AustLit

'Alison Croggon has written poetry, fantasy novels, and whip-smart arts criticism for decades, but Monsters is her first book-length work of non-fiction. In this deeply wounded book, Croggon unpacks her shattered relationship with her younger sister (not named in the book), a dynamic that bristles with accusations and resentments. In attempting to understand the wreckage of this relationship, Croggon finds herself going back to the roots of Western patriarchy and colonialism, seeking to frame this fractured relationship as the inexorable consequence of empire.' (Introduction)

'Australians love a bogan in pop culture. Kath & Kim broke ratings records; The Castle regularly tops lists of favourite local films. This sense of affection for the working class becomes more complex off-screen, when Aussie battlers become ‘cashed-up bogans’ and turn Queensland into a Liberal state; when they start threatening middle-class values; and especially when they gain capital and political power. Australian Realness uses the bogan stereotype as a tool to shatter the middle-class drama as both a cultural and theatrical narrative.'(Introduction)

'Bad Mothers is a fresh ensemble drama about four very different friends negotiating the perils and joys of being a modern mum: from parties to play dates, hangovers to homework, mishaps to murder.'

Source: Screen Australia.

'In The Secret She Keeps, Meghan doesn’t know Agatha, but Agatha knows Meghan. Two women from vastly different backgrounds have one thing in common: explosive secrets that could destroy everything they hold dear.

'Two women have a chance encounter in a supermarket, in an affluent Sydney suburb. They are the same age, both heavily pregnant and due at the same time. Meghan (Jessica De Gouw) is a glamorous influencer on the rise, with an ambitious television sports reporter husband Jack (Michael Dorman), while Agatha (Laura Carmichael) works in the supermarket as a shelf stacker.

'Although they live near each other, the two women’s lives could not be more different…

'Agatha is a loner and barely above the poverty line. She’s ecstatic to be pregnant, pinning all her hopes and dreams on this much longed-for miracle baby. Yet the father of her child, Hayden (Michael Sheasby), a sailor on active duty, remains oblivious to her condition.

'Meghan is a sophisticated mother-of two who uses social media to reframe her imperfect life into a glossier, more aspirational existence. Despite posting enthusiastically about her pregnancy to her avid followers, including Agatha, behind closed doors this third baby is putting pressure on an already strained marriage.

'Both women have secrets. And both will risk everything to conceal the truth. But their worlds are about to collide in one shocking act that cannot be undone.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A woman searches for the baby she abandoned 45 years ago and is confronted by what she discovers.'

Source: Screen Australia.

'Set in a beachside apartment building in Sydney's eastern suburbs, Wonderland concentrates on four very different couples navigating the humorous and sometimes painful minefield of love, friendship and life in the 21st century.' (Source: Network Ten website)

'When life takes you places you never expected, when love takes you beyond the ordinary, what will you do?

'Cara is in love with Danny, the tough guy with the good heart. But he's going out with Jessica and Cara's stuck with her ratbag boyfriend, Fly - Danny's best friend.

'When Fly and Danny go on a simple trip to the all-night service station and come back in a strange, dark mood, Cara can't begin to imagine the drama that lies ahead. If only Danny would talk to her...

'But Danny's dad was once in jail and stick to the rule 'no names, no pack drill'. If only Cara could find a way to tell the truth...' (Publication summary)

'Von never makes it to the charity ball when her little friend Zac's condition begins to deteriorate. Terri and Malcolm bond at the ball but Terri is shocked to discover Rose suffers from bi-polar. The revelation causes problems between Mitch and Rose. Kylie drinks too much, Scott puts more moves on Andrea and Luke's date is horribly raped outside the ball venue. Meanwhile, Connor and Bron are on night shift in Ward 17.'

Source: Australian Television Information Archive. (Sighted: 25/6/2013)

'When Beatrice is forced to leave her beloved Wilson Park and her offbeat friend Marty, she discovers some shocking truths about her mother and learns what friendship and family really mean.

'Change is hard, but as her Aunty Olivia tells her, sometimes when you lose something, you gain something else.

'Water Colours is an optimistic, warm and challenging story about growing up and coming to terms with the tough realities of life.' (Publication summary)

One of Australia's highest rating dramas, All Saints is a Logie Award-winning Australian medical drama set in the fictional All Saints Western General Hospital in suburban Sydney. The stories originally focused on the nursing staff of Ward 17 run by Nursing Unit Manager Terri Sullivan. It was sometimes referred to as the 'garbage ward' because it took the overflow of patients.

In 2004 Network Seven producers overhauled the series in an effort to increase the show's gradually dwindling audience. They achieved this by closing down Ward 17 and transferring some of the staff to the Emergency Department managed by Frank Campion. Several other new lead characters were also introduced. The changes also saw the storylines begin to focus more on the lives of the doctors and nurses.

Another significant change to the series came in early 2009 when the producers introduced the Medical Response Unit. Central to this development was the helicopter which took doctors to rescue situations outside the hopsital and which in turn brought patients to the All Saints Emergency Department. The show's name was also changed at this time to All Saints: Medical Response Unit. The increased production costs created by having scenes shot on location played a part, however, in the series being cancelled mid-year. The series ended with the Emergency Department and Medical Response Unit teams having a dinner to farewell the last remaining original character, Von Ryan on her final day at All Saints.

All Saints was popular in many countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium and Iran.

'Under the camphor laurel tree, bonds are made and broken - even the special friendship between Melissa and Julietta can't escape the rustling winds of change.

'Anyone who has ever had a best friend will recognise the bittersweet moments of companionship captured with poignancy and affection in Camphor Laurel.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.