Scenic Rim Writers
Stories from around the Scenic Rim and beyond
About Us
Writers across the Scenic Rim are encouraged to be part of a vibrant community working on individual or group projects. Scenic Rim Writers Inc. is an incorporated community group with a publication house, Piccabeen press.
The group's endeavours are proudly sponsored by the Scenic Rim Regional Council and meets on the first Tuesday of the month Feb-Dec at 10am at The Centre, Beaudesert.
Our books
Of Time and Place
Long ago, great eruptions of three shield volcanoes resulted in the creation of this picturesque Queensland region we now call the Scenic Rim, From that time till now, the outflowing of stories continues.
This third volume published by Scenic Rim Writers brings you an abundance of tales - historical, personal, whimsical and humorous.
Mystery, Murder and Mayhem
Australia's colourful past teems with stories seeking a voice. Read about adolescent boys trained to defend Beaudesert in wartime. Wonder about the cause of a fire that destroyed half a small town. Be gripped by accounts of civic disturbances, adultery, manslaughter, a ghost and more. The collection of Scenic Rim tales comes from the writers who gave you The Word on the Street.
The Word on the Street
Over fifty years ago, the future Mayor of Beaudesert Shire Council rattled into town in a little red Ford Anglia. She had a toddler on each knee. Packed around her feet were the cat, spare nappies, bottles, water, biscuits and spare shorts, just in case. In pride of place on the back seat perched the television set. They settled in Jane Street.
Read this and other fascinating stories inspired by the natural beauty and culture of the Scenic Rim.
Our ebook is out!
Of Time and Place has now been published on Kindle. If you prefer your books in an e-format, please go to Kindle books and search "Scenic Rim" to find it or click here
Cairns Modern Pioneers 1950-2000
Congratulations to our own Carol Libke on the publication of her new book - Cairns Modern Pioneers 1950-2000 50 Stories in 50 Years.
Inspired by her own experience of the city's growth, Carol has highlighted key figures and events that shaped Cairns.
The first print run sold out very quickly but a second run will be available soon from InHouse Printing at Underwood.
Click on this link to access.
Carol at her book signing in Cairns
Coming soon! Settlers Easter Creek Adare From Fire to Freedom
Settlers Easter Creek Adare From Fire to Freedom is the debut novel of Melissa Cahill.
Set in 1874 Ireland, it chronicles the life of the Cahaleys, an Irish family living on a small farm in the town of Adare.
When tragedy strikes, the family are left destitute until a series of events leads them to a decision that will change their lives forever.
Inspired by the real-life Irish settlers who travelled to Beaudesert on Bishop Quinn's immigration ships in the 1860s, this novel explores the divide between class, the recovery from grief and loss, past jealousies, a wild stallion and an enemy plotting revenge - all the while adhering to the bond that is cód deartháireacha, the code between brothers.
Click this link to find out more.
OF TIME AND PLACE
Our latest offering, published 2024, is Of Time and Place. It is a collection of forty short stories and poems written by local writers. The sixth story in the collection is a poem titled The Netball Queen by Bernadette McCabe. Read on for a sample.
The Netball Queen
She holds court at Mavor Park
Her queendom a quadrangle
Set on Mununjali land
Feet of foot, assured of hand
Fleetingly
So fleetingly
Amidst the ebb and the flow
Of the ball changing hands
She purrs and she paces
Quiescently she quavers
Betwixt soft thuds
Of easy exchanges
Find our books here
Beaudesert
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The Centre Beaudesert
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Gillow and Teese - 103 Brisbane Street, Beaudesert
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Beaudesert Information Centre
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Beaudesert Historical Museum
Boonah
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Boonah Information Centre
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Far Outdoors Camping in Boonah
Tamborine Mountain
- Under the Greenwood Tree Tamborine
Canungra
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Canungra Books and Arts
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Canungra Information Centre
Rathdowney
- Rathdowney Information Centre
Our Writers
Di Morris
President Scenic Rim Writers
Melissa Cahill
Vice President Scenic Rim Writers
Bernadette McCabe
Treasurer Scenic Rim Writers
Gary Moloney
Secretary Scenic Rim Writers
Robyn Dobbs
Member
Linda Munster
Member
Ailsa Rolley
Founding president
Savitri Tait
Member
Jayne Méon
Member
WRITERS EVENTS
Upcoming
Our next meeting is scheduled for the 3rd of March.
FROM THE SCENIC RIM LIBRARY
Join the Queensland Writers for a series of four workshops starting 11th of February at the Beaudesert Library from 10am. Click the above link for details and bookings.
Connect with other writers, every second Friday at the Archives Room, 3 High Street, Boonah from 9am to 1.30pm, starting the 6th of February. See the above link for details.
Cathryn de Vries Tuesday 17th of February 3.30pm Tamborine Mountain
COMPETITIONS
Furious fiction - on the first weekend of each month
Outback writers festival short story competition
Past
Oct 2025
We welcomed Andrea Baldwin from QWC. She inspired us with talk of resilience and how to integrate this into our writing.
Sep 5th and 6th
Thanks to all who visited us at the show. I invite all those who showed interest in our group, to come along on Tuesday to see what we do.
Aug 2025 - Liliane Grace is back!
Thank you for our wonderful session on character development.
