Who is Abel Crossley Wise?
I’m 12. I am a friend. I am a sibling. I am a middle child. I am artistic, creative and kind.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I love my life now, and wouldn’t want to do it differently. I get to go overseas with my family – we’re going to India at the end of this year. I love doing dance and performing arts, so I’d keep doing that.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I would want to bring climate change much closer to a finish – Stop big fossil fuel.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Probably Vietnam because the street food there was really good – bowls of pho on the side of the street. Lots of cool places. It’s just really cool. Australia is quite organized. In Vietnam, the cars and motorbikes just always go, there is no stopping.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Exploring the city – roaming around. Staying in a hotel. Art gallery. All the time, different exhibitions, walking along the Merri Creek, summer because it’s hot. Brunswick – I live very close to four different ice cream shops: A Little Room for Ice Cream, Luther Scoops, Ice Cream Central, Bico – the brown butter cheesecake at Luther Scoops is my favourite. We have a beach house in Torquay so that’s special to go to, and my grandparents live near the Dandenong Ranges. But mostly we just hang out at Barkly Square Woolworths.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished What Once Was Mine – Rapunzel with a twist – Rapunzel’s mother drank from the wrong flower which gave Rapunzel entirely different powers – on a new moon she could kill things, on a full moon she could heal. I love the graphic novels. I really love the Heartstopper series. They feel quite comforting. The characters felt real. They all were properly different from each other. Brunswick Bound is my favourite bookshop.
What are you currently listening to?
WATCHING: Right now, I’ve started watching Nancy Drew. I quite like it. The Simpsons, 34 seasons, all us siblings are watching it from the beginning. But we had to take a break so I started Nancy Drew in between.
Happiness is?
To me is, people getting along, being content with what they’re doing, what they’ve done. The exact perfect happy moment would be being at my friend’s for a sleepover watching a move, laughing, eating chips or popcorn.
What does the future hold for you?
High school. Then a stage actor. I don’t ‘mind what, just a big theatre that people know, and show that people wat to book in to see. I just want to be on the stage.
Abel is a member of the By Kids for Kids Collective who plan to shake up ArtPlay – Birrarung Marr, Melbourne, this July to deliver Don’t Panic, Everything Is Urgent. For more information, visit: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: Abel Crossley Wise – photo by Theresa Harrison