I recently wrote and complied a booklet about the Bribie Island Women Writers’ Retreats to share with other women writers the importance of the retreats in the yearly activities of the group. If possible, this will be uploaded to our website at a future date.
Our retreat is a time when we can meet over an extended period in beautiful Coungeau House. It was built by Emily Coungeau and her husband in 1915 and is the oldest house on the island. Emily was a writer, and we carry on her legacy in her space. The extensive veranda, the lounge room and the dining room have all been preserved in the original style with antique furniture and fine China ornaments. Here we gather for discussions with other writers and attend workshops from visiting professionals or by other members with expertise.
At our 2023 retreat we heard tips and pics for travel writing by Sue who is a professional photographer. Raelene compared writing to climbing Everest with the steps on the way, always being prepared for the climb to the summit. Jan Wood, our new president, gave us practice in writing for next year’s anthology. There was much hilarity and camaraderie over those days.
Apart from the workshops there is the outside world to explore: walks along the passage side; a visit to the nearby museum; the Sunday market; the op shops, and then you can relax in the coffee shops or join the group for our Friday fish and chip night.
If you are interested in attending this retreat and enjoy writing, join Women Writer’s Qld. Then you can come along to Bribie in October, as I have done for many years. Maybe I’ll see you there this year.
