Vin Maskell

Naming rites

January 29, 2013

This story was published in The Big Issue in January 2013. A shorter version was broadcast on ABC 774 on 20 January 2017. IT IS the day before Australia Day 2012 and a man is asking me the name of this part of the country. The traditional name. It is six in the morning, on […]

Tagged: Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Australia Day, beach, black swan, Swan River, swan valley, Wathaurong, Williamstown, Woiworung

Posted in: City stories, Sea stories, The Big Issue

History in the ma(r)king

March 18, 2019

Dear Reader, After all these years you’d think I’d written enough about footy, and especially kick-to-kick. And maybe I have. But another story, light as a feather, appeared over the weekend. There was still dew on the morning grass so John and I knew to keep the ball off the ground. We stand 20 […]

Tagged: fearon reserve, footy, kick-to-kick

Posted in: Sports stories

Readings on the deck, Thursday February 21

February 14, 2019

A note from my local library, folks… Homegrown Hobsons Bay writers Vin Maskell, Lucia Nardo, Joyce Butcher and Carolyn Morwood discuss the impact of place to engage, to inform, to shock and to shape. Is it really location, location, location for both the writer and the reader? Join us for this Special Readings on the […]

Tagged: Hobsons Bay, Hobsons Bay Library, Williamstown, Williamstown Library

Posted in: Uncategorized

Backyard Croak It

January 10, 2019

Thank you to The Big Issue for running this story in its recent summer edition (#577. 26 December 2018 to 10 January 2019). Chang was no cricketer. For starters, he was a dog. And not one of those dogs that can chase and even catch cricket balls. No, Chang was a Pomeranian-cross. Small, orange, […]

Tagged: backyard cricket, crcket, pets

Posted in: Family, Sports stories, The Big Issue

Backyard Croak It (preview)

December 24, 2018

‘Nice to be in the final Big Issue of 2018 (and the first of 2019) with a little yarn about the perils of a Pomeranian pet being on the field during backyard cricket. Edition 577. 26 December 2018 to 10 January 2019. Available from your local vendor for $9. Cheers.

Tagged: backyard cricket, cricket, family

Posted in: Family, Sports stories, The Big Issue

Leap of faith

December 2, 2018

Here is Leap of faith, first published in The Big Issue #575 (16 Nov to 2 Dec 2018). It was the Christmas I fell down the steps outside the church. It wasn’t a typical church. It was a room within a beach-house owned by a priest. Or perhaps his archdiocese. (Priests are sworn to […]

Tagged: family and religion, The Big Issue

Posted in: Family, The Big Issue

Leap of faith (preview)

November 16, 2018

The Big Issue has just published Leap Of Faith, a story about the Christmas, long ago, when I fell down the steps outside church. It was the Christmas, I like to think a little too neatly, that God and I parted ways. It was not a dramatic falling out – only those few steps – […]

Tagged: faith, GReat Ocean Road, Moggs Creek, religion