Djaara Country’s Disabled Voices

A collection of writing from the Writeability Goes Local Castlemaine writing group

A black and white photograph from mid-twentieth century features a tall leafy tree in the foreground, an a vast view of the town of Castlemaine in the background.

Djaara Country’s Disabled Voices: Contents

An Introduction from Jasper Peach, Writeability Goes Local Castlemaine Mentor

Welcome to our corner of the internet, a little space to stretch our wings and share some of what was created during our time together. The Castlemaine chapter of Writers Victoria Writeability Goes Local commenced in mid 2024 and wrapped up early 2025. 

There’s so much that can’t be distilled into an online space – the feeling in the room when a group of people have met frequently enough to let our guards down. Expansive possibilites discussed and enacted. Community building is a verb and has little to do with physical output, with words on a page. It’s everything to do with positive regard and the electric power of ideas that grow and morph with time and intent. 

I’m a sole trader arts hustler, and as such I have a thousand different jobs. (I also enjoy the use of hyperbole.) This job has been my favourite over the past twelve months, and as is usually the case with mentoring or teaching, I feel that I learned so much more than I taught. 

I’m thrilled to introduce three vital and talented writers in this space. Laura Louise Ó Duibhir, creator of the Dragonflies and Mudpies Nature Collective online hub where you can find guidance for decolonising your homeschool, writes about the experience of building a life over inches and decades only to have it ripped away in a minute of storm activity.  Michael Uniacke, a Deaf writer of biblical proportions, shares his farcical comedy about the garden of Eden when Deafness is involved. Louise Cooper, creator of the Neurokin Festival and magazine, has woven a piece of many intersecting threads that come together to showcase a bright whole landscape of information and regard for the power of the Autistic community historically, in the present, and in the far better future we can build.

These people have expertly welcomed us into their magnificent worlds and to see their work published here is a wonderful stepping stone to further opportunities. Please get in touch with them to commission their expertise with the written word, you won’t regret it. 

Jasper Peach

Writeability Goes Local Castlemaine Mentor

Please be aware that the writers contributing to Djaara Country’s Disabled Voices Anthology have freedom of expression and that some stories may contain coarse language or confronting themes around disability.