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maxinebeneba

@maxinebeneba

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Author of 15 books, including Beautiful Changelings, Foreign Soil, It’s the Sound of the Thing, The Patchwork Bike & The Hate Race.

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This may be a well-read and well-received copy of @maxinebeneba Maxine Beneba-Clarke’s poetry book How Decent Folk Behave, but it’s still going strong in our Diversity and Inclusion Street Library 💪

“We are all just one small disaster away from sinking, and sometimes you only realise when you’re gasping for air.

On a daylight street in Minneapolis Minnesota, a Black man is asphyxiated - by the callous knee of an officer, by cruel might of state, and under crushing weight of colony. In Melbourne the body of another woman has been found - this time, after catching a late tram home.The Atlantic has run out of the English alphabet, when christening hurricanes this season. The earth is on fire - from the redwoods of California, to Australia’s east coast. The sea draws back, and tsunamis lash out in Samoa and Sumatra. Water rises in Sulawesi and Nagasaki. Bloated cod are surfacing, all along the Murray Darling. The virus arrives, and the virus thrives. Authorities seal the public housing towers up, and truck in one cop to every five residents. Notre Dame is ablaze - the cathedral spire blackened, and teetering. Out in Biloela, the deportation vans have arrived. Every Friday, in cities all across the world, children are walking out of school. The wolves are circling. The wolves are circling.

These poems speak of the world that is, and sing for a world that may one day be.

One of the most compelling voices in Australian poetry this decade - Overland Literary Journal”

PS. Did you know Maxine painted our little library? 🙏 🤩

#DiversityInclusionStreetLibrary #PoetryBook #maxinebenebaclarke

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Thank you to @maxinebeneba, @thuy_on123 & @huichgoh for an amazing night and to all that jumped on the open mic. Until next time 🙏🏽🎥❤️

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It’s like speed dating … but with books!

Join us for a fun-filled few hours
🕒 this Saturday afternoon (3:15pm Brisbane AEST), but you can sign up for any convenient time,

📝 as we read 10 books in 2 hours AND write & post reviews of them
📘📗📕📒📙📘📗📕📒📙

⚪️ Impress your friends!
🔴 Impress your bookclub!
🟢 Achieve a sense of mastery as you
GET SOMETHING DONE ✅

Something as important as appreciating and supporting Palestinian and pro-🍉 #ChildrensBook creators.

Details in bio @zewlanmoor

#CatsOfInstagram #FightCensorship #PictureBooks #FreePalestine

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Got a child or student who loves writing? Or one who has something to say about their beloved pets?

The Poem Competition for Sagittarius Rising by Maxine Beneba Clarke is open now!

Perfect for classrooms, book groups or just a quiet moment of creativity.

Enter via the link in bio!

#PoemComp #SagittariusRising #MaxineBenebaClarke #PoetryForKids #YoungWriters

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What might a wilder world look like? Hear original reflections and performances from a lineup of exceptional festival guests, and celebrate the opening of this year’s Mountain Writers Festival with us.

Enjoy a glass of local wine from our friends at Mount Towrong, and hear from:
- environmental and social justice campaigner Bob Brown
- award-winning author and educator Debra Dank
- author, poet, rapper, and visual artist, and winner of the 2026 Miles Franklin Award Omar Musa
- poet, essayist and creative writing teacher Andy Jackson
- acclaimed author of over fifteen books for adults and children Maxine Beneba Clarke

Plus, a special musical performance by a cellist widely recognized not just for her virtuosic performances, but as a “fearless explorer” in her field (Chicago Reader), Mariel Roberts Musa. Hosted by beloved broadcaster and writer Jacinta Parsons.

Tickets: $35 / Pay What You Can
Included in Full Weekend Passes

#MountainWritersFestival #WritersFestival #VisitMacedonRanges

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Open Mic Poetry Night returns to TROU Space 🎻
Fri 23 Oct · 6pm to 9pm
Two of Australia’s sharpest voices take the mic:

Maxine Beneba Clarke is one of Australia’s most celebrated poets. She has written more than 14 books, including the bestselling memoir The Hate Race and Carrying the World, her poetry collection that won a Victorian Premier’s Award.

Thuy On is an arts journalist, critic, editor and poet. UWAP has published three of her poetry collections: Turbulence (2020), Decadence (2022) and Essence (2025). Her fourth, Insolence, comes out in early 2027.

Live music: Huich Goh Huich Goh is a freewheeling, genre-defying violinist who thrives on improvisational playing. She pops up across Melbourne’s indie music scene in a variety of outfits, some being psychedelic improvisation free jazz collectives like the Paul Kidney Experience and her own improvisation group, Sahul Sakti. Huich is often seen accompanying poets at Vibe Union’s poetry events and recently appeared in the 2026 Emerging Writer’s Festival with the poet Mohamed Sudi.

Free entry, but space is limited, so RSVP via the link in bio.
📍 TROU Space, 47 Paisley St, Footscray
#troupoetrynight #footscray #melbournepoetry #livemusic #spokenword

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Tonight we gather on this site to participate in a citizens’ assembly. To listen to voices that are not always heard.

Eight speakers will deliver a speech created in collaboration with a skilled wordsmith. These speeches have required time, negotiation, trust, ongoing communication and empathy.
An exchange between two people.

Movers have then listened and responded. Because nothing starts until you move.

Eight manifestos for our future.
Personal visions for collective change.

Congress by All The Queens Men
Tuesday 6 October, Argyle Square for Melbourne Fringe.

📸 @jacintaoaten #allthequeensmen

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Bit of an epic weekend, celebrating @loveyourbookshopau on Saturday! Had the honour of being a “celebrity bookseller” alongside the magnificent Anna Battese, Adrian Beck, & Maxine Beneba Clarke for @little_bookroom

And - yes! - that’s Battese, Beck, Beneba Clarke and Binks … B4’s, unite!

Had an absolute ball (even if a single cash payment at the very end did muddle and confound us) - a lovely way to show our love & appreciation for the vital importance of our independent bookstores. As #TheLittleBookroom reminded us while we diligently worked: indie bookstores are community-builders, the beating heart & soul of a town.

Oh! And I got myself Nina Kenwood’s new book ‘People Skills’!

#LoveYourBookshopDay #LYBD2026 #Bookstagram #bookstore

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Happy Love Your Bookshop Day for yesterday!

#writersofinsta #loveyourbookshopday

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I have a love hate relationship with short story collections and an even strong love hate relationship with writing in the form. They remind me of high school and writing comparative essays about The Yellow Wallpaper and Tim Winton.

Since I am trying to get better at writing short stories, I’ve been making the effort to read more.

There are some fantastic short story collections out there, most of my favourites including interconnected that weave together a larger narrative.

Do you have a favourite short story or short story collection?

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Limited edition cards handmade by author and artist Maxine Beneba Clarke.

Made from recycled books saved from pulping. Each card is signed & numbered.

While stock lasts. 🩵 @maxinebeneba

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You're invited to help shape the first statewide Literature Strategy 📚⁠
⁠
Developed by the Victorian Government in partnership with The Wheeler Centre this strategy will focus on ways to boost reading, writing and engagement with Australian stories, strengthen career and employment pathways for writers, sustain and grow literary businesses, events and markets and leverage Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature for the benefit of all Victorians. ⁠
⁠
This free online consultation session is for representatives from the Victorian literary sector and the broader literary community!

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