Join us for an evening of bilingual readings from the Indigenous poetry anthology, ‘This country anytime anywhere: an Anthology of New Indigenous Writing from the Northern Territory’. This anthology is the first of its kind in Australia, featuring eight Aboriginal languages and co-developed by IAD Press, The Northern Territory Writers’ Centre and the Northern Territory Government. With readings by Ali Cobby Eckermann, Marie Munkara and Maureen Nampijinpa O'Keefe.

Presented with Blacktown Arts Centre.


Ali Cobby Eckermann (Australian)
Ali Cobby Eckermann is a Nunga author and poet. Her first poetry collection, ‘Little Bit Long Time’, highlights her journey to find her Yankunytjatjara family in central Australia. Her poem ‘Intervention Pay Back’ won the Red Earth Poetry Award in 2008 and was published in ‘Best Australian Poems 2009’. Ali’s latest chapbook is titled ‘Kami’. ‘My Father’s Eyes’ is her first verse novel.

Maureen Nampijinpa O’Keefe (Australian)
Maureen O'Keefe is a Warlpiri woman who was born and raised in Alekarenge, 350 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Maureen is a respected writer and poet who began writing by keeping a personal diary in her twenties. Since that time she has nurtured and extended her passion by creating short stories and poems about her family history and country. In 2010 she was a panellist at the WordStorm Festival in Darwin.

Marie Munkara (Australian)
Marie Munkara is of Rembarranga descent and was born on the banks of the Mainoru River in Arnhem Land. She comes from a long line of self-confessed eccentrics and is an avid breeder of green tree frogs and swamp frogs. Marie lives in Darwin with her three cats and two dogs. Her first book ‘Every Secret Thing’ won the 2008 David Unaipon Award for Indigenous Writing and the 2010 Territory Read Northern Territory Book of the Year Award.