News & Events

2023	Talk "Scrubbing the Floor the 4th Way" given to Find Your Voice (UK) Poem Habitat for Humans published in The Newcastle Anthology, The Crossing Poem Habitat for Humans shortlisted for The Newcastle Poetry Prize Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Unsaved Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel *Crave* Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel *Remnants* Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Tutelege Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Fictional Beauty Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Ageing Without Clause Appearance at Harm Reduction International Conference 2023 - Tuesday the 18th Aprill, 11.30 a.m. Melbourne Poem Medea - towards the end published in Griffith Review 80: Creation Stories Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel *Weather* Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Jumping the Parapet Author Page on Overland Literary Magazine website
2022	Reading from *The Commemorative Medal* at 6.30pm on December 1, at The Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood Short Story The Commemorative Medal published in the Summer (December) edition of Meanjin Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel potent resuscitation Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Wanted August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day Rally, Vic. Parliament stairs. Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Visiting in High Wind Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel reflection Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel forward dispatch Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Unsaved Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Good Samaritan Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel high straight trunk Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel bylaw Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel decided Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Sweet Goodnights Comment from Michele Alexandra on finn / friel / gene "Love this collaboration. It is a perfect combination of two fine artists. An eloquent, edgy individualistic interpretation of the visuals inside the mind of another brilliant artist." Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel naysayer Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel crave Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel back lane Symphony Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel tutelage Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel three Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Brain Weary Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Falling Forward Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel an overexposed sky Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Ageing Without Clause Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Shafted Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel Panic Stations Collaboration with photographer Chris Friel *No Returns* Audio essay by Oliver Driscoll on Love and Hate for Slow Canoe Autobiographical piece *The Measurement of Memory* audio produced by Slow Canoe Autobiographical piece *The Measurement of Memory* published by Slow Canoe Poem A Morning Shot published in Overland #245 Speaking on International Harm Reduction Day at The Salvation Army AOD Victoria wide meeting.
2021	Short story Neighbourly published in Island #163 *Nefertiti's Missing Left Eye* (a poem) selected for Hunter Writers Centre Anthology (Newcastle Poetry Prize) *Nefertiti's Missing Left Eye* (a poem) shortlisted in the Val Vallis Award (QLD Poetry) feedback from the judges: "With unassuming language, and a meticulous and mobile intelligence, “Nefertiti's Missing Left Eye” examines time, belonging, art, and what we might pass on to the earth. A meditative and invigorating poem." Downpour shortlisted in the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (top 25 out of 6,423) Little Red COVID published in My Word column in *The Big Issue #630*
2020	Part of Lockdown Project 3 writings for The Slow Canoe Speaking for R U O K day on conversations regarding suicide Speaking for International Overdose Awareness Day in events held by various orgs. Discussion 'Stigma' International Overdose Awareness Day on JOY Radio Short Story Neighbourly longlisted for *The Big Issue Fiction Edition 2020* Winner of the older emerging poets prize QLD Poety Shortlisted for the older emerging poets prize QLD Poetry June 10 - 8p.m. to 9p.m. Discussion on FB re Paper Anniversary Little Fictions on Air production of *Paper Anniversary* Poem High Straight Trunk published in Cordite NO THEME IX
2019	Short story After the Fire published in the Verity LA anthology Poem A Morning Shot longlisted in the Peter Porter Prize (top 13 from 1,046) Appearing at The Australian Short Stories Festival, 9.30 am, 20th October, 2019, Hawthorn Town Hall Presenting at *The Slow Canoe*, Feb 1st
2018	*Joan Mercer's Fertile Head* published online at Australian Book Review Short story Joan Mercer's Fertile Head commended (top 6 of 1200) in Elizabeth Jolley Prize Runner up in the Byron Bay Writers Festival Flash Fiction Comp with Nightingale Lane
2017	Short Story Infiltration published in Overland Journal #229 Summer edition Short Story Paper Anniversary being performed at Little Fictions 13th June Opinion piece Facing Homelessness for Overland Short Story Compass published in Tincture Journal #17
