Author: Jim Low

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The Distant Candles Still Dance in the Bushland: On Discovering a Rock Engraving

© Jim Low 2018

In his 1946 poetry collection entitled The Dosser in Springtime, Douglas Stewart includes the poem Rock Carving. This poem, unfairly treated in my opinion by Peter Read in his book Belonging, published in 2000, has as its stimuli the rock engravings of a fish and a kangaroo.

kangaroo rock carving

While night fishing in waters north of Sydney, Stewart reflects upon creativity, its longevity and questions whether artistic accomplishment requires an audience. Continue reading “The Distant Candles Still Dance in the Bushland: On Discovering a Rock Engraving”

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Careening Cove – A Convenient Place at the End of the Rainbow

In 1963 I drew a picture, using black ink and water, of the view from the back window of my High Street home in North Sydney. My drawing featured a partial view of Careening Cove as it joins Sydney Harbour. Private yachts are scattered around Careening Cove at safe moorings. The harbour water view extends across to Rose Bay. It was from there that we often saw tiny flying boats make their tenuous run before finally rising into the distant sky. The flag of the Royal Australian Yacht Squadron can be seen flying above Kirribilli.

Continue reading “Careening Cove – A Convenient Place at the End of the Rainbow”

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Past Truths: The Indigenous Presence

Our Blue Mountains bushland property splits into three levels as it gently tumbles from a ridge and descends into a valley. I have never taken this place where I live for granted.

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Beyond our back border, the bushland soon comes to a large rock shelf, under which stretches an impressive cave. From there you can see the valley floor, covered in trees and smaller, native bushes which hide a creek from view.  Continue reading “Past Truths: The Indigenous Presence”