Forty South Tasmania Magazine - Issue 99

In this issue

There are just two criteria for Forty South content: good writing and Tasmanian themes. The theme can be anything - from Don Defenderfer's soaring spirits as he communes with nature, to Rob Shaw's soaring hiking boots as he conquers another Abel, to Hilary Burden's soaring prose as she tells stories of people who have known Tasmania longer than most - as long as it is essentially Tasmanian, about who and what we are, and have been, and might become.
We have had some quirky themes over the years, but for the almost 25 years that this magazine has been produced, a handful of themes have dominated: history, the environment, travel and tourism, culture, epicure and, of course, people. Tasmania is a place rich in depth and diversity in these things, and good stories about each have flowed naturally to our pages.
The launch of the Forty South portal in August has seen newcomers to the theme list, however, and none more than science and multiculturalism. We have always had science stories - and always will as long as Fraser Johnston keeps knocking on our door - but the web portal, which is so suited to these types of Tasmanian stories, has seen new science writers contributing articles in this most interesting and informative of categories. Katherine Johnson joined us in the previous issue writing about giant kelp, and Keith Corbett joins us this issue writing about geology.
And in this issue we are joined by Stephanie Jack. To meet her is to meet a giant, flashing billboard advertising all that is good about multiculturalism. It's a theme that I have always considered a pillar of modern Australia. Stephanie Jack is a beautiful writer who will bring to Forty South regular stories about familiar faces with unfamiliar backgrounds.