Brooke Zahra, originally from Western Sydney, moved to Callala Bay in 2013. She wrote her first poem at the age of ten following the loss of her grandfather and has been writing poetry ever since. What began as a means to process grief soon became an important outlet for self-expression and reflection.

At eighteen, Brooke was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, now recognised as part of autism spectrum disorder. At thirty-one, she was also diagnosed with ADHD. Her writing often explores themes of belonging, identity and the emotional experiences of living with a neurodivergent mind.

“I often feel like an outsider – an outcast, a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit,” Brooke says. “I wrote these and many other poems as a way of explaining how it feels to be me. I’m not sure if others feel the same way, but hopefully sharing my poems helps someone feel seen or heard or brings greater understanding to those of us with neurodivergent minds.”

When Brooke isn’t writing poetry, she enjoys expressing her creativity through art, including drawing, painting and jewellery-making. She hopes one day to publish a book featuring a larger collection of her poetry and creative works.

Brett Tamblyn is an emerging writer whose work is shaped by resilience, imagination and a profound shift in his life’s trajectory.

In October 2025, Brett was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and severe degenerative brain condition affecting approximately 1 to 2 people per million. His diagnosis came unexpectedly after he’d entered hospital with an unrelated condition. He experienced a seizure within 24 hours, and a subsequent MRI revealed the fatal disease. He was given one month to live.

Brett and his wife, Joyce, made the difficult decision to fund medically assisted transport to Adelaide so he could receive palliative care closer to family. Throughout this time, Joyce remained steadfastly by his side. After months in care, Brett returned home to the Shoalhaven where, against all expectations, a new chapter began.

Living with the effects of a significant brain injury, including limited mobility and partial vision loss, Brett has faced ongoing challenges. Yet it is through these challenges that his creativity has flourished. Writing has become both an outlet and a source of joy. When Brett speaks about his stories, his expression lights up, as though he hasn’t a care in the world!

Inspired by his pets and the wildlife he has long connected with, Brett began developing ideas for books drawn from nature and everyday moments. His writing often comes in the quiet, early hours while Joyce and their cat, Max, sleep soundly, and the natural world begins to stir outside.

Much of Brett’s work has been written on his phone, a testament to his determination, though he has recently begun using a laptop to further develop his craft.

A devoted father of three and a proud “Poppa” to six grandchildren, Brett hopes to publish his stories as picture books, sharing adventures inspired by his grandchildren, and to one day write a memoir.

Terry Richmond, sixty-two, lives in North Nowra and has been writing poetry since the mid-1980s, often drawing on personal experiences and contemporary events for inspiration.

The story featured in this anthology marks his first published work, although the original idea was first penned around 2010.

In addition to writing, Terry has pursued a wide range of interests and has many achievements. He has appeared twice on the Australian television quiz program Mastermind, in 2021 and again in 2024, reaching the weekly final during his second appearance.

Terry is also a respected cricket umpire and football (soccer) referee, roles that reflect his long-standing involvement in sport and community activities. In 2025, he achieved another milestone when he debuted as a New South Wales representative in Indoor Bias Bowls.

In 1998, Terry was diagnosed with PTSD after the devastating loss of three people close to him within a six-month period. Later, in 2014, he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (Level 1), a discovery that came after reading a diagnostic report of his son and recognising many of the same traits in himself.

Writing has become an important outlet for Terry, providing a way to reflect on experiences and express emotions that can sometimes be difficult to articulate. While the process can occasionally be challenging, it has also proven to be both meaningful and rewarding.

Looking ahead, Terry hopes to continue writing poetry and short fiction with the aim of sharing his work with a wider audience. He is also developing Memories of Melba, the piece featured in this anthology, into a full-length novel.

Samantha Ogilvie, fifty-four, was born in Bega and now lives in Bomaderry. A passionate writer since primary school, Sam has been published in Swyntax (Swinburne University magazine), Offset (Victoria University literary journal), Box Hill TAFE’s magazine, and a Victorian women writers’ anthology.

She has also been a public relations speaker for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, sharing her story on countless occasions – a voice she began developing at a very early age.

Alongside her writing, Samantha is an accomplished visual artist, with her work exhibited at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Hunter Wetlands, Newcastle Museum and Newcastle Library. She works across a range of tactile mediums, including pottery, mixed media and basket weaving, demonstrating innate creative skill.

At the age of four, Samantha was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive cancer rhabdomyosarcoma, which developed behind her right eye and spread to her left eye and sinus cavity. She was not expected to survive. Following intensive radiation treatment at levels rarely tolerated even by adults, the cancer was successfully destroyed, though it resulted in Sam’s complete loss of vision.

