StageWRite

Geoff Hastwell

Geoff, a baby boomer, born, bred and educated in Adelaide and gaining a BA (Hons) and Dip Ed at Flinders University in the early 1970s. When SCALA (Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association) formed in 1987 Geoff gladly joined and continued to learn more about the craft of writing words to music. In SCALA's annual Song Writing Competition, held since 1994, Geoff has won the Lyrics section six times, been highly commended three times and commended three times for his entries.

In addition to being an award winning member of SCALA, Geoff is also a writer of some note. And between writing songs, teaching and directing, Geoff is heavily involved in community theatre.

In 2001, theatre company 'Blackwood Players' turned 50, which led to Geoff's involvement in researching, and eventually writing, a 40,000 word history about the group, during a Long Service break from teaching. Not long after this, he decided to try for a work of 'faction', and wrote a novel based around his father's WWII experiences flying Beaufighters in New Guinea. This was self-published with Seaview Press in 2004 and has sold nearly 500 copies since.

Feeling that his experiences flying gliders gave him some common ground (or should that be 'air'?!) with his dad, Geoff was able to draw upon both their experiences when writing his book,'My Sky Blue Trades'.

Happily married, Geoff has two grown up stepsons and three grandchildren, and  a 'very lively' Lhasa-Apso named Lucy.The family reside in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, and Geoff hopes - many factors permitting! - to be able to retire and write and compose further in the near future.

Geoff co-facilitated StageWRite's Songwriting Sessions at the Aldinga Community Centre in March & April '09.