The Journey of the Winter Rose is a moving and poignant testmant to family, and the challenging journey of the diverse paths of six beautiful daughters, four of whom over a number of years developed the symptoms of Rett Syndrome.
Born in Orange, New South Wales, and raised in Sydney, the author Margery Kemp lives with retired Radiologist husband Tim in The Channon area of the New South Wales Northern Rivers hinterland. The family story is woven into the writings of her poetry.
Of the four daughters affected by Rett Syndrome, their third daughter died at sixteen, and two years later, their oldest at twenty two. For the other two girls also affected, the following years of holistic research and implementation, strengthened their immune systems and their resilience.
Within the family there is a love of music, singing and voice; an affinity with tactile things and the smooth stones and pieces of wood found and brought inside after exploring our bush environment; along with the ups and downs, and the pain and the passion that goes with it all.
Though genetic results have cleared the other two girls, the fourth daughter, was affected at birth by a knotted cord resulting in autism. However, she is bright, helpful, energetic and very fit. Her paintings have won prizes in open art exhibitions and she has sold artwork, as well as her sewing creations.
For youngest daughter Katinka, it hasn’t always been an easy road. Her support for this collection has been invaluable, playing an pivotal role it’s publication. Katinka works in Paris providing consultancy services to the design and arts secteurs.
A Children’s Hospital trained nurse, Margery’s focus over the years has been holistic health research and family care. She believes in music as therapy, has a passion for singing, and was a pupil of the late Welsh tenor David Parker.
Though known as Jill which is her middle name, the author writes as Margery Kemp in tribute to her fifteenth century namesake.
The poems are varied, strong, sensitive, often humorous and always insightful and careful. The love of family, language, music, transcendent emotion and nature are evident, and readers will enjoy discovering a little of the inner and outer life of the auther and her extraordinary and complex family.
The Journey of The Winter Rose is Margery Kemp’s fifth collection.
Born in Orange New South Wales and raised in Sydney, Margery Kemp lives with retired Radiologist husband Tim in The Channon area of the New South Wales Northern Rivers hinterland. They have raised a complex family of beautiful daughters, and the family story is woven into the writings of her poetry. A Children’s Hospital trained nurse, her focus over the years has been holistic health research and family care. She believes in music as therapy, has a passion for singing, and was a pupil of the late Welsh tenor David Parker. Though known as Jill which is her middle name, she writes as Margery Kemp in tribute to her fifteenth century namesake Margery Kempe of Lynn, who was the first woman to write an autobiography in English. The Journey of THE WINTER ROSE thoughts & rambles, is her fifth collection.
* Margery Kemp is a Children’s Hospital trained nurse. Her focus over the years has been holistic health research and family care. She believes in music as therapy, has a passion for singing, and was a pupil of the late Welsh tenor David Parker. * Margery Kemp lives with retired Radiologist husband Tim in The Channon area of the New South Wales Northern Rivers hinterland. The impetus for this collection was largely family, and the challenging journey of the diverse paths of six beautiful daughters, four of whom developed the symptoms over several years, of Rett Syndrome. Of these four, their third daughter died at sixteen, and two years later, their oldest, at twenty-two. With the other two girls affected, the next years of holistic research and implementation, strengthened their immune systems and their resilience. Though the symptoms remain, the girls are strong, mostly happy, mobile & very active. They both have a sense of humor and can be very funny. Limited language remains a frustration. Though genetic results have cleared the other two girls, their fourth daughter, was affected at birth by a knotted cord resulting in autism. However, she is bright, helpful, energetic & very fit. Her paintings have won prizes in open art exhibitions & she has sold artwork, as well as her sewing creations. For youngest daughter Katinka, it hasn’t always been an easy road. Her support for this collection has been invaluable, playing a pivotal role it’s publication. Katinka works in Paris providing consultancy services to the design and arts secateurs. Within the family there is a love of music, singing and voice; an affinity with tactile things and the smooth stones and pieces of wood found and brought inside after exploring our bush environment; along with the ups and downs, and the pain and the passion that goes with it all. * Though known as Jill which is her middle name, the author writes as Margery Kemp in tribute to her fifteenth century namesake Margery Kempe of Lynn, who was the first woman to write an autobiography in English. * Tuesday 15th October, from the following email, endorsing THE WINTER ROSE * “Many thanks for your latest ‘baby’ which I thoroughly enjoyed. Again, the poems are so varied, strong, sensitive, often humorous & always insightful & careful. Your love of family, language, music, transcendent emotion & nature are evident, & readers will enjoy discovering a little of your inner and outer life with your ‘complex’ family at The Channon. It sounds like the Kemps perfect sanctuary. For me , it helped that I knew something of your story & family eg Helen whom I remember. So, old friend, congratulations. One thought: have you ever set your verse to music? With your love of singing, it could be quite exceptional & beautiful.” Dr. Jan Roberts PhD, Historian and Publisher * A publicity and marketing campaign is currently underway using social media channels, along with submissions for review to The Weekend Australian Review amoungst others. * Competitiion submissions will commence February / March 2020.
