About C.C.Turner
WRITER | VETERAN | PHOTOGRAPHER | CULTURAL LEADER | MUSICIAN
Catherine C. Turner (she/they) is a multidisciplinary arts worker who explores the human instinct for storytelling through writing, music, photography, and cultural leadership.
With deep roots in the Defence community and a growing voice in the arts and heritage sectors, Catherine brings curiosity, connection, and creativity to every endeavour.
"My core belief is that humans are creatures of storytelling (as well as being social creatures). I’m living my best life when exploring this through the lenses of creativity, community, and curiosity."
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"I express my personal creativity through artistic pursuits as an emerging writer, amateur musician, and hobby photographer."
Creativity >
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"I’m a third-generation war veteran who’s further supported the Defence community through my freelance business, Ryter Publishing, to produce award-winning tour books."
Community >
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"I embody a curiosity mindset through developing as a leader in the arts, culture, and heritage sector."
Curiosity >
Image © Karin Locke​
Author bio
Catherine C. Turner (she/they) grew up as an ‘Army brat’, then became a part-time Army officer, and was a full-time Army officer’s spouse for more than a decade. Along the way, she added Afghanistan to the Turner–family war service medal collection which already included her father’s from Vietnam, and his father’s from Korea and the Pacific in WWII.
She has lived in three states and two territories in Australia and has travelled to the UK, Europe, Türkiye, USA, and Canada. Catherine is a developing leader in the arts, cultural and heritage sector, and has communication and marketing experience with book publishing expertise. She holds several tertiary qualifications, including an honours degree in creative writing from the University of Canberra and a Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
When she’s not working on her first military history book about the Australia Light Horse charge at Beersheba, Catherine is a casual political observer and fantasises about living on a coastal hinterland property with her cats and becoming the No. 1 Female Ticket Holder for the Geelong Cats AFL teams.
Qualifications
​(select, full list here)
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Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership), National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA, 2019–23) — wrote an original, feminist, Australian fairy tale for the capstone research project and presented it at Australian Fairy Tale Society national conference
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Graduate Diploma in Editing and Publishing with Distinction, RMIT University (2005 & 2007)
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Bachelor of Communication (Honours), University of Canberra (2000) — creative writing thesis with exegesis
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Bachelor of Arts in Communication, University of Canberra (1997–99) — majors in creative writing and creative communication, with an elective major in literary studies
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Attended over 150 workshops, information sessions and seminars, on writing, reading and ideas, at writers' festivals and writers' centres — Bellingen, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Margaret River, Melbourne & Sydney (since 1997)
Memberships
MEMBERSHIP OF WRITING AND EDITING ORGANISATIONS
Current
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Australian Society of Authors (Affiliate) (since 2001)
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Editors Victoria (since 2008)
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Writers Victoria (formerly Victorian Writers’ Centre, since 2019 and 2005–12)
Previous
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Queensland Writers Centre (2021–2 and 2014–18)
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Writing NSW (formerly NSW Writers Centre, 2018–9)
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Sydney PEN (2007–12)
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NT Writers' Centre (2002–4, including serving on the Management Committee (VP, Secretary, General member) and 2009–10)
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MARION (formerly ACT Writers' Centre, 1998–2003, including volunteering as administration assistant 1999–2000)
Awards
FICTION
Highly Commended for short story ‘Thoughts of the Hour’ in the Darling Downs group of the Children’s Book Council “Anywhere Anytime Anybook Book Week” Competition (1996)
Blog
