A. Zaganidis is a twenty-one-year-old Australian writer who just completed his final semester of a Bachelor of Communications. Dissociated from the world, he finds enjoyment in books, games, and movies, and lives off pasta and cereal.
A former Queenslander, Aaron Hughes made Melbourne his home in 2000. In 2012, he completed a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing. Aaron has worked at RMIT since 2013. He loves chocolate, The Muppets and character t-shirts. His motto is: Live your life so that you don’t have to hide your diary.
Alice Allan is a writer and editor based in Melbourne. Her poems have appeared in Australian Book Review, Cordite, Rabbit, and Plumwood Mountain.
Alison Whan, Offset (fifteen)’s Project Director, had the privilege of being Managing Editor of Offset for its 10th Anniversary Edition. The student has now become the teacher, and Alison has led a team of nine talented individuals on their quest to make this edition the best yet.
Alysha Jakobi is a photographer, in the first year of a Bachelor of Photography at Photography Studies College. She plans to complete her degree and grow her photography business, alyshabeth Photography, which can be found on Facebook.
Andrew Li is a Melbourne-based illustrator, designer, and comic creator. Common themes in his work include queer culture, masculinity, romance and psychology. He won the Laird Hotel 2014 Annual Art Competition and debuted his first solo exhibition at Midsumma 2015. See more of Andrew’s work at www.andrewli.com.au
Andrew Markwell is a folk-punk singer/songwriter from Melbourne. His music blends elements of wordy, Dylan-esque acoustic folk with early ‘90s grunge, influencing the creation of a unique Melbourne sound, with songs about everything from cheap wine to sharehouse woes.
Andy Buchanan is a digital artist, animator and researcher from Melbourne whose work uses animated images as a perceptual and philosophical enquiry into time and transformation. See more of Andy’s work at andybuchanan.com.au
Anna Brasier, Offset (fifteen)’s Managing Editor, is a Melbourne writer, editor and creative writing tutor. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Communication at Victoria University and has been published in The Victorian Writer, Melbourne’s Child, and Offset no. 13. Anna was a part of this year’s Emerging Writers’ Festival’s Letters to the West event.
Anne Oldman has been writing for several years now. She loves the drama of poetic writing.
Ashley Goldberg works for the government by day and dabbles in short fiction by night. His work has appeared in Tincture, Mildred Journal, Blue Monday Review, and In Brief Magazine. Some of his work can be read at www.ashgoldberg.com
Auf Wiedersehen, whose real name is Jacqueline Smith, is a self-taught artist who spends her days observing the tiny, often intangible details of the world surrounding us.
Barry Dickins is a writer, journalist and playwright. He is a humourist who employs the people, traditions and rituals of Melbourne in his dramatic writing. Barry has written more than fifty plays and has been published widely in Australia. He has won a number of fellowships and has been a writer-in-residence at several theatres and institutions.
Ben Iser, Offset (fifteen)’s Open Access Journal and Web Content Manager, is completing his Bachelor of Communication at Victoria University. An amateur musicologist and historian of popular culture, he is fascinated by the creative impulse and is curious about how people think.
Benjamin Laut, Offset (fifteen)’s Art Submissions and Curation and Digital Media Co-ordinator, is a writer/director/artist from New South Wales. His film work has won several Best Tertiary awards around Victoria and he was invited to speak at the 2015 Emerging Writers’ Festival. When Benjamin isn’t making movies, he’ll probably be puttering around town on his beloved postie bike. See more of Benjamin’s work at www.lastcallfilmproductions.com
Bianca Ruhland is a videogame journalist, animator and illustrator, though her first love is writing. She has recently completed nine years of Creative Writing study and has been published in Offset and Verandah, as well as Gamefeature.com
Bill Lillicrapp is a self-taught, Melbourne-based independent artist. Bill’s grandma was a well-known landscape artist in the Gippsland region and, growing up, this was where his interest in painting spawned. His main inspiration includes street art, modern pop art, portraiture, and various forms of abstract art.
