OK - I admit it - I am completely and absolutely addicted to writing.   Letters (I have over 200 penpals around the world) - yes, my family, personal friends, acquaintances and anyone and everyone else who knows me all think I am mad - but that's life.  I have always had a yearning to write stories as well - fiction was the idea originally but having tried that and failing miserably, no thanks - will leave that to the experts.  Like so many others, I have spent a good part of my life wanting, but not knowing how to start writing and getting books published.  Well, this all changed a few years ago when I woke one birthday (not telling which one) and had an epiphany (love that word - think it's right but not sure but sounds good) - I did realise I needed to get my deceased father's book published and 'out there' - somehow - quickly.  For some weird reason I suddenly felt a very urgent need to get this done - so I got stuck into good old faithful Google and eventually found - something.  I'm actually not sure what it was now but whatever it was, it did help point me in the right direction.  And I succeeded - I had it self-published and it was released - exactly a week after my mother died.  'The Sawers From Pitcairn':   https://www.abcpublishing.info/.  Oops.  Oh well, I did my absolute best and am told she died happy, knowing that the book was about to be released.  And that kinda whetted my appetite - I'd discovered how to have books published - there was no stopping me now.  But not fiction.  Never fiction.  So I turned my efforts to my second book:  'Bullseye' which is a compilation of some thirty six case histories of bullying written and submitted by victims of this horrible phenomena from around Australia and one from the UK.  All have been reproduced as closely as possible to the originals submitted by their authors which does mean that some do, perhaps, present more of a challenge to read, than others do.  As they are all ad lib I acted on legal instruciton at the time not to edit, proof nor change them in any way.  This is mentioned in the introduction.   However, it does appear that a couple of the people who reviewed the book decided either to ignore or not to read the explanation at all and simply returned it to me without explanation.  This did not bother me - just proved that these people are rather ignorant in themselves.   Anyway I am a writer and as such, I write - I tend to rave on for ages and pages and like mosf of the rest of the world, I have lots'n'lots'n'lots to rave on about....but until next time...stay tuned....same station...

FIGHTING BULLYING AND THE BOOK ON STATIONS

Fight against bullying is progressing with victims now starting to realise they can come forward to vent, remaining completely anonymous.  Some nasty stories out there too and regardless of what the Government is trying to tell me, programmes/strategies etc that are currently in place are NOT working.  We need action and that's what we are aiming for.  Meanwhile the research for my current book on the sheep and cattle stations of this great nation is progressing brilliantly.  Am meeting some wonderful people, all sharing my own background and their humour is equal to none.  
Stay tuned.

I have just been emailed two horrific stories about cyber-bullying and a couple of other forms - and a third where I am encouraging the victim to open up and tell me more.  It is becoming increasingly evident that 'all' that the governments are doing is not working and action really does need to be taken - before any more serious reactions are taken by victims.   As most MPs across Australia now have my email details on hand victims are gradually starting to gain the confidence to come forward and email their experiences to me - it will all help toward our ultimate goal - to introduce legislation to drastically reduce bullying in schools nationwide, make the schools more accountable (accountable at all....) with the eventual aim of making it illegal.  We do know this will not stop bullying but should at least deter some of the perpetrators when they realise that their actions will result in legal repercussions.  Please come forward victims and tell us....all stories are welcome, particularly cyber-bullying.

Wow...already at the end of February.  Ouch.  Another year underway.  The fight against bullying continues in earnest - I have already done a couple of radio interviews and victims of this horrible act, past and present, are starting to become confident enough to come forward and vent to me, which is fantastic.  But there are some horrible stories out there.  Now victims can also go to their local MP and my details should be available for them to contact me that way as well.  Remembering that there is also the chance that all stories could 'go public'.  But again not without the express permission of victims.  My next book is also going extremely well.   It is about sheep and cattle stations of this great nation of ours.  So far I have around twenty stations (several from each state) participating and continue to receive enquiries and requests.  All wonderful.  I have also conducted the initial interviews with a few retired pastoralists - what an absolute pleeasure they are proving to be.  Such humour.  I am so enjoying this.  We have also decided to make the cover design and title of the book into a competition for the students and families of long distance learning throughout the nation.  
Stay tuned. 

