He thought he had a simple life, nothing extraordinary. But this ordinary decent man put onto paper a wonderful story of growing up in Western Australia and fighting at Gallipoli. It has become a great Australian classic, now read and loved by thousands of people.

Gretta Beveridge believes that everyone has a life story worth sharing.

Funny times, sad times, lessons learnt, hopes and dreams – Gretta believes is what people like to write, and what people like to read about.

She is running a Life Writing course at Adult Ed to give locals the skills and motivation to write their own story, or that of someone they know. 

Gretta was motivated to write her own family story when her sister, researching family history, uncovered a long-hidden family scandal.

There were two skeletons in the cupboard – her great-grandmother and great-aunt had been murdered by an infamous criminal who had left a trail of violence across WA and Victoria in the early 1900s.

Gretta received a Literature Board grant to help with research and writing, and has finished the first draft.

Her aim in the book is to let the ordinary people, the many victims of this man, tell their own stories.

Recently moved to Moruya Heads from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, Gretta has taught creative writing since 2002, leading students in life writing, short story and writing for children in Ballarat, Melbourne and Kununurra.

This wealth of experience has given her the skills to provide guidance, encouragement and constructive feedback, especially to those new to writing.

Some students write their stories just for themselves, to gain insights into their own lives, others go on to self-publish their books to share with family and friends, and the occasional author has their work published commercially. 

If you have a story to tell and now is the time to begin.

Gretta starts her Life Writing course at Adult Ed in Batemans Bay on Tuesday, February 2.

She will also run a Write a Picture Book for Children course from March 10 to 31.

For more information phone Adult Ed on 4472 9202.