Bill Marshall is fascinated with exploring the contours of his internal landscapes. Unsurprisingly, his creative motto came to him in a dream: to neglect the inner life is foolish by Police standards.
Bob Carey-Grieve is a Scottish artist and writer living in Melbourne. He was a founding member of the international collaboration Henry VIII’s Wives and has written for two books and a number of periodicals. He has recently performed his fiction at The West Writers Forum and the Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Brian Howley is an educator and writer. Over the past thirty years he has won the odd competition, published a short story collection, and written a newspaper column. He lives in North Central Victoria.
Brooke Haffenden, Offset (fifteen)’s Public Relations operative, is a Bachelor of Communication student, specialising in Professional Writing and Public Relations. An avid traveller and photographer, her inspiration comes from the beauty of the world around her and capturing people’s stories. Brooke believes in the freedom of art and its expression, and encourages others to rediscover their imagination.
Caroline Edmunds-Latham is an Accounting student, but she’s a passionate artist at heart. She predominately draws and writes, but loves to sew and make jewellery. Caroline sells her creations through her online store, Pakoa Art, which she hopes to make into her future career.
Christine Burrows is a re-emerging poet, originally from New Zealand, who has lived in Melbourne for thirty years. Most recently, Christine has had poems published in Melbourne Spoken Word’s Zine and Audacious Volume 1, an audio journal. She writes about social injustice, political lunacy, and life’s deeply personal challenges.
Claire Rosslyn Wilson is a poet and non-fiction writer. She is passionate about the capacity of the arts to create deeper understanding between people, across cultures. Her poems and writing have been published in Australian journals and online. In 2014, she undertook a Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowship.
Denise Hughes, Offset (fifteen)’s Editor and Events Manager, is a Bachelor of Communication student at Victoria University, specialising in Professional Writing and Digital Media. She has been a finalist in the Williamstown Literary Festival Ada Cambridge Prize and her entry Bad Moon Rising was nominated for the Best Animation award in 2015’s Setting Sun Film Festival.
Diane Apap is a Bachelor of Education student with a love for art and photography. She is majoring in this field to become an art teacher. Her industry experience in costume creation and design has developed her passion for art. Diane’s photography focuses on compositional power to find interest in the everyday.
Diane Simonelli’s work has appeared on Meanjin and Overland websites. Her fiction has won awards including the Boroondara Literary Prize and support from the Australia Council. She has a fig tree, a blog, and short stories in Inscribe and Geek Mook.
Diego Llerena is a Peruvian-American artist currently residing in Melbourne. After a successful career in retail, he decided to pursue his passion for travel and art. His latest work is inspired by the diversity of scenery and characters he encountered on his travels.
Dionne Hindell is currently completing a Bachelor of Psychology and Master of Education. Dionne has a passion for travelling and photography. When completed, Dionne hopes to work in mental health and education.
Eddy Burger is a Melbourne writer of funny and experimental fiction, poetry and plays. His work has appeared in journals and anthologies locally and overseas. He is an anti-realist, post-modernist, and champion of the imagination.
Else Fitzgerald is a Melbourne-based writer. Her work has appeared in various places including Visible Ink, Australian Book Review online, The Victorian Writer and Award Winning Australian Writing. She won the Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers Competition in 2014.
Emily Boyd’s philosophy as an artist is to create work that is renewable and sustainable—this is achieved by using recycled and naturally occurring materials. Emily is hyperaware of colours and textures and uses nature as her greatest source of inspiration.
Born in Tasmania, Emma Berwick moved to Victoria to attend university. She is currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Communication, specialising in Digital Media. Emma hopes to explore her love of photography through post-graduate study.
Federico Ayazo Vélez was born in Medellin, Colombia. He was raised in a farm next to the city, between trees and animals. He is currently studying at university and working in an elementary school.
