Week beginning 14 June 2023*

Rob Wills’ two volume Plague Searchers is reviewed this week. It seems particularly appropriate to review a book that gives women’s place such a high priority in the week I also comment on the National Labor Women’s Conference held in Western Australia.

Rob Wills Plague Searchers Volumes 1 and 2 Arcadia 2022.

The description ‘immense’ has been at the forefront of my feelings about Rob Wills’ Plague Searchers, Volume 1, Red Wands and Volume 2, Flee Quick, Go Far. It is possible that such a description usually applies to novels that reach far into the past and future, that it implies that large characters will perform amazing deeds and that huge events will thunder across the pages and geographical expanses. Instead, Plague Searchers begins in London on Wednesday, 7 June 1665 with the last chapter set in London on Sunday, 29 October 1665. The characters with which the book begins, the plague searchers, Widow Margaret Hazard and Goodwife Joan Brokefild, are again together at the end. Their immediate whereabouts has changed, and so too, has Goodwife Joan Brokefild’s marital status – at the end of the book she is Widow Joan Brokefild.

The scenes in which Joan Brokefild changes her status are wonderful. They are a splendid example of the immensity of the concept Rob Wills has brought to these months in London during the plague. Not least is the gentle sisterhood Widow Margaret Hazard exhibits towards her companion. But the way in which sisterhood is juxtaposed with the gruesome details of how the change in status was facilitated, laid out through Joan Brokefild’s ruminations and the conversation between the women, are absolute jewels.  And this is but one example of the way in which Wills uses his characters, those who are so often overlooked, to bring immense ideas to his story. Looking at each paragraph as a weaving together of a multitude of ideas, events and beliefs is one of the joys of reading (and re-reading) this work. Where a novel goes into two volumes as seamlessly as does this one, the question might be asked – why? Why not cull? The answer must be – how? When the layers are so thoughtful and give so much, why not just enjoy, and think about the ideas that are so convincingly conveyed through each paragraph, indeed relish every sentence – and sometimes every word, as crude as they might be at times! See Books: Reviews for the complete review.

After the covid report: National Labor Women’s Conference 2023; Cindy Lou; further on LWNC.

Covid update

Labor Women’s National Conference 2023

The Conference Welcome to Country by Colleen Hayward was inspirational, and this is the only word that can be used for the Indigenous speakers who featured throughout the two days of Conference. Nova Peris was a particularly strong presence, not only in her keynote speaking role and, on a panel, discussing The Voice, but in wonderful videos of her sporting prowess and carrying the Olympic Flag. Nova Peris’ bare feet featured here, as they did many years later in her Parliamentary portrait.

Cindy Lou has coffee in Fremantle

We arrived at Duck Duck Bruce rather late so only coffee and cake were on offer. Both were delicious and served efficiently and pleasantly. The pecan banana bread was warmed, served with lashings of butter, and in one case, with whipped cream. The coffees were very good indeed. Yest another coffee place that was happy to concoct my weak, skinny latte – almost like my experience in Bagni di Lucca, where they were prepared to serve such coffee even in the afternoon. I do not dare to request it in Rome!

The lunch menu at Duck Duck Bruce is quite exciting, and I must get there early enough next time.

 DUCK DUCK BRUCE menus * include dishes such as :

APPLE GRANOLA, POMEGRANATE, PISTACHIOS, CARDAMOM COCONUT WHIP / 16

PARSI STYLE CHILLI SCRAMBLED EGGS, GARAM MASALA, KACHUMBER, PICKLED CHILLI, RELISH, TOAST / 19

SMASHED AVO, MINTED PEAS, POMEGRANATE, SHEEP’S FETA, PRESERVED LEMON, SUMAC SALT, TOAST / 20

CRISPY POTATO STRAWS, SPINACH, ALMONDS, GOAN EGGPLANT, ROTI, COCONUT SAMBAL, EGGS, PICKLED CHILLI, CUMIN RAITA / 25

SPICED SAUSAGE & CHORIZO KROMESKI BURGER, PRETZEL BUN, FRIED EGG, PICKLES, TAMARIND HP BURGER CHEESE, CHORIZO MAYO, LASER DUST / 22

TOAST, GREENS, POACHED EGGS, BRUCE’S FAMOUS BURNT BUTTER HOLLANDAISE / 20

SIDEKICKS : EGGS / BURNT BUTTER HOLLANDAISE / RED LENTIL HUMMUS / SHEEP’S FETA / GREENS / AVO / MUSHROOMS / TOMATOES / RED CABBAGE SAUERKRAUT / BACON / SAUSAGES / SMOKY BEANS / HASH BROWNS / CHORIZO / BEET CURED SALMON / KERALAN FRIED CHICKEN

BANANA & PECAN BREAD, TOASTED AND BUTTERED / 6

BACON & EGG ROLL : PRETZEL BUN, PLENTY OF BACON, EGG, TOMATO RELISH / 10

SAUSAGE & CHORIZO KROMESKI BURGER : FRIED EGG, TAMARIND HP, PICKLES, CHORIZO AIOLI, BURGER CHEESE, LASER DUST, PRETZEL BUN / 19

*edited.

The Bistrot

The Bistrot is a marvellous coffee place – for a start they managed to serve a long queue from the Labor Women’s Conference promptly with take away drinks and food. The woman had found that the morning break between sessions did not include the usual urns that work not at all, or so furiously that they spew water everywhere, the ubiquitous cream selection of biscuits that appear so often, not even the dreary custard cream!

Bistros rose so well to the occasion I returned to have my coffee before the next morning’s sessions. Again they had to deal with the unexpected. The free dog treats on the counter reminded me that I had left my Labor Women’s bag with a Tim Tam in it within the dog’s reach. The staff changed their work midstream, made the coffees takeaway, and bagged the delicious pastry.

Bistrot will become a favourite on future visits to Fremantle.

Labor Women’s National Conference

As I have mentioned the lack of tea, coffee and biscuits at the tea breaks, I must also note some of the real positives about the conference.

There were over 400 delegates – demonstrating the immense interest in this first National Labor Women’s Conference since 2017.

Pre-Conference drinks were held on the beach front – a wonderful beginning to the conference in this interesting city. Not only were the speeches a good introduction to conference, but the conversation amongst delegates was enthusiastic. Again, re my comments on the morning breaks – the food and drink here were generous and delicious! Penny Wong gave much of herself to the conference, not only hosting this event and making a speech, but giving a keynote speech the next day.

The tributes to women all over Australia through videos and music was tremendous. This feature demonstrated the magnificence of Labor women and their contributions all over Australia. They provided exciting ‘interjections’ to the serious and information filled speeches.

Keynote speeches were well received, with Sally McManus making a particularly positive contribution to debate about the way in which steps forward, or even seeming failures to advance, can be built upon to achieve our aims.

Katy Gallaher’s speech appears online. She began her work towards improving the representation of women in the ACT Assembly and the Federal Parliament in 2000. Katy followed in the very able steps of Maureen Horder and Robyn Walmsley who were members of the ACT Assembly, Senator Susan Ryan who began in the Assembly and then entered the Senate, and Ros Kelly MHR who also began in the Assembly and then became the Member for Canberra. Rosemary Follett became the first woman leader of the ALP to lead a government when she became Chief Minister of the ACT.

I was unable to stay for the resolutions. However, I shall post those of significance when the results are available.

• This post is late due to ill health.