EDITORIAL
Welcome to Issue 18 of The Quarry!
2021 has been an incredibly turbulent year for most of us, and in this issue of The Quarry we would like to celebrate the power of the written word that helped our writers, readers and editors stay the course through the long hours of lockdown.
Issue 18 is filled with stories and poems from Macquarie University’s undergraduate Creative Writing students. Some of the writers in this issue are first year students just starting out, while others are those in their third and final year—just about ready to embark upon their graduate lives. Many of the students in this issue, like us in the editorial team, had their university experience turned upside down by the pandemic, spending as much as two thirds of their degree studying online, often from home and in less than ideal circumstances. While that was not the experience we could have imagined starting out on our studies, it did give special meaning to the opportunity to bring out an issue of The Quarry. Working closely with the writers and poets of this issue helped us to create a sense of community based on a shared love of the written word, and now we’re ready to share these stories and poems—a little of that community— with you.
You will find stories like Kimberley Carter’s The Memory of Superman which explores grief through a child’s eyes. Elizabeth Campbell’s How To Get Away With Unfinished Homework takes its reader through a vividly written, twisting stream of consciousness as the protagonist reconciles their fractured relationship with their teacher. Blake Erickson’s work of creative non-fiction Gay Abandon depicts a whirlwind of youthful mishaps, as a young boy learns to embrace his inner camp and finds an uneasy solace in the ER one New Year’s Eve. Sofie Fernandez’ poem Hunger presents a beautifully distorted take on Hansel and Gretel, where the destructive power of addiction is amplified through family dysfunction and sibling loyalty. Poppi Hmelnitsky’s poem Rhyme Over Imported Wine on Date Night, written in a slam-poetry style, shines the spotlight on the ongoing effects of colonialism and on the rising social inequities in Australia. This is just a glimpse of the colourful writing on display in this issue.
The editorial team would like to say thank you to Dr Michelle Hamadache, our supervisor and guide throughout the editing process. We would also like to make a special mention of Kimberley Carter, who played a pivotal role in managing the team. Finally, we would like to thank all the writers who submitted their writing and worked with us to bring you this issue. We hope you enjoy this delightful collection of creative works.
All the best,
The Editorial Team
