Welcome to the Central Coast Writes Anthology 2022, a collection of personal stories written and illustrated by local residents.

These stories share a deep connection to place and they tell us more about who we are on the Central Coast. The writers engaged their emotions and all of their senses to create vivid, moving accounts from the heart of our community.

Here you’ll find true stories told with honesty and creative flair about love, loss, heroism, challenges, and those tender moments that last a lifetime.

Seeing the care and attention that the talented illustrators have brought to the stories is heart-warming and demonstrates the power of creative collaboration.

To all those who dared to create, remember and record: It has been an honour to guide you in this experience and a joy to edit your words. Let’s do it all again next year!

- Adrienne Ferreira, Director of Central Coast Writes.

Deb McTaggart, Illustrated by Giorgia Chapman 8/26/22 Deb McTaggart, Illustrated by Giorgia Chapman 8/26/22

Finding Equilibrium

“My father had a gap between his front teeth that was filled with his grandmother’s gold.” Family stories are funny... They take on a truth beyond themselves.

Sue Chizzoniti, Illustrated by Natalie Powles 8/3/22 Sue Chizzoniti, Illustrated by Natalie Powles 8/3/22

What is a Community?

At first I thought a community was just a place, an area where you lived. It wasn’t until I had my own home and family that I began to realise what it meant to belong to a community.

Chris Golden, Illustrated by Ellen Simpson 8/3/22 Chris Golden, Illustrated by Ellen Simpson 8/3/22

Let’s Hear It For Mondays!

The hard slog was over and ahead was a summer of lazing on Maroubra Beach with my mates. The Leaving Certificate was behind us. It was November, 1956.

Mei-Ling Venning, Illustrated by Georgia Beavan-Barnes 8/3/22 Mei-Ling Venning, Illustrated by Georgia Beavan-Barnes 8/3/22

The Wrong Order

After weeks of endless rain, the storm clouds relented. Enforced indoor-living, a reflection of our months of isolation, left me eager to be once more in the great outdoors.

Carol Campbell, Illustrated by Jo Francis 8/3/22 Carol Campbell, Illustrated by Jo Francis 8/3/22

My Caesarean Journey

I knew my OB was right, but I felt so disappointed, and scared of having the surgery. Also, I wondered how well the baby would bond with me. I was already feeling like a bad mother.

Cal Stewart, Illustrations by Amelie Pothoff & Lauren Pothoff 8/3/22 Cal Stewart, Illustrations by Amelie Pothoff & Lauren Pothoff 8/3/22

Providence or Pure Chance

Commos, we called them. Ruskies, under every bed, everywhere! At least that’s what we were told.

Katiuska Jukich, Illustrated by Abbey Humphris 8/3/22 Katiuska Jukich, Illustrated by Abbey Humphris 8/3/22

Unsolicited Advice

When I turned forty, I thought that I had gained some peculiar wisdom, especially through so many diverse experiences I’d acquired while adapting to a new culture in Australia.

R.M. Kissing, Illustrated by Luke Rees 8/3/22 R.M. Kissing, Illustrated by Luke Rees 8/3/22

Now You See Me...

It all began when we decided to downsize and sell our old house. We thought the sooner we found a nice new place, the better.

Liz Muller-Loth, Illustrated by Claudia Dobrohotoff 6/10/22 Liz Muller-Loth, Illustrated by Claudia Dobrohotoff 6/10/22

Seeing

Although Berta could not see with her eyes, she could see with her hands. But most importantly, she saw with her heart.

Bethany Compton, Illustrated by Sally Davis 6/10/22 Bethany Compton, Illustrated by Sally Davis 6/10/22

A Calming of the Storms — Thank God!

The sun began to rise, striking the ocean; the view was stunning. As we walked along the quiet beach, we both dipped our feet in the water…

Ally Chuang, Illustrated by Frankie Kaye 6/10/22 Ally Chuang, Illustrated by Frankie Kaye 6/10/22

Dressing Up

Boys wear denim creased with sweat and dirt. Starched, crisp shirts when they grow into men with responsibilities. But what of velvet and satin?