On June 24th 1948 the SS Ormond docked at Railway Pier in Port Phillip Bay. Amongst its passengers were 250 British children who had arrived, without parents or family, to begin “a new and better life” in Australia. Within that number were six orphaned brothers and sisters: Jayne Harper 20, James 17, John 15, Betty 12, David 10 and Margaret 6. John is my father, the others my aunts and uncles.
My father’s story came in bits and pieces that didn’t add up. The death of both his parents led to a childhood interrupted by trauma, poverty and migration. A curious child now adult I began asking questions about the past to uncover a difficult family history.
As a writer and director Kerreen has created quality screen content with a focus on social justice, history and adaptation for national and international clients across a range of genres and formats. Her independent film projects include short fiction, documentary, advocacy, education and corporate training videos, machinima animation, experimental and dance films which have all screened at film festivals, on television, in galleries and exhibitions.
In recent years she has been working in digital and multi media having created and developed a 3D virtual world in Second Life, entitled Foul Whisperings, Strange Matters, based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. She is a recipient of three ATOM awards and nominations: In Her Own Words, Best Education Resource winner (1997); Even Girls Play Footy, Best Secondary Education Resource nomination (2012); Parts of a Horse, Best Short Film nomination (2003).
Kerreen is a graduate of the VCA School of Film and Television (Directing) and School of Performing Arts (Acting), and has an extensive background in theatre and screen performance, community and arts education. She has worked extensively as a teaching artist for Bell Shakespeare and was the Sydney Theatre Company’s online education writer (2010-2013). She has taught screenwriting at Macquarie University, where she completed her PhD in creative media research. She is currently a lecturer in screen arts at Curtin University.
