CQU’s Literary and Arts journal 'Idiom 23' for 2004 was launched recently (October 8) by the Head of the School of Contemporary Communication in the Faculty of Informatics and Communication, Robert O’Sullivan.

The journal is on sale at CQU Press in Rockhampton (ground floor of the Commonwealth Building 351 on the corner of East and Fitzroy streets), at the CQU Rockhampton Bookshop and also via Leonie Healey in the former District Court (building 354) in the CBD at a cost of $11 (including GST).

'Idiom' first appeared in 1987 and has been published by the School since then.

The journal provides the opportunity for poets, writers and artists to publish their work and become part of the wider literary and artistic community in Central Queensland.

This year’s edition was edited by Infocom’s Senior Lecturer in Communication, Dr Jeanette Delamoir and features stunning photographs of men’s hands at work captured by Contemporary Photomedia student, Derek Bremmer.

The colour cover photographs were taken by CQU photographer Duncan Bourne and the layout was the work of another communication student, Janice Pye.

In launching 'Idiom 23' for 2004, Mr O’Sullivan told the audience of contributors, the Bauhinia Literary Award winners for 2003 and guests that 'Idiom' is one of a rapidly decreasing number of publications that allows relatively unknown writers and artists to publish their work.

“I believe that any community actively encouraging artistic expression can only be the better for it," Mr O'Sullivan said.

He added that a region and nation can only sustain a strong cultural identity if people are allowed “to roam intellectually”.

“CQU’s involvement is a clear demonstration that a university should not simply be a high-quality skilling venue. If we forget about developing cultural, moral and intellectual autonomy in students, it won’t be long before we have a generation of well-trained barbarians,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

'Idiom' has been sponsored by the Regional Centre of the Arts; CQU's Vice-Chancellor; CQU Bookshop; The Morning Bulletin; Bassett Consulting Engineers; and the Commonwealth Bank.

WINNERS BAUHINIA LITERARY AWARDS 2004:.

Open Stories:.

1st Prize. Patrick West (Labrador, Qld) – “Now You Know What Women Have to Put Up With all of the time”.

Highly Commended.

Fred Curtis (Aspendale, Vic) – “The Emergency”.

Don Jordon (St Kilda, Vic) – “The Blue Canary”.

Roger Horton (Maylands, WA) – “Listen, I Tell You a Mystery”.

Steve Kirkpatrick (Waramanga, ACT) – “Mr Kenzaka”.

Kimberley Smith (Indooroopilly, Qld) – “Karma”.

Narelle Schemioneck (Birkdale, Qld) – “Fourteen Steps”.

Ian Messenger (Glenelg, SA) – “One Good Meal”.

Edwina Shaw (Dutton Park, Qld) – “Dougie and the Paparazzi”.

Vanessa Russell (Moonee Ponds, Vic) – “Red Cross Calling”.

David Campbell (Beaumaris, Vic) – “Morning Light”.

Mary Pomfret ( Bendigo, Vic) – “Mother Superior’s Garden Party”.

Regional Stories.

1st Prize.

Carla Park (Biloela, CQ) – “Maggie’s Game”.

Highly Commended.

Paul Saxby (Bundaberg, CQ) – ”Gall Stones & Kierkegaard”.

Tertiary Student Stories.

1st Prize.

Cameron Pegg (Sunnybank, Qld) – “Shore Watchers”.

Highly Commended.

Suzannah Marshall Macbeth (Fremantle, WA) – “Coolroom dogs” & “Remembering the aura”.

Jenny Baber (Morphett Vale, SA) – “The Silent Stand” & “The Path to Freedom”.

Secondary Student Stories.

1st Prize.

Alexandra Hahn (Goonellabah, NSW) - “A Blue Afternoon”.

Highly Commended.

Julia Cook (Rockhampton Girls’ Grammar School) - “Blackbird”.

Kate Johnson (Mona Vale, NSW) – “Awakening”.

Primary Student Stories.

1st Prize Fariha Alam (North Rockhampton, CQ) – “Life Just Happens”.

Highly Commended.

Daniel Krause (North Rockhampton, CQ) – “The Forest of Doom”.

Rochelle Donnallan (Gladstone, CQ) – “How the Possum Got its Long Tail”.

Natalie Taylor (West Mackay, CQ) – “Weird”.

Open Poetry.

1st Prize.

Angela Gardner (Hill End, Qld) - “Three Positions Acting on Space”.

Highly Commended.

Angela Gardner (Hill End, Qld) – “A Valley becomes a Mountain”.

Darrel Chia (Canberra, ACT) – “Coral Bay”.

Commended.

Angela Gardner (Hill End, Qld) – “The Unobserved Life”.

Judy Johnson (Warners Bay, NSW) – “Autumn Afternoon”.

Regional Poetry.

1st Prize Anthony Beavis (Bundaberg, CQ) – “Hyde Park”.

Highly Commended.

Olga Morris (North Rockhampton, CQ) – “Consummation”.

Commended.

Carole Weekes (Bucasia, CQ) – “Drought over the Warrego”.

Tertiary Student Poetry.

Ayana Noble (St Lawrence, CQ) – “Rain Wall”.

Highly Commended.

Kerry Tilbrook (Glenorie, NSW) – “Winter Bushwalk – Blackheath”.

Secondary Student Poetry.

1st Prize.

Sophia Kailis (City Beach, WA) – “Window Rain”.

Highly Commended.

Erin Dunne (The Cathedral College (Residential) - “Fear”.

Primary Student Poetry.

No prize awarded as too few entries received.

Photo: Former editor Liz Huf and current editor Dr Jeannette Delamoir admire the new edition.

Photo: One of Derek Bremer's 'Working Hands' photos from the new edition.