Around 60 local literary lovers lingered at the launch of Idiom 23 Literary Magazine at Rockhampton Campus this week...

Apart from the snacks, there were plenty of things to digest, with the parallel 'local' launch for Professor Denis Cryle's latest book, Murdoch's Flagship: Twenty-five Years of The Australian Newspaper*.

Simone Warkill, Dr Liz Huf, Dr Lorna McDonald and Michelle Roberts at the launch

Guests were also invited to enter the Bauhinia Literary Awards (due by July 24). The regular short story and poetry categories have been supplemented by a new AustraLearn prize open to international students. Details are at www.idiom23.cqu.edu.au .

Those assembled were also encouraged to consider the forthcoming Writers' Workshop at North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre, from May 15-17.  This year, Dr Lynda Hawryluk, (CQUniversity lecturer and member of the editorial team) will coordinate the workshop. The writer-in-residence will be well known author Robyn Sheahan Bright.

Idiom 23 Literary Magazine spokesperson Dr Liz Huf said contributions for the latest issue had come from 2008 Awards entries, as well as collaborations with coastal artists at The Gallery (Emu Park), a writers' workshop at North Keppel Island and student photomedia and science fiction.

"We're celebrating 21 years of publishing Idiom," Dr Huf said.

The dual launches were conducted by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Angela Delves and Adjunct Professor Ross Quinn (former ABC Manager) in the presence of Idiom 23 patron Dr Lorna Macdonald.

Ross Quinn and Denis Cryle with the new book

Professor Denis Cryle responded, thanking everyone for coming along.

Idiom 23 editor, Dr Huf  thanked her editorial team, the University and regional sponsors, the CQUniversity publishing unit, desktop publisher Janice Pye, the Office of Research, and especially CQUniversity Bookshop representatives Paul Lancaster and David Murray for their tremendous support of Idiom23 over many years.

"CQUniversity Marketing is assisting greatly by promoting this year's Bauhinia Literary Awards Competition, which will be advertised nationally and regionally, this weekend," Dr Huf said.

"This year, we are hoping to attract lots of young writers to enter the short story and poetry competition. AustraLearn has joined our sponsorship so we are promoting the competition to international tertiary students studying in New Zealand and Australia, as well."

"We usually receive at least 600 entries from talented city and country poets and story tellers from all over Australia." 

Copies of the book and magazine, and fliers for both the Bauhinia Awards and the Writers' Workshop, can be obtained from the CQUniversity Bookshop or by phoning Lynda on 07 4923 2009 or Liz on 07 4923 2573.

* Murdoch's Flagship was launched at a national level in Sydney late last year.

Margaret Finger, Dr Liz Huf and Tamara Poole 
Dr Huf with Jillian Litster 
The launch crowd 
The latest cover