Welcome to Issue 66 of our journal

La Notte (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1961)

This issue of Senses is dedicated to the memory of Nicola White (1964-2013). Nicola – or “Nicki” as she was affectionately known to friends and colleagues – joined Senses in 2010 in the role of Manager of the journal, a position she fulfilled with great professionalism and integrity over the course of the few years she administered the role. She joined Senses at a time of organizational flux, and, though managing the various sectors which make up our little organization could not have been easy, one rarely heard a word of complaint from her.

Though Nicki’s official stay with the journal was relatively brief, she was already known to the Senses team long beforehand having been a fixture within the landscape of local film culture for many years. One was likely to see Nicki at all the principal events that mattered, whether it be the Melbourne Cinémathèque, the Melbourne International Film Festival, or assorted screenings at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Nicki had worked in independent exhibition and distribution for many years, most particularly with Potential Films, one of the more adventurous and eclectic Australian distributors of art house films.

An intensely private and unassuming person, little did we know that when she stepped down from her position at Senses that there were health issues in the background that had obviously swayed her decision. Therefore it came as a shock when news filtered through that her health had dramatically deteriorated. The tragic news of her passing reached us while this issue was in preparation, and it seems only fitting the editorial team (inclusive of past colleagues such as former Book Reviews editor Fincina Hopgood, who had worked closely with Nicki) dedicate the issue to our friend and former colleague.

Our heart felt condolences to her family. She will be missed. R.I.P.

Rolando Caputo