In the years since, art and writing have become vital forms of expression for Samantha. Having experienced bullying during her school years, she found these mediums gave her a voice. She secured refuge and confidence in creative spaces, particularly through the guidance of an art teacher who mentored, inspired and nurtured her artistic talent.

Looking ahead, Samantha hopes to compete in the Australian Para Surfing Championships in 2027 while continuing to develop her art and writing, including penning her memoir.

Kristy Nielsen is a devoted wife, mother of six adult children and grandmother to five grandchildren. She continues to nurture four sons at home, each navigating personal challenges including autism spectrum diagnoses. Their unique gifts and extraordinary intelligence have enriched her journey, even as raising them has presented profound trials.

From a young age, Kristy developed a deep reverence for nature and its healing potential. At fifteen, her beloved aunt gifted her a treasured herb book that sparked a lifelong passion. Over the decades, her personal library of herbal and healing texts has expanded exponentially.

In 2013, Kristy’s own debilitating health struggles transformed her path. Mainstream medicine offered only symptomatic relief, prompting her to seek restoration through natural means. This crisis ignited her calling: an intensive exploration of plant wisdom, ancient healing traditions and grassroots herbalism.

Today, Kristy is a certified master/teacher in Reiki and she pursues ongoing studies of Rosemary Gladstar’s The Science and Art of Herbalism, Ayurvedic medicine, apothecary practices, naturopathy and related disciplines. Her expansive garden bursts with medicinal plants, while her kitchen brims with handcrafted remedies: tinctures, poultices, balms, herbal teas, bath soaks and more, all created with love and intention.

Beyond healing, Kristy finds joy in singing her original compositions, connecting spiritually and contemplating the nature of reality. She is also working on two books: one a compilation of her original healing recipes, developed over 13+ years, and the other a celebration of love as the universe’s most miraculous force.

Through reconnecting with nature and plant-based therapies, Kristy embodies resilient transformation – empowering herself, her family and others to rediscover timeless paths to wellness.

Gordon McDonald is a writer and performer originally from the Manning Valley. For the past thirty years, he has called the Shoalhaven home, where he spent twenty-five years working as a postman.

Gordon has been writing since the age of eighteen, with early work including poems and a short story published in Tracks surfing magazine. Over the years, his creative pursuits have spanned song lyrics, a co-written radio serial, church Christmas productions, puppet shows and even clowning – reflecting his lifelong passion for storytelling in its many forms.

He is currently self-publishing a collection of his poetry titled Welcome to the Circus. His co-written radio serial, 45 Sunshine Crescent: A Failed Radio Serial, is available on Spotify.

Writing has always played an important role in Gordon’s life, offering both a creative outlet and a way to navigate his inner world. His work draws inspiration from the human condition, politics and the everyday stories that shape people’s lives.

More recently, Gordon has become involved in performance poetry, finding great satisfaction in sharing his work with live audiences. He continues to develop his craft with the goal of refining his voice and connecting with a wider audience.

Helen Harvey, eighty-three, was born in the inland town of Coonamble, New South Wales, a place of sweeping plains, vast skies and endless horizons whose sunrises and sunsets she still fondly misses. She left school at fifteen to begin work with the Main Roads Department before marrying young and raising two daughters and a son.

Following the passing of her husband, Helen made the move in 2022 from the family farm to Worrigee, where she now lives close to her daughter and extended family.

Helen has been writing bush poetry for approximately twenty-five years. A self-taught poet, she developed her craft through lived experience and a deep appreciation for the works of past and contemporary poets. A lifelong admirer of Banjo Paterson, she still treasures her well-worn copy of The Collected Verse of A B Paterson gifted to her by her parents on her twelfth birthday.

Her work has been widely recognised, with publication in numerous annual editions of The Bronze Swagman Book of Bush Verse (Winton, Queensland). Her accolades include three Bronze Spur trophies (Camooweal, Queensland), runner-up in the Bronze Swagman (Winton), champion and runner-up in the King of the Ranges (Murrurundi, NSW), the Henry Lawson Society Trophy for Written Poetry, and the Fellowship of Australian Writers Lambing Flat Award for Open Poetry, along with many highly commended and commended awards.

Helen draws inspiration from Australia’s landscapes, its history and the resilience of its people, particularly the early settlers, explorers and soldiers who shaped the nation, along with the indispensable role of working horses and dogs, whose stories she is passionate about preserving.

