Sara Hardy Writes

  Nadine and Nelly I had the privilege of seeing this wonderful documentary during the Melbourne Queer Film Festival (18-21 Nov 2022). There was only one showing and I am SO glad I went. The above two women were from very different backgrounds but their work for the French Resistance during WW2 brought them together in the worst of all places, the living hell of Ravensbrück concentration camp. They fall in love, but are separated. The spirit of their love helps them to endure unspeakable horrors, yet they do not know if the other has survived … until much later. It's a story of courage, resilience, survival and a wonderful love. And for once, this is a story of two lesbians finding, then losing, then finding each other again - and having a truly happy ever after (as far as they could, given their horrific experiences). Post war, Nadine was an amateur photographer in possession of a movie camera - she documented their happy life. Both women are fascinating in their own right - as a ...

  It was a very long shot indeed, a thousand to one chance I reckon - but if you don't try you certainly don't get. This lovely little paragraph was published over the weekend on page 16 of The Weekend Australian, Review section. I didn't know it would be there and had taught myself not to have any hopes of a mention in any key news publication. I had sent a copy of my novel to Caroline Overington, Literary Editor of Review, back in August. Occasionally she will put a spotlight on a self published book, but she's stated in her column more than once that it's extremely difficult to win that spot, given the competition. She receives about 400 requests a week, in one form or another so ... I told myself not to hope.  Imagine the gobsmacking shock of seeing the dancing woman on the cover of my novel, wiggling her hips on the 'Notable books' page! - with such wonderful endorsements from Michelle de Kretser and Miriam Margolyes. It's a fabulous boost - and goe...

There's an International Day for almost anything it seems and I'm somewhat surprised and very pleased to say that 8th October is officially Lesbian Day. Once upon a time this would have been a date in fantasy land, but it's nice to remember that - even when it doesn't feel like it sometimes - much progress has been made. This is what it's all about:  " International Lesbian Day, held on October 8, is a day for lesbians the world over to come together to celebrate lesbian history, diversity and culture.  Recognised annually, the day gives an opportunity for women, families and friends to connect, celebrate and also raise awareness about the importance of community. Although the exact origin of the day remains uncertain, it almost certainly began in Australia/New Zealand. Some say the day began in 1980 when a Lesbian Day March was held in New Zealand. The first Australian event was held at the Collingwood Town Hall in Melbourne on October 13, 1990."   Says L...

Vita Sackville-West makes an appearance in my novel, A Secretive Life – I hoped to give Evelyn Irons more than a walk-on part but in the end I had to edit her out. Evelyn deserves a whole book to herself – but for now, here’s a moment in her amazing life:       In 1931 Evelyn Irons was 30 years old and on the cusp of many exciting achievements and adventures. She was a London journalist with the Daily Mail, and a lesbian in a relationship with budding artist Olive Rinder. Evelyn and Olive lived together in Evelyn’s flat. They kept their relationship secret of course, beyond their inner circle, though sometimes Evelyn joked that she wanted to announce her proclivities in The Times! Evelyn was handsome, Scottish, and a graduate of Somerville College, Oxford. Evelyn looked striking whether in stylish tweeds or a well-cut evening gown, especially as she wore her hair very short, giving her an androgynous edge. She was keen to establish herself as a serious journalis...

I discovered by pure chance that my two biographies, published by Allen & Unwin in 2005 and 2008, are being offered up as 'free to download' for no charge whatsoever in the name of ... learning? Both books have received approx 9,000 views and 5,000 downloads. Imagine if I got a dollar, or even a pathetic 10 cents for each download! These books are still available to purchase in the normal manner. These illegal free downloads screw the author, the publisher and the bookseller. There is a form on the website to fill in if the book is in copyright and therefore not permitted to be distributed. I, and Allen & Unwin have submitted requests for the books to be taken down, we've done this several times - but to no avail. No response, no action. And it's not just minnow authors like me, there are current big fish names in the mix - their books made available by these thieving sharks. I'm so furious about it, yet am powerless. It's happened to me before, on a di...

I am giving a talk on Edna Walling to the Australian Garden History Society, Victorian Branch on 18th August, 2022 – here are details in case some locals are interested. All welcome. Drinks from 5.30pm. Brief AGM at 6pm followed by my talk at approx. 6.15. I’ll be selling/signing copies of my biography The Unusual Life of Edna Walling and my novel A Secretive Life afterwards. Info and bookings via https://www.gardenhistorysociety.org.au/.../vic-branch.../ Venue: Mueller Hall, National Herbarium of Victoria, South Yarra, Melbourne. Edna Walling‘s trademark landscape features include fine flights of steps, flagstone paths, dry-stone walls and elegant sweeping boarders. Edna self-built her own cottage and created Bickleigh Vale Village in Mooroolbark, outer Melbourne. She had an extraordinary career: she was a landscape designer, gardener, photographer, builder, architect, journalist, author, sketcher, watercolourist, conservationist – and eco-visionary. In short, she was an Artist. He...

Photo by Ponch Hawkes. No title (Women holding hands in front of graffiti, 'Lesbians are lovely') (1973); printed (2018) – as seen in Queer Stories exhibition, 2022. I've been to the Queer Stories exhibition twice - because you need to give it a good deal of concentrated time. I had imagined there'd be plenty of images like this wonderful photo by Ponch Hawkes - yet this kind of loving, fun, 'lesbians are lovely' representation was rare, in fact the above, and Ponch Hawkes' second exhibit below, was all I found of this 1970s tone. Yet there's masses to see, and something for everyone, from outrageous fashion (I really liked the tuxedo jacket and trousers designed for women) ... to statues from antiquity. Two of my favourite Sapphists, Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf, had a singular spot on the wall, and there were some very interesting women artists I hadn't known about. To my great surprise, I came across a display case containing an album...