Huy Chau is a twenty-one-year-old, recently caffeine dependant, third-year university student. Huy is an avid gamer and drawer, and can be found in the corner of his room doing either of these things.
Izzy Roberts-Orr is a writer, editor and radio producer from Melbourne. Her work has been published in The Lifted Brow, The Bohemyth, Feminartsy, Co:Respond, ATYP’s Out of Place Anthology, and the RMIT Volta Creative Writing Anthology. She was recently awarded a 2015 Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowship.
Jade Rapley is a recent graduate of Victoria University’s Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Professional Writing and Literature. She believes that the key to happiness lies somewhere between good poetry and good coffee.
Jane Downing has had prose and poetry published in journals including Island, Southerly, Overland, The Big Issue, and Best Australian Poems.
Jenny Macaulay is enjoying her retirement in coastal Portarlington doing what she loves: writing, painting, and gardening, as well as tutoring at the local neighbourhood house.
Jessica Donnison is a perpetual student. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in History and a second in Political Science and Professional Writing, she is currently undertaking Honours in History. Jessica has a love for editing and currently works as a student writing mentor at Victoria University.
Joseph Kehoe is a student at Victoria University, studying Creative Writing and hopes to make writing his career in the future.
Josh Passarini has a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing from Victoria University and was once a proud editor of this publication (2007). He is married with two energetic boys and writes fiction and poetry whenever he gets the chance.
Kirby Fisher is studying a Bachelor of Education at Victoria University. She hopes to inspire a love of writing and a passion for English in her future students. Kirby hopes to travel the world and live a fulfilled life.
Kristen Roberts lives in Footscray. Her poetry has been published widely in Australian journals and anthologies including Quadrant, Australian Love Poems and Award Winning Australian Writing 2012.
Les Wicks has toured widely and seen publication across twenty countries in eleven languages. His poetry includes, Sea of Heartbeak (Unexpected Resilience) and a Spanish selection, El Asombrado. His website is http://leswicks.tripod.com/lw.htm
Matt Swan is a mature-age student who has spent time in several industries, and decided that both his career and education needed a change. As a result, he has just completed his first year of an Interactive Media degree.
Megan Green is a Melbourne poet, fiction/non-fiction writer and editor. Megan has edited four novels and is the former creator and editor of Victoria University’s Platform magazine. Megan has been published both online and in print, and has judged multiple writing competitions.
Melanie Brander is a final year Bachelor of Creative Arts student at Victoria University, majoring in Visual Arts and Performance Studies. Her photographic work is gritty and serves to explore the dark and distorted—inspired by photo narrative styles of artists Tracey Moffatt and Bill Henson.
Nicholas McKay is a post-graduate student, undertaking study at the University of Melbourne. He is a published poet, part-time editor and advocate for mental health awareness. Nicholas is a blogger, anime addict, video gaming geek, A-pop enthusiast, occasional cook and believer in true love.
Throughout his three years at university, Nikolaos Kiannies has immersed himself in his creative practice. As a mixed media installation artist, Nikolaos explores themes of society, current affairs, and personal experience within his work. He uses art to express an understanding of self.
Paul South is a part-time animal rescuer and devolving poet. Previously from the West, he now lives in Coburg. Paul has published two books of poetry and is the 2013 Winner of the Malthouse Theatre Award of Excellence in Creative Arts.
Robert Lenard is from Houston, Texas and arrived in Melbourne on a Student Visa in 2005. With a love for traveling and feeling that he would obtain a broad perspective by seeing other parts of the world, Rob completed his education in Australia.
Rochae Gauci, Offset (fifteen)’s Public Relations operative, is studying a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Public Relations at Victoria University. With a love for people, reading, writing, and new experiences, public relations is definitely where she sees herself. Whilst studying, Rochae keeps busy with undertaking internships with a variety of organisations.
