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

Handyman blues

January 7, 2018

Here’s a Stereo Story about being up on a roof in a storm and not knowing what to do. Many thanks to friend and fellow writer/letter-writer Paul Bateman.

Tagged: Billy Bragg, handyman, letter-writing

Posted in: City stories, Life

Water talk

November 13, 2017

We stood talking in the water. Waist deep. 6.30am. Saturday. I’d just managed 100 metres in the shallows without drowning. He was about to do an easy 1500. Probably more. I was heading into shore. He was heading into the deep. We stood talking in the water. Common humanity. He farewelled me with ‘See you […]

Tagged: beach, friendship, swimming, Williamstown

Posted in: Sea stories

Down the Garden Path (preview)

September 23, 2017

The Big Issue has just published Down the Garden Path. Here’s how it starts: My neighbor pulls up as I’m standing in my front yard looking, again, at all the weeds, wondering where on earth to start. “What’s the plan?” he asks cheerily, closing his car door. “Oh, there’s no plan,” I say. “There’s never […]

Tagged: gardening, neighbours, plans

Posted in: Life, The Big Issue

Tour de Failure

July 28, 2017

Here’s the cycling story The Big Issue ran a few weeks back under the headline Tour de Flat. (#540 30 June to 13 Jul7 2017). Cheers. Flat tyres fill cyclist Vin Maskell with dread but he always gets back on his bike. Eventually. I was stranded by the roadside, about eight kilometres from home. Flat […]

Tagged: cycling, flat tyres, The Big Issue

Posted in: The Big Issue

Stereo Story: Alexandra Leaving

July 23, 2017

Here’s a new Stereo Story of mine. Based around the Leonard Cohen song Alexandra Leaving, it’s a tribute to my late sister-in-law, Jan, who died just over 12 months ago. Regards Vin. Alexandra Leaving Stereo Story

Tagged: Stereo Stories

Posted in: Song stories

Tour de Failure (preview)

July 1, 2017

Never thought I’d be in a magazine with Nicole Kidman on the cover. The latest edition of The Big Issue Australia features the Kidman story (written by Margaret Pomeranz), an interview with Ben Mendelsohn, a look at The Handmaid’s Tale – and a yarn about cycling and the existential perils of getting a flat tyre. […]