SHwf 2015 Gallery
The 2015 Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival spanned from April to July, starting with a program launch in April, as well as sessions at the Sydney Writer’s Festival in the Highlands with Tara Moss and Blanche d’Alpuget. The main festival, from the 10th - 12th July started on the Friday with a special Kid’s Day, featuring author R.A. Spratt and a creative writing workshop with Lisa Forrest, as well an exclusive screening of the film Partisan, along with an interview with the film’s director and co-writer, Ariel Kleiman.
The festival featured some more of Australia’s greatest writers, thinkers and performers including Emily Bitto, Pamela Cook, Robert Dessaix, Geraldine Doogue, Lindsay Drummond, Matthew Gibbs, Malcolm Knox, David Marr, Kevin Parker, Michael Parker, Diana Thompson, Don Watson, Edwina Wyatt and Peter Yeldham.
A shout-out to our official photographers Brian Rapsey and James Norton for capturing the Festival so beautifully. Enjoy the photos from this year.
Wednesday 22 April
Program Launch
At the program launch, we announced the lineup for the Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival in July and the Sydney Writers Festival in the Highlands in May. Michaela also performed an excerpt from Victoria Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own.
swf in the highlands - Sunday 24 May
Tara Moss
Tara Moss is a multi-award winning author, model, TV presenter, journalist and advocate for the rights of women and children. She discussed her bestselling memoir, The Fictional Women, with Lisa Forrest.
Blanche d’Alpuget
Blanche d’Alpuget spoke with Jenny Strachan about her life, creative process, and her journey as a writer, especially her Plantagenet-inspired fiction. Blanche is an award-winning author, essayist, and the wife of Australia’s longest serving Labor Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.
SHWF - Friday 10 July
An awesome adventure - R.A. Spratt
Kids of all ages spoke to R.A. Spratt about her highly successful series: Friday Barnes and Nanny Piggins. R.A. Spratt is a bestselling children’s book author based out of Bowral.
Creative Kids - Lisa Forrest
A YA author and Olympic swimmer, Lisa Forrest inspired young student writers between Years 5 and 6 in a practical creative writing workshop.
partisan - a film by Ariel Kleiman
For the opening night event, festival-goers were presented with an exclusive screening of the film, Partisan.
Before the viewing, director and screenwriter Ariel Kleiman spoke in a prerecorded interview on his motivations and vision of his debut film in a unique introduction to the show.
Saturday 11 July
Robert Dessaix
Robert Dessaix is one of Australia’s finest writers. In this session, he explored the importance of memoir itself, while he discussed his new book, What Days Are For. Robert was interviewed by Daniel Fudge.
Conversations to have with your kids - Michael Parker
Principal of Oxley College and author Michael Parker discussed how to develop the next generation to be ethical thinkers and decent members of society. Michael was interviewed by William Verity.
Don Watson
Most Australians live in cities and cling to the coastal fringe, yet our sense of what an Australian is – or should be – is drawn from the vast and varied inland called the bush. But what do we mean by 'the bush', and how has it shaped us? Author, script and speechwriter Don Watson discussed this topic with Jenny Strachan.
Malcolm knox
What's the worst thing that can happen to a man with three secret families? He falls in love. The Wonder Lover is a stunning new novel by author Malcolm Knox that magnificently confirms him as one of our brightest literary stars. Malcolm was interviewed by William Verity.
David Marr
David Marr is one of Australia’s most esteemed journalists, authors and progressive political and social commentators. Lisa Forrest spoke with David on his thoughts, writings and creative process.
Literary Dinner
With Chef Richard Kemp & Journalist Geraldine Doogue
Dinner was served at Berrima’s one-hatted restaurant, Eschalot, in their E2 Events private dining room, prepared by chef Richard Kemp and accompanying wines from Cuttaway Hill Estate. Richard opened the restaurant in 2003, where he passionately creates a “true Highlands experience. The renowned guest of honor was Australian journalist and broadcaster Geraldine Doogue. Chatting with Lucy Palmer, she discussed how women in Australia are represented in the top levels of power.
Sunday 12 July
Peter Yeldham
Peter Yeldham discussed his latest novel, Above the Fold, in addition to his fascinating and extensive writing career: scripts for award-winning miniseries including 1915 and All the Rivers Run, as well as his Logie award-winning adaptation of Bryce Courtenay's novel Jessica.
Pamela Cook
Set around the south coast of NSW, Pamela Cook’s books have strong female characters, tangled family relationships, horses and always a touch of romance. Pamela discussed her third novel, Close to Home, which released just in time for the 2015 SHWF.
The bard lands: Shakespeare’s (Imagined) journeys to Italy - Matthew Gibbs
As far as we know, William Shakespeare never left England, yet spent a lot of imaginary time visiting other worlds, particularly Italy. Matthew Gibbs explored the Bard’s love for the lands and legends of the classics.
Diana Thompson
Diana Thompson’s debut novel Wintersflood’s Passion is set in the Southern Highlands, and was launched at the 2015 SHWF. The SHWF team affectionately dubbed the book ‘The Bowral bodice-ripper’.
Edwina Wyatt
Lawyer and children’s book author Edwina Wyatt officially launched her book, In the Evening at the 2015 SHWF. The book was illustrated by Gaye Chapman.
Emily Bitto - 2015 Stella Prize Winner
The Stella Prize is a major literary award celebrating Australian women’s writing, named after one of Australia’s iconic female authors, Stella Maria ‘Miles’ Franklin. As the final session, Jenny Strachan interviewed 2015 Stella Prize winner Emily Bitto, on her debut novel, The Strays.
Festival wrap
Singer-songwriter-author Lindsay Drummond closed out the 2015 SHWF with the launch of her memoir, Finding The Ferryman: One Songwriter's Lyrical Life. She performed some of her original songs.
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to the wonderful teams from the Empire Cinemas, Bowral and the Bradman Museum, we couldn't have done it without you.
A huge thank you to our Festival Partners including: Creative & Co, Highlife Magazine, 97.3 ABC Illawarra, Southern Highland News, the Bookshop Bowral, Gibraltar Hotel, Empire Cinemas, Highland Printing, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, University of Wollongong Southern Highlands, Alexandra Springett, Cuttaway Hill, King Computers, Fine Fish Music, ADFAS, Rob & Paula McLean, and The Pulse. Without your generosity, kindness and support the Festival could not continue.
Finally the biggest, most heartfelt thanks to my amazing little team of volunteers, James Norton (my incredible Art Director and 2IC), Saneia Norton (my brilliant Front of House Manager), Kylie Matthews and of course my mum and dad Roz and Len - you make the Festival a reality! Thank you for your time and extraordinary expertise in making the SHWF so unique, along with your grace and sensational good senses of humour!