Artist in Residence - Melbourne Aquarium - Alicia Sometimes

.Anth and Pete in the (new!) studio today, with Kath at the helm. Together, they're sailing the SS Marinara, guiding her through the foggy morning toward all the equally foggy early Sunday morning minds.

The weather - foggy to begin with, temperature rising to 17C throughout the day.

Alicia Sometimes takes some time away from her current residency at the Melbourne Aquarium (Writer-in-Residence), where students have the opportunity to come in and explore the marine environment through the power of writing.

Only two weeks into the job, Alicia is already in love with the creatures that call the ocean home. And through writing, Alicia can help children explore their own feelings and experiences by putting them into words. A firm believer in the fact that absolutely everyone can write, it can be as simple as compiling simple facts about different animals - perhaps even their personalities - and simply letting that ball roll and seeing where it ends up!

Marine Short-Story Writing Competition

Are you inspired by something marine? Have you always wanted to get something down on paper about your favourite marine memory or thought?

Well... here is your chance - Radio Marinara was inspired by its marine artists on the show on May 15th and has started a Marine Short Story Competition.

It is open to all subscribers of 3RRR-FM and runs from now until Tuesday June 23th. Winners will be announced on the show on June 26th (and maybe asked to come in and read out their story on the show! ...only if you want to...)

All stories will form part of a new page on the Radio Marinara website - The Marine E-book.

The Marine E-book will have as its chapters your short stories and can grow over time as more people are inspired by the marine environment!

So, dive in and write today.

There will be two different prizes for:

1. Stories written by anyone 12 years of age and under - to be judged by a panel of young people visiting the Aquarium arranged by Alicia Sometimes - Writer in Residence at the Melbourne Aquarium (link to them)

2. Stories written by anyone older than 12 years - to be judged Anthony Boxshall, Bron Burton and Alicia Sometimes

Rules are:

1. Only one story per person
2. You must enter as a 3RRR subscriber - children and teens can use their parents Nos.
3. It must be less than 300 words.
4. There is NO LIMIT on what you can write about as long as there is some link to marine!

Send your entries to:

Email: radiomarinara@hotmail.com
Post: Radio Marinara Story Comp - 3RRR-FM
Box 2145 Brunswick East, VIC, 3057

Fax: Attn Radio Marinara Story Comp: 03 9388 9079

Based in Tasmania, Ian is a Potter who takes his inspiration from the sea - using a technique called "Slip Casting", where the onject is cast (using a real or prefabricated object (such as a fish). In Ian's case, after some rather unsuccessful experiments wih real fish, he decided to use prefabricated models instead.

If you're interested in finding out some more information, don't hesitate in getting in contact with Ian

What does a scientist who specialises in the Southern Rock Lobster do in his spare time? Well, he creates extraordinary sculptures from glass, of course! Dave Hobday, who works by day at the Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic) facilities in Queenscliff, is also a noted sculpture - many of his pieces can actually be seen at his place of work! Visitors to both PIRVic and the Marine Discovery Centre are greeted by examples of Dave's work.

A big fan of the renowned glass artist David Wright (sp?), Dave Hobday has been practising this style of artwork for 20 odd years, he describes it as a "hobby that's gone out of control".

For more information, check out his website at www.davidhobday.com, or to see more great examples of his work, check out the Seaview Gallery in Queenscliff!

"Lighthouse Keeper "

"Gone Fishing"

"Secret of the Sea"

My Friend the Chocolate Cake

Tim Oxley

Billy Bragg & Wilco

Righto - the water is fantastic. Viz is 12 to 15 metres (translation: Bloody Noice). Best of all, the annual aggregation of Spider Crabs in Port Phillip Bay (where they get together and form large pile of upto 1.5 metres in height!) can currently be seen. Rye is just one f the great places that this amazing phenomenon can be seen.

But the main message? Get off the computer and get out there as soon as you can!