Offerings In

The Culture

Department

If anyone tries to tell you that Australians are uncultured, don’t believe it. Culture is the big thing

in Australia today—a flourishing

plant, diligently tended by the

devotees of many arts. fpO give the contention point, two X cultural magazines have come to our notice this month—and we say Icome to our notice advisedly, be cause neither of them is new. It only emphasises our own deficiencies in this department to find that one of them, in fact, has been a going concern for 15 years.

First, Canon The Australian Music Journal, a neat little magazine of attractive make-up and articles of interest not only to the appreciative music-lover but to the non-addict who merely likes to be au fait in matters of general knowledge.

The magazine came into being in '1947 at a time when Australian interest in music was beginning to take definite form and shape after the war. Although there had always ;been some serious interest in music here, the decade of the 1930’s that jsaw the rise to power of Hitler’s [Germany and sent political refugees [to the ends of the earth, gave it it’s [first real fillip. This new interest [was then augmented by post-war [migrants who have brought a [European’s love of music to Aus tralia with them.

Appreciation of music is now [snowballing. Old Australians, [especially the younger generation, have taken an increased interest and [together with New Australians have [provided sufficiently large audiences to attract world-class performers. [ Canon is concerned with world .music, and not merely Australian.

A recent issue includes articles on Sir Malcolm Sargent; the late Fritz .Kreisler; Bayreuth, the Bavarian [centre of Wagnerian opera; notes on the recent tour of the London Philharmonic Orchestra to Australia [as well as other notes on concerts, records, music, etc.

The magazine is a monthly, sub scription is 40/- a year posted within the British Commonwealth; 45/outside the Commonwealth. Sub scriptions to the Secretary, 27 Woolwich Rd., Hunter’s Hill, NSW.

I The Poetry Magazine has also been in existence for some time as the outlet for the Poetry Society of Aus tralia but it is now appearing in

more ambitious form and outsiders are invited to contribute and to subscribe to the magazine.

Poetry differs from Canon in that it is a sort of do-it-yourself venture and publishes the works of aspiring poets—who can also get comments on their efforts from the editorial board.

One of the most enthusiastic mem bers of the Poetry Society, one of the most prodigious writers of verse (who is also a member of the editorial board of the magazine) is Grace Perry. In her spare time from a medical practice in a Sydney industrial suburb and a domestic set

up that includes several children, she writes verse about almost anything under the sun. Red Scarf, which appears in May issue of the Mazagine, is typical of her style: Next, please.

Will you come in?

Cracked shoes squeak across the vinyl floor, and shining blue-grey squares reflect the dust, loose hanging trousers and the long tongued belt, limp shirt, and wild flamboyant scarf.

What shall I say?

You do not feel so well today?

You will be better soon. Sometime, but not now.

Remove your shirt, and let me see.

Open your mouth and breathe for me.

Your scarf, discarded on my chair, laughs in the antiseptic air.

This represents about a quarter of this diagnostic piece (what did the fellow really have anyhow—Tß, lung-cancer, or just a cold?) but it reflects the bustling, energetic approach Grace Perry seems to have to life.

If you would like to subscribe to the magazine—£1 per annum, posted to Australia or New Zealand, £l/5/- elsewhere; or join the Society —-£1 joining fee, £l/5/- annual sub scription (which includes all issues of the Magazine); or write verse; or meet people who do, the address for correspondence is: Box 20, The Royal Exchange, Sydney, NSW.

One for Younger Readers

A GOOD adventure story for older children is Joan Phipson’s The Boundary Riders. Set in outback Australia, it is the story of three children, Bobby, Jane and their cousin Vincent, who set out on horseback into rough country to in spect the boundary fence posts surrounding the family property.

All goes well until they become lost, lose their horses and run into bad weather. Vincent as eldest, takes over leadership of the party but it is Bobby’s courage and commonsense that saves the party when they become trapped by flood waters in an isolated farm house.

Author Joan Phipson lives on a sheep station in New South Wales with her husband and two children.

Although her life is a busy one, she still finds time to write children’s books and in 1953 she was awarded the Australian “Children’s Book of the Year” prize for Good Luck to the Rider. —BG. (THE BOUNDARY RIDERS. Published by Constable/Angus and Robertson; 16/-.>