Before turning to poetry, Helen was deeply involved in the equestrian world, riding and training horses across disciplines including Western events, dressage and hack classes. She became an accredited dressage judge and an Equestrian Australia Coach, experiences that continue to inform her writing.

Now, Helen spends her days writing, tending to her native garden and enjoying the abundant birdlife around her. She hopes to continue refining her poetry, explore short story writing and publish a collection of her work, both as a legacy for her family and a tribute to the stories she holds dear. She is also working on a fictional novel.

Above all, Helen considers her greatest achievement to be her three children and the joy of being part of her great-grandchildren’s lives.

Leesa Harris, a retired English teacher, taught for many years in Sydney’s western suburbs and the Blue Mountains. She is now enjoying a sea change on the beautiful New South Wales South Coast.

A lifelong reader and writer, Leesa has always been drawn to the power of words, both in the literature she shared with her students and in the quiet reflections she has written over the years.

Now, with more time to devote to her creative pursuits, she is embracing the opportunity to write with renewed energy and courage as she begins sharing her words and experiences with others.

When Feelings Speak marks Leesa’s first published piece of writing and represents the beginning of a new chapter in her lifelong relationship with language and storytelling.

Jessica Gray, thirty-three, lives in Nowra on the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales.

Jessica has enjoyed writing poetry since her teenage years, mostly as a personal hobby and a way to capture her thoughts and emotions. The piece featured in this anthology marks her very first published work.

For Jessica, poetry is an important outlet for self-expression. Writing helps her process the many thoughts and feelings that can build up in her mind – putting them to paper assists with clarity and release.

Jessica lives with the rare neurological condition agenesis of the corpus callosum, which means the bundle of nerve fibres that normally connects the left and right sides of the brain is absent. While information still travels through her brain, it simply takes a different pathway. Jessica sees this as a powerful reminder that everyone’s journey in life is unique, and that the challenges we face are a part of what makes us special.

Through sharing her writing, Jessica hopes to encourage others to be brave, step outside their comfort zones and discover the magic that can happen when they express themselves freely.

As Jessica likes to say: “Jess be yourself!”

Robert Downie, a local poet from Culburra, acquired a brain injury in 1970 after being struck by a car and hitting his head on the road. He was only eleven years old.

Despite this life-altering event, Robert’s gift for poetry soon emerged and has continued to flourish. He draws much of his inspiration from the natural beauty of the Shoalhaven, which featured prominently in his most recent publication, Clouds in My Coffee, a compilation of poetry paired with dreamy, coffee-scented cloudscapes. Many of the photographs in the booklet were taken by Robert himself.

Robert often wakes up with words in his head that came to him during the night, fragments of thought and feeling that later find their way into his poetry, inspiring his pieces that feature in this anthology.

Robert’s work was first published in Australia’s Best Poetry (2001), followed by The Rose and the Thorn(2023), which was officially launched at Nowra Library in November 2023. Clouds in My Coffee was released in December 2024 and is featured on 92.7 Bay & Basin FM’s website, where Robert’s poetry has been brought to life through multimedia presentations, pairing his words with inspirational imagery to create moving and visually rich pieces.

A music aficionado, Robert also presents the regular segment The Music That Moves Me, which airs twice weekly on 92.7 FM.

Robert’s poetry has been showcased in several notable venues, including Sydney Town Hall and various libraries.

Marcus Donovan is eleven years old and lives at Falls Creek. He enjoys maths, writing and sometimes even English lessons at school! Although the latter can sometimes be a little challenging, Marcus enjoys expressing his ideas through stories and creative writing.

Many of Marcus’s ideas and inspiration come from his animals at home. He especially loves his guinea pigs and the wombats that his mum and dad care for, which often spark his imagination and amble their way into his writing.

Marcus hopes to do well at school and is looking forward to going to high school in the future.

His piece featured in this collection is his first published work.

Shane Botos, thirty-nine, is a resident of Sanctuary Point. Hebegan writing in 2024, and the works featured in this anthology represent his first published pieces.

Among his earlier achievements, Shane was crowned Australian Karate Champion in 1995. He later attended a performing arts high school where he completed his Higher School Certificate.

In 2007, Shane entered the corporate workforce as a marketing executive, where he also completed a sales academy

program. He is now actively involved in his community, transforming his writing into digital art and encouraging people to reconnect with the innocence and imagination of the phrase, “I wish.”