Ron Burrows is an ex-postie, long-time resident of the western suburbs of Melbourne, and author of The Postie and the Priest. He has always been a writer masquerading as someone else. For twenty years he did a fine job of pretending to be a postman, fooling everyone including himself.
Rose Lucas is a poet and academic currently working at Deakin and Victoria Universities. She is the author of the prize winning collection Even in the Dark (2013); her next collection of poetry, Unexpected Clearing (UWAP) is due out in February 2016.
Sally (sillier than Sally) Walsh is a Sydney-based artist. Her unrestrained artworks are a colourful push and pull of realistically rendered figurative imagery, juxtaposed against whimsical watercolour washes. Sally has been involved in numerous art exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne, and has competed in live art battles. Her murals are dotted across Sydney.
Sherryl Clark writes poetry, prose, and verse novels, mostly for children and young adults. She will read almost anything but enjoys crime fiction and poetry the most.
Stephen Moore, Offset (fifteen)’s Designer, is in his final year of studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts Industries. He was published in Offset No.12, and was awarded 2013 Most Outstanding 2nd Year Undergratudate in the College of Arts. He likes coffee and beer, but not at the same time. He wears a beard, but eschews jackets with elbow patches. He may reconsider the elbow patches.
Stephen Nichols is a Melbourne-based playwright and writer. His plays have been produced at the Carlton Courthouse, The Arts Centre, Dancehouse, and various venues in Melbourne and Sydney. He is currently working towards publishing a book of poems and short fiction.
Suzi Mezei is a Melbourne writer. Her work has appeared in Award Winning Australian Writing 2014 and in journals such as Hecate and Quadrant. She is a past receipt of the Rhonda Jankowitz Poetry Award and is currently writing a play.
Tatiana Ayazo is a fashion designer, full-time dreamer, sun and coffee lover. She is a wanderer from Colombia.
Therese, aka Roxanne Bodsworth, is a PhD candidate at Victoria University, also being a sheep-farmer and celebrant. Widely published in a range of genres, writing keeps her sane (almost), and poetry most of all.
Thomas Forward is a twenty-three-year-old singer/songwriter from Melbourne. He writes, performs, and produces his own material, as well as working with various other Melbourne artists.
Thomas Rolfe is a twenty-two-year-old, ex-New South Welshman who came to Victoria to study a Bachelor of Interactive Media at Victoria University. For more of Thomas’ work, visit: www.thomasrolfe.me
Tracey Rolfe is a freelance writer and editor who teaches fiction writing, poetry and editing in Professional Writing and Editing at Victoria University Institute of TAFE.
Tru Dowling is a mother, word-lover, gardener, and performer. Her poems have appeared in Poetry Monash, Famous Reporter, and Eureka Street. She holds a Diploma of Professional Writing, BA (H1) Literature, and is a teacher at Bendigo TAFE’s professional writing course. Her poetry chapbook is Memoirs of a Consenting Victim (Mark Time Books, 2011).
Wayne Stellini, Offset (fifteen)’s Submissions Editor, is a Melbourne writer and poet. He engages with as many storytelling mediums as he can, enjoying art exhibitions, stage productions, and Melbourne’s eclectic buskers, amongst other creative expressions. Influenced by his love of films, literature, pop culture, and social justice, Wayne’s work has appeared in Offset no. 14 and he participated in the 2015 Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Yasemin Islek is a second-year Creative Arts student. She enjoys photography, writing and performing arts. Yasemin is currently writing a book on positive thinking, which incorporates her passion for art and fondness for personal development and learning.
2015 will mark Zachary Riley’s twenty-fifth trip around the sun; perhaps his greatest achievement to date. He is currently writing his Honours thesis in the discipline of social theory at Victoria University, where he is employed as a sessional academic tutor.
Zoe Simbolon, Offset (fifteen)’s Editor, is a writer and editor from Melbourne. She has been published in Offset no. 14, Overland, and Hyde. Zoe was a Creative Producer for this year’s Emerging Writers’ Festival.