In Conversation with Jane Cafarella

‘Cleaved’ is a story of coping with difference; of identity, family, and belonging. It is Jane’s story of growing up with Milroy’s disease, a rare form of the incurable swelling disease lymphoedema, and how she came to be estranged from her family of origin for most of her adult life.

It is honest, moving and at times, raw but at its core it is a beautifully crafted story of survival in a world of challenges and hard knocks.

Jane Cafarella is, and always has been, a wonderful storyteller. ‘Cleaved’ is her story.

Jane Cafarella is an Australian playwright and former journalist and cartoonist whose work has been widely published in Australia and overseas and whose plays have been performed nationally and internationally. Her cartoon archive is held at the State Library of Victoria.

During her 10 years at Melbourne’s The Age newspaper, Jane wrote and edited the popular Accent section, which focused on women’s issues, and for many years wrote the beloved columns A New Life Journal and Family Postcard.

What she didn’t write about was growing up with Milroy’s disease, a rare form of the incurable swelling disease lymphoedema – and how she came to be estranged from her family of origin for most of her adult life.