring people who enrich my life as I delve into theirs….

Friends of Hone Tuwhare Trust Gig

On October 22, a group of Wellington people interested in the work of Hone Tuwhare gathered at Meow to celebrate his work, perform readings and adaptations of poetry to music and generally to support the work of the Hone Tuhware Trust. The Trust is working towards designing and building a Writers Residency in Kaka Point where Hone lived and worked. This was the first of many gatherings that will be held in Wellington to assist the Trust to meet their financial goal and also to keep the work of Tuwhare alive.

Voices for Hospice - songs of loss and joy

On World Hospice & Palliative Care Day Carol Shortis conducted 13 community choirs in Old St Pauls to sing two songs each that explored the themes of loss and grief, and joy and healing. A website was established by Mary Potter Hospice to showcase the work. Some excerpts of the concert are below.

Karanga: Voices for Hospice Choral Concert from clare oleary on Vimeo.

Iwi History - Breaker Bay

I did an interview with Ray Ahipene-Mercer on the history of Breaker Bay and Moa Point. It is a work in progress on capturing local stories of the bay. It will be shown at a community event in September so just making the finishing touches on it this weekend!

Decriminalisation of the Sex Industry in NZ

So, the film festival is over and its back to the drawing board. Finishing up the NZPC doco with Ray Beentjes doing the sound mix and Catherine Healy overseeing it all. It's been a long process but worth the wait. The film was funded by The Soros Foundation.

The Missing Picture

This film by Rithy Pran, a wonderful Cambodian filmmaker is on tomorrow in the festival. https://www.nziff.co.nz/wellington/film/2ecfa09a-d332-462c-ba58-a1329c32eec0