Westerly: Archive Reflections

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this issue contains the names and voices/writings of people who have died.

Westerly: Archive Reflections (OSI17) was guest edited by Catherine Noske (Westerly Editor 2015–2023). Contributors include Jazz Money, Caitlin Maling, Tracy Ryan, Amy Lin, Kaya Ortiz, Cassandra Atherton, Madeleine Watts, John Kinsella and Seth Malacari. There are also three reflections on encounters with Westerly, from Delys Bird (Westerly Editor 1993–2015) in conversation with Lucy Dougan, Elfie Shiosaki (Westerly’s inaugural Editor of First Nations Writing) in conversation with Catherine Noske and Becky Chilcott and Damian Crosbie (of Chil3, who have designed Westerly for the past ten years).

Alongside these works, Westerly also wishes to recognise the power and legacy of Charmaine Papertalk Green Smith, following the sad news of her passing in August 2025. In OSI17 we share two of Charmaine’s poems from Westerly: djinda, in celebration of her work. We remember her fondly, and will carry her memory forwards into Westerly’s future, as well as all we learned in working with her. We thank her for her enormous contribution to our community and to Westerly’s pages.

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