By Simon Luckhurst
More than 120 people braved the Wollongong winter temperature to attend the launch of Sista's Green Sea Dreaming: Voices from Dillwynia Correctional Centre on Thursday night at Wollongong Art Gallery.
Aunty Barbara Nicholson welcomed NSW Planning Minister and local member, the Hon Paul Scully MP; the Assistant Commissioner of NSW Corrective Services, Luke Grant; and Governor of Dillwynia, Saffron Cartwright, who had come to support the project, among others. The official launch was undertaken by Wirrarraay/Gamilaraay writer and cultural consultant Cathy Craigie.
Sista's Green Sea Dreaming is part of the grassroots Dreaming Inside project which has been supporting First Nations inmates in Junee Correctional Centre to tell their stories for 12 years.
This is the first time Dreaming Inside has gone into a different gaol and the first time the project has published women's stories.
The writing is raw, powerful and intimate.
You can purchase copies of Sista's Green Sea Dreaming – and all the Dreaming Inside books – from the South Coast Writers Centre's shop.
Thanks to Matt Houston of Ironbark Photography for covering this event.
If you'd like to buy a copy of any of these images, please contact Matt directly via Instagram.
