Stories

I find I express myself best through writing, and some of the greatest joy I’ve gotten out of life has been reading writing that just soars. It gives me a satisfaction that goes beyond what can be had in our consumerist culture, a feeling of connection and revelation. I would love to give other people that experience through the writing I do.

I also think about the other lives this work would have affected. It spreads so far with the internet now, I feel like art is so powerful. This also inspires me to join in and spread peace to even more people’s lives.

As a journalist working online and strong feminist, Saadia Ahmed has experienced more than her fair share of online harassment and gendered abuse. She decided to explore why Pakistani women, particularly public figures, face such horrific treatment online in her PhD research.

Anthea Corbett was always good at school – particularly art and painting. But as her life took a series of twists and turns – having children, suffering from addiction, being incarcerated – it became a struggle to return to the things she had once enjoyed in life.

Due to a spiralling drug addiction and the consequences that followed, Gabby was already incarcerated in Banskia Hill Prison by the time she was fifteen. But it would take a long time for Gabby to realise she was suffering from mental illness too.

After Kelly Campbell experienced a stroke, she lost her job and was suddenly dependent on welfare payments. Shocked to find the system was bureaucratic and unhelpful, she can’t count the number of times she wasn’t listened to.

Lana Moon was always told she had so much potential. Yet the abuse and violence secretly occurring against her at home made her feel worthless. As a way to numb the pain and feel like a “normal person”, Lana turned to alcohol and other drugs.

Jay Anderson was always a quiet kid who felt like he couldn’t speak up. But when he is asked what his story is at Centre for Stories, his life takes a different turn.

“I write because I have too many ideas and thoughts in my head and I need a place to put them. I’m usually reading about the world and how it works and if I just come out and say all of these things at once I’ll sound crazy, but if it’s done as a play or creatively it’s now understandable”