Personal stories

Often, the most powerful stories are also the most personal. At this year’s festival, writers with very different life experiences will be joining us to speak about some of their most significant personal experiences.

Come and listen to literary veteran Tom Keneally as he looks back on a life-long career of writing, hear Nikki Gemmell speak about her mother’s death and the complexities of their relationship (After), and join Caroline Baum as she reflects on growing up as the only child of parents damaged by tragedy (Only). Caroline will also join  Jane Caro, Leah Kaminsky and Susan Wyndham, examining with facilitator Nicole Abadee what it means to rebel as a daughter and ultimately find your own place in the world (Rebellious Daughters).

We’re also looking forward to George Gittoes discussing his life and work as a visual artist bearing witness to the horrors of war (Blood Mystic) and to Nick Gleeson, blind since the age of seven, will revisit his childhood and his career as a paralympic athlete, adventurer and motivational speaker (The Many Ways of Seeing). Nick will be joined by former international model Cassie Lane, who will reveal her personal experience of the supposedly-glamorous fashion industry (How to Dress a Dummy). Finally, environmentalist and adventurer Huw Kingston will reflect on what drives him to such physical challenges as his most recent journey, circumnavigating the Mediterranean by kayak (Mediterranean: A year around a charmed and troubled sea).

Come and hear their stories.