If you want to know more about Liliane's latest project - go to www.hippocryticoath.com
Qld Writers Centre Writing Workshops - May to June 2025
This is a series of six workshops to be held at Beaudesert Library and Tamborine Mountain Library between the 24th of May and the 28th of June. Tickets through The Centre
Click here for details
June 2025 Colin Pearce
We welcomed Colin as guest speaker to our meeting on the 3rd of June at the Centre. He has been a journalist since he was 15, a published author of ten books and a developer of Griffith university's creative and professional writing courses for twelve years. He critiqued our work and enlightened us on word choices, inverted sentences and some sinkholes into which aspiring writers fall.
For more on Colin - check out his blog.
Taking The Pearce – Diary of an ordinary man
April 2025 - Liliane Grace
Thanks to our guest speaker Liliane Grace - an award-winning author and public speaker - who hosted our April workshop. We hope to have you back very soon.
2023 - Anne Varnes
Self editing workshop
New members are always welcome so why not come and join us! It costs only $10 per year to attend. Our next meeting will be held at the Centre on the first Tuesday of the month at 10am
Contact Us
Precis of stories for ‘Of Time and Place”
1. Origins—Melissa Cahill’s tale of the formation of the Scenic Rim through the ages.
2. The Symbols of Beaudesert Shire—Robyn Dobbs’ story of the Beaudesert Blue Pumpkin and the lyrebird that combined for the shire’s logo.
3. Embracing Change—Linda Munster’s reflection on life altering moments.
4. Cotton Pygmy Goose—Di Morris and the rare Pygmy goose at Bidaddaba wetland.
5. She Would Have Loved It Here—Melissa Cahill’s account of a family’s 1877 journey and the sacrifices made on the way.
6. The Netball Queen—Bernadette McCabe’s poem about the local netball scene.
7. The Homegrown Giantess—Carol Libke’s historical account of a Boonah woman who won a world record for weight in the early 1900s.
8. A Greater Cause—Ailsa Rolley’s heartfelt chronicle of local Beaudesert boys who fought in the war and their letters home.
9. Grandma’s Afternoon Tea—Jayne Meon’s cheeky poem of an afternoon with her granddaughter.
10. Agatha Christie Takes the Stage—Jennifer Bartlett’s yarn of Agatha Christie’s visit to the Scenic Rim at Coochin and her friendship with the Bell family.
11. My Pond—Melissa Cahill’s poem of the beauty of a local waterhole.
12. Vida Lahey: Female Artist Activist Before Her Time—Savitri Tait’s narrative of Vida Lahey’s Canungra connection and her activism for art.
13. Stories from One Room Schools—Janelle Schloss’s reminisce of times gone by and the joys of a country education.
14. My World—Eva Luna’s poem celebrates the joy brought by her granddaughter.
15. An Act of God—Bernadette McCabe’s fictionalised historical report of the death of Beaudesert Priest Father Enright who was struck by lightning.
16. The Prime Minister Who Fell From the Sky—Robyn Dobbs’ miraculous tale of Billy Hughes whose aircraft made an emergency landing near Beaudesert.
17. Some Truths are Better Buried—Melissa Cahill explores rumours around the 1929 fire of St Mary’s convent, Beaudesert.
18. A Little Legacy of the 1950s—Gary Moloney still has the Supermix which a 50s salesman sold his mum.
19. Eureka! —Carol Libke’s tale of the fossicking Kratzke brothers in the Scenic Rim.
20. The Clearing—Di Morris’s engaging story of three very different people at a rainforest resort on Lamington.
21. Philp Mountain Road—Jared Kranz’ reflection on the greatest view within the Scenic Rim.
22. The Rise and Fall of Dancing in the Scenic Rim—Gary Moloney’s humorous account of the rise and fall of village hall dances.
23. The Naked Lady—Linda Munster reveals the secret origin of the sixty-year-old drawing of the naked lady on old tank on Beechmont/Canungra Rd.
24. Hark! The Christmas Ink—Bernadette McCabe’s remembrance of her first meeting with former Mayor of Beaudesert, Joy Drescher.
25. A Birder’s Tale—Di Morris’s story of searching for the black- breasted button-quail on Mt French, Boonah.
26. Then and now: A Tribute—Robyn Dobbs’s tribute to Kathleen Nutting and her historical work to mark the first century of Beaudesert.
27. Deering-Do on Duck Creek Road—Di Morris’s trek up Duck Creek Rd with Peter O’Reilly and a surprise guest.
28. The Heart of the Community—Linda Munster’s celebration of Beechmont and the qualities that make a rural community.
29. Reconstituted Stew—Bernadette McCabe’s poem of cultures meeting on a school bus.
30. The Kitchen Siege—Gary Moloney’s face off with a poisonous snake.
30. The Kitchen Siege—Gary Moloney’s face off with a poisonous snake.
31. The Old Bridge—Michael Burgess’s childhood day on a creek bank.
32. Halley’s Comet—Jayne Meon and the events of a starry night.
33. The Scenic Rim Hydrotherapy pool—Carol Libke and her connection to the Boonah pool.
34. The Friend—Jayne Meon’s backyard friend.
35. Never Assume Anything—Gary Moloney’s recount of a Canadian friend’s near-tragedy on Mt Barney.
36. Snow—Jayne Meon’s musings in a Swiss snowfall while fires rained ash on the Scenic Rim.
37. Jagun—Melissa Cahill’s contemplation of a sacred landscape and those who have gone before.
38. Round Mountain Tea Ceremony—Bernadette McCabe finds an old tea caddy whilst clearing her deceased mother’s house on Round Mountain.
39. .Thank you—Eva Luna’s poem says thankyou to Beaudesert for saving her.
40. .A Sense of Place—Savitri Tait’s thoughts on her place in the world through a stream of consciousness at Tamborine.