Picture frame
The present from Krissy Kneen’s sister holds more than just a photograph of them in happier times – the power of the memory within grants it magical qualities.
Endorsed
Brain coral
Wherever Michael Sala’s family moved, a piece of coral went with them. Now he thinks of it as a map of his writer’s mind.
Bookcrossing
Ailsa Piper never thought she'd find a book deliberately left by a stranger. One day, she looked up.
Wattle
Susan Chenery sees a floral burst of Australian light in the Italian winter.
The reason I'll never throw away my Sega Mega Drive
Tech is meant to be all about the future, but I can’t help feeling nostalgic when I contemplate my ancient gaming console.
My late father's whip reminds me of the importance of kindness
Objects have little weight to me, yet when my father died, I asked for his stockwhip.
Handwriting
Handwriting is more than mere instant gratification: it is character, it is personal history.
Mix tapes
There was a time when, track by track, life moved to a different, much more intense, beat.
My wooden spoon
It’s a humble implement with, potentially, a slightly dark past, but that won’t stop me serving up a dose of praise to an old favourite.
Carols by candlelight
Dim sims. Off-key soap stars. Stilted gags from breakfast-TV hosts. The things an Aussie Christmas is made of.
My purple dress
Finding a piece of clothing that called to her at a young age has helped Anwen Crawford endure the pressures of the world.
My cup and saucer
These mass-made, dishwasher-proof pieces of china are incredibly precious.
My dinghy
It was a lucky find, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Memory vessel
Every time we see a robin now, we think of Lachlan. Perhaps that is why I chose the oval container as a vessel of memory, for the glass bird on top is a robin.