mildura writers festival 19 - 22 JULY 2012 cover artwork - featuring local artists WELCOMES There is an old usage of the word our literary commonwealth. In The Mildura Writers Festival has However special mention ‘festival’ that means to be glad, remaining small and intimate, our always been one of the highlights in should go to Arts Victoria, joyful or merry, and with that sense festival enlarges the opportunity my ‘cultural’ year. Inevitably it brings LaTrobe University in mind we welcome you to these, for that genial interchange between old friends to stay at our home and and the Mildura our festival days. Once again far- people that can be so satisfying and opportunities to make new friends at Rural City Council. flung writers descend upon - or so favorable to creative endeavors. the various events. This year the festival drive up to Mildura, this heart and We hope you can take full advantage that commenced in 1994 enters it’s See you there. homeland of fine writing, fine talk, of the rich program we have on offer eighteenth year a truly remarkable effort and fine food. Since its inception in this year, and we look forward to by all those volunteers, authors, poets Ross Lake 1995, the Mildura Writers Festival joining you in these glad, joyful and directors who have contributed Chairman, Arts Mildura has become synonymous with and merry days ahead. to its long term success. We have hospitality and conviviality, as continued the tradition of making the Robert Watson writers and readers come together Paul Kane festival a convivial occasion, combining Winter 2010 to share the uncommon abundance Artistic Director food and writing at many events. This Medium: Etching Dimensions: 48.5 x 42.5 cm year we are delighted to announce the return of Barry Hill, Peter Robb and This print is from a series based on John Wolesely amongst a number of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. visitor information packages It is my visual interpretation of the words. Freecall 1800 039 043 or visit Festival Package $310 others. Can I encourage you to explore the program to discover all our visiting I have given a contemporary twist to the www.visitmildura.com.au (over 15% saving) 14 events including writers and book early as many events character whilst remaining true to the 1 breakfast, 3 lunches & 2 dinners original spirit of the play. Robert was a finalist tickets > book online now will sell out promptly. As always we in the Rick Amor Print Prize, Montsalvat 2011 www.artsmildura.com.au Saturday at La Trobe Package $60 have many loyal and long serving with this print. Robert is represented by the Festival Office (03) 5022 9542 Includes 6 sessions plus lunch sponsors and supporters all of whom Art Vault, Mildura. Mildura Arts Centre (03) 5018 8330 are acknowledged herein. There will be a raffle held during Mildura Visitor Information Centre the festival with Roberts work 1800 039 043 being the major prize. 1 philip hodgins memorial dinner opening A regional dinner featuring local produce Medal Winners saturday presented by Peter Webley- description to 1997 Bruce Dawe night > an come 1998 Kate Jennings festival evening with 1999 Alan Gould 2000 Peter Porter dinner liz moore Awarded annually to an Australian 2001 Carmel Bird writer whose work best reflects the high 2002 Chris Wallace - Crabbe A regional dinner prepared by esteemed Jim was born and raised in Mildura and Liz Moore, American writer, musician and standards and distinguished literary 2003 Clive James local chef & teacher Peter Webley in the completed his apprenticeship at The teacher, interviewed by Morag Fraser, a accomplishments that Philip Hodgins 2004 Luke Davies beautiful setting of Gallery 25 Grand Hotel in 2003. He then went on Miles Franklin Literary Award judge and consistently advocated and exemplified in 2005 Judith Beveridge to work as head chef at the Spanish Bar chair of the Australian Book Review. his poetry. The new 2012-15 judge is Chris 2006 Stephen Edgar Guest authors will speak throughout the and Grill. Upon moving to Melbourne in Wallace-Crabbe who will select the winner 2007 Inga Clendinnen night telling a story relating to Infamous or 2006, Jim worked at Vue de Monde for Through a special arrangement with who will be presented with a unique 2008 Sonya Hartnett famous couplings in the literary world. three years, including one year as sous the U.S. Consulate, Liz Moore comes medal created by Mildura artist Jim Curry 2009 Peter Steele Featuring special guest Joe Dolce chef. He then opened Bennett’s 401 on to Mildura as the exclusive guest of the and a cash prize of $3000. The evening 2010 Don Watson St Kilda Road as head chef where he Writers Festival. One of America’s young includes an interview with and reading 2011 Gail Jones Having worked at Shannon Bennett’s worked for almost acclaimed novelists, she is the author of by the winner and readings of Philip 2012 Robert Gray three-hat restaurant