The Bendigo Writers Festival returns with an impressive lineup on the first weekend of May to celebrate its 13th year.
A diverse lineup of writers at this year’s event will include Tom Ballard (I, Millenial), Madelaine Lucas (Thirst for Salt), Melina Marchetta (Looking For Alibrandi), Pip Williams (The Bookbinder of Jericho), Peter Doherty (Empire, War, Tennis and Me), Sadam Abdusalam (Freeing My Family), Jess Ho (Raised By Wolves), Ghassan Hage (The Diasporic Condition) and Gabrielle Wang (Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased The Moon).
La Trobe University will present 17 events featuring writers, activists, and conversationalists such as Megan Davis, Russell Marks, Kate Auty, Helen Garner, Joelle Gergis, Tom Kennally and Christos Tsiolkas.
One of this year’s events features high-profile Castlemaine author Alex Miller discussing his most recent book A Brief Affair with ABC presenter Fiona Parker.
Miller said the festival was “one of the best in Australia” and it was the atmosphere, friendly crowds and interesting speakers that made it so appealing.
He is known for winning two Miles Franklin Awards for The Ancestor Game (1993) and Journey to the Stone Country (2003).
At the Bendigo festival, people can expect to learn more about his latest release in a relaxed setting. He will be speaking at the Old Fire Station on Friday May 5 from 2.30pm.
A range of special wordy feasts will take place in Bendigo’s iconic foodie havens – Hawker Restaurant at the Golden Dragon Museum featuring a lunch with Louisa Lim and Simon Patton, Dish It Up Brunch with award-winning author Jess Ho and an opening night Festival Banquet with Alice Zaslavsky in one of the newest foodie gems in Bendigo, Mackenzie Quarters.
In her final year at the helm, festival director Rosemary Sorensen said she had watched Bendigo grow over 13 years as a true cultural capital and a destination for writers and wordsmiths.
“While much has changed in regional Victoria, Bendigo is now – more than ever – a perfect place for such an event with its creative community and engrained arts culture,” Sorensen said.
Bendigo Writers Festival takes place at various venues across Bendigo from May 4-7.
To view the full program of events and secure your seat, visit: bendigowritersfestival.com.au