2016	Winner of the *Albury City Short Story Competition* for Background Shortlisted for the Albury City short story competition for Background Opinion piece Fear and Loathing: Stereotyping drug users has become a deadly matter Photographs: Over the Fence 1 & 2 exhibited Gallery PH21 Budapest, Hungary, 'RGB' exhibit. Hosting a discussion with Luke Williams at Melbourne Writers Festival Sept 2, 2.30pm. Hosting a discussion with Elspeth Muir at Melbourne Writers Festival Sept 4, 1pm. Longlisted for the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Award for Batons and Ropes Poem Falling Forward in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald Guest post on Lee Kofman's blog Unfinished work: To keep or not to keep
2015	Short story *My Diaspora* published in The Australian Newspaper. Short story Stewie's Turnaround published by In Short Publishing Co. No. 5. Short story Arrest Assured published in Island Magazine #142 Article for Overland The new ice age Appearing at The Melbourne Writers Festival The Morning Read August 29 Appearing at The Melbourne Writers Festival Secrets & Lies August 28 Short Story My Diaspora published in Review of Australian Fiction Article for Overland *Personal Histories of Abuse* Q & A about Down To The River at Collins Bookshop Bairnsdale: April 23, 7pm. Bookings required. Novel Down to the River published in March by Sleepers. Launch: March 12 Writer-in-residence for Readings Bookshop Blog throughout March Interview (begins at 11.15 mins on recording) on 3RRR FM 102.7Mhz 11th March Show: Multi-storied Blog post at Very Bad Apple about Australian Aboriginal Incarceration Rates Poem Shafted published in?Cordite: Obsolete Editor, Tracy Ryan
2014	Poem Panic Stations published in Rabbit #13 Reading at The Alderman, Brunswick, 5pm, Sunday Nov 9 for Rabbit *Understanding Addiction* televised on ABC Big Ideas Blog on Wordpress: *SJ Finn eating one piece of art at a time* Poem Bylaw published in Dazzled Poem Bylaw longlisted in University of Canberra's Vice Chancellor's International Poetry Prize Event at Melbourne Writers Festival 2014 Understanding Addiction Poem There's nothing like being part of a garden... in The Age & SMH Short story Kalgoorlie shortlisted in the Josephine Ulrick Literature Prize Short story Kalgoorlie published in Australian Review of Fiction
2013	Editor of Summer Online Fiction at Overland Literary Journal Essay at Overland Literary Journal: *Why has naloxone been kept from those who need it?* Article on Wayne Macauley called *A Cook, A Caravan, A Canoe* in *Readings Monthly* Short story Tipping Point published in Kill Your Darlings No. 13 comment by Zoe Barron on Meanjin Blog Short story Familiar Territory published in Sleepers Almanac 8
2012	This Too Shall Pass highly commended in Barbara Jefferis Award (ASA) Short story Breathless was highly commended in The Alan Marshall Award Interview with Spineless Wonders about Short Stories Poem Ageing Without Clause published in The Age newspaper Short Story Tractor Tractor published in *Overland Literary Magazine*
2011	*Paper Anniversary* published in Escape Anthology by *Spineless Wonders* Poem *Blowhole* commended in the *Eastern Libraries National Poetry Comp* *Paper Anniversary* runner-up in the Carmel Bird Short Story Comp Story *Gestation* third prize in The Women's Society of Writing NSW National Comp Appearance at The Melbourne Writers' Festival, Friday 2nd September: 2:30 p.m. at The Cube, Fed Sqr. Appearance at The Emerging Writers' Festival, Sunday May 29 Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine What to do about the sex trade? Review for Overland Literary Magazine The Best Australian Stories 2011 Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine Why War? Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine Beyond belief Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine Thanks for 50 years of prohibition Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine Crime or sin? Interview about This Too Shall Pass published online at The Ember Interview about This Too Shall Pass published online at Verity LA Short Story After the Fire published online at Verity LA Launch of This Too Shall Pass, Thursday March 3 Appearance on *Aural Text, RRR, Wednesday March 2 You Tube of SJ Finn, produced by Sleepers Publishing*
2010	Became a guest blogger for *Overland Literary Magazine* Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine *The Inconvenience of Unhappiness* Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine *Experiences from the frontline* Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine Homebirthing may soon disappear Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine Drugs, Afghanistan, terrorism and US corporations Review for Overland Literary Magazine Equator Commentary for Overland Literary Magazine Or just plain advertising? Review for Overland Literary Magazine Come Inside Short story Heart String published in The Global Short Story Anthology Poem War Through The TV published in The Age Newspaper Poem War Through The TV published inThe Best Australian Poems 2010 Short story Angus's Playground short listed in the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Comp Poems No Returns and Treading published in Picaro Press in'The Green Fuse' MS Moral Inconvenience short listed for Varuna/Penguin Prize MS Moral Inconvenience short listed for Varuna/HarperCollins mentorship
2009	Short story Agapanthus published in The Sleepers Almanac 5 Poem Crave published in The Age Newspaper Poem The Judgement was highly commended in The Melbourne Lord Mayor's Poetry Prize
2008	The poem Unsaved was published in The Age Newspaper Short story Heart String was highly commended in The Global Short Story Competition Short story Flame Game was runner-up in The Hal Porter Short Story Competition Poems Motion and Sweet Goodnights published in Cordite #27 Short story Something For Amanda was published in 'Strange 4' Short story Finding The Dead was published as A Mini Short #018 for Vignette Press Short story Flame Game published in Going Down Swinging #27