Vue de Monde and two years. two celebrated novels: The Words of Every Hodgins’ poetry by his daughters by Café Vue 401 over the past five years, Jim Song (which Roddy Doyle described as Anna and Helen Hodgins has created a four-course menu influenced 7 FOR 7.30PM “remarkable, elegant, wise, and beautifully by French cooking techniques.The menu SATURDAY 20 JULY constructed”) and, this year, Heft (deemed 7.30PM is predominantly produce driven and uses Quality Hotel Mildura Grand Ballroom “beautiful…stunningly sad and heroically FRIDAY 20 JULY quality ingredients cooked with simple (Arts Mildura accommodation partner) hopeful” by O, The Oprah Magazine). Liz Stefano’s Gallery 25 techniques to showcase each component Cnr Seventh St & Langtree Ave, Mildura will discuss her work with Morag Fraser, 25 Deakin Ave, Mildura within the dish. Comprised of interesting Some Chalmers Wine provided, other and take questions from the audience. Wine provided by Chalmers Wines, and exciting combinations as well as drinks at bar prices 7.30PM other drinks at bar prices familiar elements, the menu has been put Tickets TALKING DIFFERENCE CHAMPI THURSDAY 19 JULY Seats are limited so book early together to take you through a journey of Mildura Club Cnr Deakin Ave & Ninth St Tickets $75pp the senses. 2 Tickets $15 /$ 10 3 FRIDAY 20 JULY on Eliza Emily Donnithorne, long SATURDAY 21 JULY figures and past luminaries, from Julian 4:00 - 5:30PM between fiction and history that this 9 - 11.30AM considered the model for Charles 8.30AM - 5.30PM Assange to Caravaggio, from Peter Carey Ekphrasis: Poems and writing entails. Drusilla Modjeska, one of Professor George Russell Dickens’s bizarre character Miss A day at La Trobe University to Pasolini. Pictures Together Australia’s most acclaimed essayists and English Workshops in Schools Havisham in Great Expectations. (Arts Mildura higher education partner) Barry Hill and John Wolesley nonfiction authors, has won numerous The Guardian in the UK calls Brian Grogan Theatre, Benetook Ave 12.30PM Since the time of Homer, poets have awards for her non-fiction, as well as an 12 - 2.30PM Evelyn’s work “enthralling.” Tickets All sessions $10 tickets at the door Picnic Lunch $17.50 (pre orders only) written vividly about art. Together, in Australian Literature Society Gold Medal. The Wheeler Centre and Package Deal $60 all sessions & lunch Lines for Birds: Poems & Paintings, Mildura Arts Centre present: The Setts Cnr Orange Ave & Eighth St 1.30 - 2.30PM Barry Hill and John Wolesley continue Brian Grogan Theatre, Benetook Ave A Conversation with Anna Goldsworthy, Tickets $15 / $10 conc 8.30 - 9.30AM Poetry: Les Murray & Quadrant, this ancient tradition in an unusual Free event interviewed by Michael Williams, Director VCE Workshops Barry Hill & Lucian Freud collaboration, with astonishing of The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing 4 - 5PM Poems of Gwen Harwood Les Murray, often considered the unofficial paintings of birds by Wolesley 12.30PM and Ideas. Anna Goldsworthy, a classical Antipodean Perspectives Frankenstein by Mary Shelley poet laureate of Australia, discusses his matched with dazzling poems by Hill. Festival Finale Slow Lunch pianist and a founding member of the Peter Vale, a prominent South African latest anthology, The Quadrant Book of Facilitator: Tina Kane. Description to come Seraphim Trio, as well as the author of the public intellectual and journalist, who 10.00 - 11.00AM Poetry. There will be presentations of a award-winning memoir, Piano Lessons, held the Nelson Mandela Chair of Hour with Philip Hodgins Memorial number of the poems from the book, and 7 FOR 7.30PM Langtree Ave Mildura will talk with Michael Williams and perform Politics at Rhodes University, joins Medal Winner Robert Gray a reading by Les of his own work. Barry Festival Dinner (See page 4) Tickets 60pp music from the book following lunch. the Thesis Eleven Centre from Robert Gray with Chris Wallace-Crabbe Hill’s latest book is Naked Clay: Drawing Grand Ballroom Seventh St & Deakin Ave (includes a glass of Chalmers Wine) La Trobe University in an innovative Two of Australia’s most prominent and from Lucian Freud, hailed as “illuminating, Tickets $85pp The Setts Cnr Orange Ave & Eighth St presentation on the patterns of popular poets will engage in conversation expansive and profound.” Tickets $35 everyday life. Peter Vale will be about the art of poetry, with readings by Facilitator: Paul Kane. SUNDAY 22 JULY joined by Peter Beilhartz, Trevor Robert Gray from his acclaimed work. 11AM 2.45 - 3.45PM Hogan, Neil Fettling, Sian Supski Gray is the recipient of numerous major 2.30 - 3.30PM La Trobe University Lecture Series Real Stories and Chris Ellem in a wide-ranging literary awards for his poems and for his Prose: Liz Moore & Drusilla Modjeska Drusilla Modjeska Evelyn Juers in conversation with and provocative look at the daily memoir, The Land I Came Through Last.