Amazing – 6 degrees of separation.
Who should turn up at The Hughenden but renowned conductor and counter-tenor David Vivian Russell.
Strange
David landed unexpectedly in Sydney, where he accidentally met Barry Humphries and they chatted as they know each other.
Stranger
David was looking for accommodation and noticed the heritage Hughenden in the arts area -he enjoys this area. Then he noticed that I’m a Director of The Hughenden.
Stranger & stranger
David knew I was an author. He had read my story backwards-frontwards & inside out -”To east Timor With Love from Australia’ which opens the IBBY-Nami Island international anthology ‘PEACE STORY’.
Why did he know my story? Because he was the overall editor and designer of Namibooks PEACE STORY!!!
Stranger & stranger & stranger
He books into The Hughenden and starts laughing. There’s the satirical portrait of Barry Humphries painted by protrait artist Jules Sevelson.
Stranger & stranger & stranger & stranger
David wanders up to his room and sees the powerful portrait of Paul Dyer by artist Stephen James. He stops gob-smacked. Paul Dyer is the artistic director of the baroque Brandenburg orchestra and one of Paul’s good friends and collaegues.
David Vivian Russell is one of Australia’s leading counter-tenors and an expert in Baroque music, an international conductor-artistic director.
Stranger & stranger & stranger & stranger
We have a wonderful breakfast at The Hughenden before he headed overseas. We talked about “Peace Story’ where 22 authors, 22 illustrators, 22 countries contributed their work on youth and peace as a Nami Island, IBBY, UNICEF initiative.
‘Peace Story’ is already being published in Pakistan and there is interest across the globe.
David and I plan to meet again at the Hughenden when he’s next in Sydney.
Loved meeting you David.
Sir Michael Parkinson gave a humorous, sincere speech celebrating our cricketing traditions, especially Bradman’s Invincibles, as well as Dame Edna Everidge.
Angelo Frangopoulos Chair of the Australia Day Council of New South Wales celebrates cultural diversity within Australia creating who we are.
Angelos Frangopoulos is the Chief Executive Officer of Australian News Channel Pty Ltd, the leading provider of 24 hour digital news services in Australia and New Zealand.
The Conservatorium is such a beautiful venue for Sir Michael Parkinson’s speech, with its heritage conservation, modern design, grand organ. 
Bruce Glen is a member of The Magic Circle – the most elite magic society in the world.
His magic was warm, embracing, as he took The guests into the world of The Hughenden from the time it was the hopme of the Quaife’s – associated with Australia’s first philosopher – to the Riviere College an exclusive girls private school – to a dance hall – to a home for children’s writers and illustrators and a gracious hotel welcoming guests into the 1870s.
If you wants some wonderful magic look at Bruce’s website: www.BespokeMagic.com.au
Bernie expecting a baby, Susanne Gervay and editor Sharon Rundle
Barry Humphries, well his double edged portrait by Jules Sevelson, is watching over the pre-publication celebration of ‘Fear Factor: Terror Incognito’.
It’s a unique book - a cross cultural Indian anthology with 10 stories by Indian authors and 10 stories by Australian authors to be published this week by Picador India. Then Picador UK and in March by Picador Australia.
Who are the other authors? Booker Prize winners and shortlisted authors including Sir Salmon Rushdie, Thomas Keneally, David Malouf and many reknowned authors.
The brilliant editors are writer and lecturer at University of Technology Sydney Sharon Rundle and author and highly regarded academic Dr Meenakshi Bharat professor at University of Delhi.
The brief - write a narrative fiction of 4000-5000 words about terrorism as it affects ordinary people. What a brilliant brief!!!! Loved writing ‘Days of Thailand.’
Barry Humphries portrait by Jules Sevelson at The Hughenden
Fear Factor: Terror Incognito
Amazing – 6 degrees of separation.