In 2009, Shane was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, a condition characterised by symptoms that gradually worsen over time with no remission. During the first decade, he remained mobile with the aid of a cane as he slowly lost the use of his left leg. Fourteen years later, he transitioned to a wheelchair, which he now relies upon. While the nature of his MS remains unpredictable, Shane no longer lives in fear of potential outcomes such as blindness or deafness. What has never diminished is his resilience, which is clearly reflected in his creations.

For Shane, writing has become a therapeutic outlet and source of calm, offering him a way to process and share his life experiences, memories and personal journey. Looking ahead, he hopes to inspire those who are willing to listen and to encourage others to believe in themselves by saying, “I am strong enough.”

Shane intends to continue exploring his creative expression – writing for sheer enjoyment – and to develop a full-length book of poetry and short stories. His goal is to share his writing with the world in the hope that it will inspire others to fearlessly move forward.

Derek J Argent is a neurodivergent Australian writer, illustrator and creative artist based in Sanctuary Point. A lifelong storyteller with a vivid imagination, Derek demonstrated exceptional artistic talent from a very early age.

At just fourteen, Derek was invited by Channel 10’s Simon Townsend’s Wonderworldto illustrate cards for the Simon Says board game. Derek would later design the iconic frill-necked lizard graphic for the kids’ show Totally Wild.

His burgeoning artistic career quickly gained public recognition, earning him a front-page feature in the St Mary’s Standard for his comic strip Pandanus, which he wrote and illustrated. By fifteen, he had already garnered national attention, being interviewed by the children’s television program Wombat as a cartoonist prodigy.

In his early adulthood, Derek was a regular contributor to Picture magazine by way of the regularly featured Pandanus. The success of the comic strip drew significant interest from the entertainment industry and led to discussions about Pandanus being adapted into a feature film with the renowned animation studio Hanna-Barbera.

Derek’s creative work also attracted the attention of prominent figures in Australian film and television. He was invited to submit his film treatment, The Oracle, to John Cornell, Paul Hogan’s business partner, and was approached by Robert Schmidt, director of Footrot Flats, to collaborate on the Rock Dog project.

His work extended into television, where he contributed to ABC’s Live and Sweaty with Elle McFeast and The Money or the Gun with Andrew Denton. He also worked as a researcher for Channel Seven’s The Extraordinary.

Derek’s illustrations have also appeared in the national magazine Current and in African Safari magazine, a publication supported by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who served as its ambassador and patron.

Today, Derek continues to write and create from his home in the Shoalhaven, drawing on a lifetime of artistic exploration and lived experience. He is currently working on a sci-fi novel to be published through This Ability Press. His work reflects both his imaginative vision and the unique perspective he brings as a neurodivergent creative voice.

Amanda Agius has spent much of her career working in community services. After navigating her own mental health challenges, she found herself naturally drawn towards supporting others to discover their place, build confidence and develop a sense of purpose.

Amanda has always enjoyed being creative, though for many years she struggled to express that side of herself. Over time, however, she found the confidence to use her creativity to support and uplift others, though writing was never a medium she was initially drawn to.

Possum on the Roof, co-written with her twelve-year-old son Billy Cook (pictured right), grew out of the fun and sentimental moments shared at home with her family.

Billy enjoys anything hands-on and creative and is always willing to give new things a go. While patience may not be his strongest skill, with encouragement he perseveres and takes pride in what he creates. Bringing a long-running family joke to life through this story became a shared adventure for mother and son – finally turning years of laughter into something tangible (much to Nathan’s surprise, who won’t discover the joke until he holds this book in his hands)!

Amanda reflects: “Our contribution to this book was inspired by our seven-year journey living in the Shoalhaven. What began as excitement about being surrounded by so many animals quickly turned into an ongoing battle over who would get to the vegetables first, Nathan or the possum. Our poem is a small piece of the laughter, frustration and memories that came from those moments, and a reminder that sometimes the best stories come from the most unexpected backyard adventures!”

What followed was plenty of giggles, a fair bit of second-guessing, and many hours spent searching through a thesaurus in pursuit of the perfect words to capture the stories in her and Billy’s heads. Finishing the final touches while real possums thumped around on the roof above felt strangely appropriate and made the experience even more memorable – chaotic, funny, occasionally frustrating, and something Amanda will always look back on with a smile.

Most importantly, the journey reminded her how vital it is to nurture creativity in her children, whatever form it takes. Both of her kids have shared in Amanda’s many creative ventures, rabbit holes, and bursts of inspiration, creating memories she will treasure forever.

Will J C, In a collection that celebrates many different voices, each contributor has chosen how they wish to be represented. This author has elected to remain private, inviting readers to connect simply with their words.