Join us for the launch of the Ignite Young Minds anthology. Created with school aged children across our region and facilitated by the ever-vibrant Melaina Faranda. This event is culmination of a lot of hard work from these bright young sparks and is the type of community focused event that Kyogle Readers & Writers loves to bring to our town.
Everyone has a story to tell but not everyone is brave enough to share it with a wide audience. Join us for some of the most remarkable life-stories you will ever here on our main stage in a panel that reflects the changing face of Australia. Featuring the fascinating Hani Abdile, Jessie Cole and David Kelly. This event will inform and surprise.
This event will be hosted by SCU’s Aidan Coleman.
UPDATE: unfortunately Daniel is no longer able to make it today. Fortunately Melissa Lucashenko has graciously stepped in to interview Nam in his place.
Nam Le is one of Australia’s most accomplished and skillful writers. His debut work, ‘The Boat,’ has received numerous major national and international prizes, including the Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Award. Nam returns with his latest poetry collection ‘36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem.’ Nam will appear in conversation with Daniel Browning. Daniel is one of Australia’s most beloved broadcasters and author of the excellent collection of essay ‘Close to the Subject: Selected Essays’ which won the 2024 Prime Ministers Prize for Non-Fiction.
The Northern Rivers is a hotbed of emerging literary talent. Come along and catch three debutantes: Maggie Waters, Sharlene Allsop and Annika Johannson who will take you on a journey through the creation of their wonderful works. This event will be hosted by the always fun Angela Catterns from ABC local radio.
Professor Peter Greste is an award-winning journalist and foreign correspondent who spent 25 years working for the BBC, Reuters and Al Jazeera in some of the world’s most volatile places. From Afghanistan to Latin American, Africa and the Middle East, he reported from the frontlines and beyond, although he is best known for becoming a headline himself, when he and two of his colleagues were arrested in Cairo while working for Al Jazeera and charged with terrorism offences. Peter’s excellent book ‘The Correspondent’ has just been re-released and is now a major film. Peter will be joined on stage by Byron Writers Festival founder, and genial host Chris Hanley.
Join us for our ever-popular spoken word event Page and Stage. Hosted by Northern Rivers poet Vincent Stead, this event will surprise and entertain in equal measure, featuring poets such as Matt Hetherington, Angela Szczotko, and J.C. This event will also feature poems from our annual poetry competition. With 150 entries from some of Australia’s top poets, the audience can expect amazing wordplay on the 2025 theme ‘Life Changing’. This event will also feature an open mic portion and budding poets are invited to sign up on the night to share some of their favourite poetry.
Who doesn’t like silly trivia and good music?
Join us for the always fun community event at the Kyogle Golf Club as we sign off on another great festival. Featuring everyone’s favourite trivia team Odette Nettleton and the musical stylings of Thor and Jasmine Phillips.
We promise lots of laughter and dancing.