ALL GOING WELL

Every day something seems to happen in my 'fight'.   I am starting to get a responses from the letters I have been issuing to all local Members of Parliament around the country.  Some are encouraging, others are needing encouragement.  Also continue to experience cyber-bullying which still doesn't worry me but does tell me that some people are concerned that we might actually succeed in this war.  That we are not doing what so many groups and the government are doing....creating and implementing programmes etc for the schools to use.  Along with specialist advice that the government has at its disposal, these are all wonderful and very well meaning but, to me and most people I am in contact with, they are not reality.  No matter how many programmes etc are implemented in the schools none of them is gonna stop Johnny from scaring the life out of Peter and holding him in a headlock and torturing him at every chance.  Nothing is gonna stop Mary and Anne from pushing Susie so much that she falls over and then ripping her clothes.  And nothing is gonna make either Peter nor Susie report these, not if they are being threatened in even one small way.  And if it continues, and it does, both Peter and Susie could wonder how in the hell they are gonna escape this torture, causing them to fear coming to school every day, to wake up scared.  What a way to live.  Well...that's just it...it's not living and something real needs to be done before they start looking at hurting themselves.  COME ON WORLD.......WAKE UP.  I continue to need stories from victims and loved ones to act as ammunition to convince the government that something desperately needs to be done.  PLEASE if you are a victim and, like I was, are too scared to come forward to tell someone about your torture, your nightmare, please tell me about it, in absolute and total confidence.  My email address is:  abccalligraphy00@hotmail.com.  There IS the chance your story could go public but that would never be done without your absolute approval and absolutely everything will always be treated with the utmost confidence. 

SUPPORT NEEDED

Following at least four reported cases of bullying last week (one resulting in yet another suicide) I am now 'working' in co-operation with a journalist from our newspaper in Western Australia.  It appears that quite a few victims or loved ones approach their local MPs about their problems, obviously wanting to 'vent' but also hoping that something might be done.  NOW there IS a hope that SOMETHING just MIGHT be done.  My own MP is offering to send these people onto me (ONLY with their permission) with the chance that their stories might be publicised.  I will decide whether they are newsworthy or not.  Having also had a very unsatisfactory (but typical) response from our Minister for Education (to which I will be responding, politedly but pointedly telling her that I will NOT back down and let them deal with it...their 'dealing' is not working...not from what I can see anyway and we want action...we want EFFECTIVE handling and outcomes/results to be known).  BUT we are also looking for 'ammunition' with this fight....PLEASE if you have been a victim or a loved one, I NEED TO HEAR YOUR STORY.  Please inbox me at abccalligraphy00@hotmail.com.  The more the better.  This offer is also being made to all electorates in WA as I continue to hassle the government   Please just remember that the more GENUINE stories we have the more likely it will be that the government will take notice.   NO NAMES WILL BE MENTIONED, NOR SCHOOLS OR ANY INSTITUTIONS AT ALL.  EVERYTHING WILL REMAIN TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL.  Cases of cyber-bullying are particularly of interest but we are looking for any form of bullying.  PLEASE HELP WITH THIS...WE NEED YOUR HELP.   Thank you.

GETTING TO THE GOVERNMENT

Seems we are reaching the SA Government....and hoping the other states will follow suit.  Have been given some invaluable advice from a journo here, which I will be following this week.  All sorts of things are happening...we are determined to change/tighten up the anti-bullying policies nationwide.  For those who are interested in seeing something positive being done about bullying and supporting our advocacy, PLEASE sign our petition:  www.thepetitionsite.com/1/change-anti-bullying-laws-and-policies/   .  Have also had an excellent review for 'Bullseye':   written by a teacher in the USA:  'I spent some time with 'Bullseye' and think that it's a powerful book for two reasons:  it's poignantly real and it's in the voices of many people who were brave enough to share their story.  This is a great book for those who have faced similar problems and will give strength to their voices.  Inasmuch as bullying is so timeless and so pervasive and takes on so many forms, it would be hard to write solutions for every problem inscribed.  As a reader, I wanted to know more background of the victims, such as age, and situation.  Also, it would be nice to revisit with the victims after 10 years and get again, in their own words, how they've come to grips as they've faced their memories of the bullying.