BRISBANE — As part of its monthly program of alternative films, the Resistance Centre here featured a special night of local independent films on August 28. The films included When the Moon Falls, a surrealist allegory on the corruption of wealth and power set in the sand dunes of Moreton Island, directed by Stephen Mackerras; Hinchinbrook Island, a beautiful depiction of the forests of this hitherto untouched area, directed by Randall Wood; Kafka's Sisters Castle, a delightful parody, relating Franz Kafka's life and work to the absurd mock castle at Queensland's Gold Coast, directed by Alex Chomicz; and The Lonely Ones, a story of alienation and lost love set on an island in Moreton Bay.
CANBERRA — The local branch of PEN (Poets, Essayists, Novelists) International organised a successful forum on August 25 in Parliament House to express concern at the fate of jailed East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao. The forum was attended by interested members of parliament, representatives of community groups such as Amnesty International, peace and social justice activists and the Portuguese ambassador to Australia.
HOBART — On August 24 at the University of Tasmania, students wrote more than 100 messages on a giant "Postcard to Beazley", protesting against federal government attacks on education. Organised by the Anti-Fees Coalition, the postcard, mostly on the theme of free education, gave students an opportunity to vent their anger and frustration with the present government's "economic rationalist" policies. On August 26, 25 students attended an organising meeting which voted unanimously to change the name of the group to the Free Education Coalition.
MELBOURNE — In a historic vote, students at Monash University decided on August 26 to establish the position of women's officer. Previously, the constitution of the Monash Association of Students had not allowed for the position. To change the constitution a two-thirds majority at a general meeting of no fewer than 960 students was required. Usually, the meetings fail for lack of a quorum, but on this occasion more than 1000 students attended. Now an interim women's officer will be appointed until elections for the position next year.