Promising the world: Juliette Hughes interviews Labor Shadow Environment Minister, Nick Bolkus.

The name of the game: Amanda Smith and Tim Stoney dissect Australian sport.

Literature under arms: John Sendy goes in search of Rolf Boldrewood.

Travel bent: Peter Steele reviews Holiday Business and Mediterranean Journeys in Time & Place.

Flash in the Pan: Reviews of the films Series 7; Moulin Rouge; Russian Doll; The House of Mirth; The Crimson Rivers and The Sacred Stones.

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‘“Rolf Boldrewood?’ The well-spoken young Port Fairy professional puzzled over the name. ‘Rolf Boldrewood? Forgive my ignorance. I’m only new to the district. Who is Rolf Boldrewood?”

In that moment my passion for research into the landscapes of Australian writers plummeted on to hard ground—but it was only winded.

This happened some years ago during my pursuit of Boldrewood around Victoria’s Port Fairy district. In that chase two things impressed me. First, that ignorance of our literary heritage is widespread. Second, the jolting realisation of the savagery with which early white colonisers of south-west Victoria treated the people whose land they took and whose way of life they destroyed.

Port Fairy has been less known for literary associations than for tourist attractions and the Folk Festival held on the March Labour Day weekend which attracts some 30,000 visitors. Port Fairy is unique and beautiful. River, wharf, fishing boats, coastline, Griffiths Island and the mutton birds and lighthouse compete with long lines of towering Norfolk Island pines and street after street of the pink-flowering Norfolk Island hibiscus, as well as cosy-looking old stone houses, sedate old hotels, banks and churches. The place encourages walking, dallying and thoughts of the past.’

—For John Sendy’s full article, please see Eureka Street July/August 2001 print edition, available by subscription and at bookshops and newsagents.