StoryFest

In their latest novels, Charlotte McConaghy and Kate Mildenhall have imagined the future. One where climate change has resulted in mass extinctions of threatened species. The other, an Australia ruled by the ominously named The Department which tracks every move you make. They are both novels that ask questions about love, loyalty and what drives us to commit desperate acts. Join them as they discuss what setting a novel in the future allows a storyteller to do and the attraction of speculating about how the world might be.

BRAZEN HUSSIES reveals a revolutionary chapter in Australian history, when the bold women of the Women's Liberation Movement reignited Australia’s feminist revolution. Interweaving freshly uncovered archival footage, personal photographs, memorabilia and lively personal accounts from activists, BRAZEN HUSSIES shows us how a daring and diverse group of women joined forces to defy the status quo, demand equality and create profound social change - contributing to one of the greatest social movements of the 20th Century. Following the screening, producer Sue Maslin joins Jane Caro in a conversation exploring  why it was so important to make this documentary now and what it says about the current state of feminism in this country.

SHOW NOTES

Charles Massy OAM gained a Bachelor of Science (Zoology, Human Ecology) at ANU, before going farming for 35 years, developing the prominent Merino sheep stud ‘Severn Park’. Concern at ongoing land degradation and humanity’s sustainability challenge saw him return to ANU to undertake a PhD in Human Ecology. Using his personal farming experience as a touchstone, Call of the Reed Warbler tells the real story behind industrial agriculture and the global profit-obsessed corporations driving it. Massy shows how innovative farmers are finding a new way, regenerating their land and witnessing astounding transformations that evidence the vital connection between our soil and our health. Since his 2020 appearance on the ABC program, Australian Story, Massy has reached an even broader audience. In his own words, "What was once sort of regarded as a fringe insurgent movement is now gathering mainstream power. " Charles Massy will be discussing his life’s work with science writer and  journalist, Jane McCredie.

Craig Silvey is the author of the bestselling multi-award winning novel,  Jasper Jones. Released in 2009, it went on to be turned into an acclaimed play and film. 

His third novel, Honeybee, was published in 2020 and has already won legions of fans. Honeybee is a heartbreaking, life-affirming novel that throws readers headlong  into a world of petty thefts, extortion plots, botched bank robberies, daring dog rescues and one spectacular drag show. It has garnered recognition from the independent booksellers market, winning the  prestigious 2021 Indie Book Award for Fiction.  

Join Craig Silvey as he discusses the inspiration behind Honeybee and find out how he created two such vivid and heartwarming characters in Sam and Vic.

In her debut novel, The Dressmaker, Rosalie Ham introduced the world to the outback town Dungatar with its eccentric residents, petty  politics and haute couture through the wonderful character, Tilly Dunnage. It became an international bestseller and its reputation cemented with the release of the film of the same name. But what  happened to Tilly after she left town remained an unanswered question. That is, until last year with the release of The Dressmaker's Secret. Find out why Rosalie Ham wrote a sequel to her famous book, what challenges that posed and why she thinks these characters have lived on in readers’ memories.

Freedom of expression is often touted as the right of individuals to espouse publicly views that were once held privately. No more so than in times where social media has dominated the public conversation on everything from sexuality, race, religion, politics and monarchy. But what responsibilities are inherent in the phrase ‘free speech’ and how hard is it to put the truth at the centre of the public discourse?

Artists: Malcolm Knox, Nikki Gemmell, David Hunt
Host: Wendy Harmer

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Storyfest

Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram - @storyfestinc

The Golden Maze - Richard Fidler in conversation with Nicole Abadee

Richard Fidler first visited Prague in 1989, the moment in history when the decrepit police state was being overthrown by its people in what became known as the Velvet Revolution. The experience never left him. Thirty years later, Fidler returned to Prague to uncover the glorious and grotesque history of Europe's most instagrammed and uncanny city. And, in his inimitable style, he has brought story and history together in a personally curated history of one of the world’s most magical cities, Prague. Beloved ABC broadcaster and bestselling author of Ghost Empire and Saga Land, Richard Fidler joins Nicole Abadee in conversation about his passion for Prague and his passion for story.

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If you had asked most people before covid hit our shores, they would have told you there was no way that school children could shift overnight to online learning; that it was impossible for banks to offer mortgage holidays; impossible to double unemployment benefits; impossible to house rough sleepers or put a hold on evictions; impossible to offer wages subsidies and definitely impossible to get Australians to stay home from the beach and the pub. But we did it.

In Upturn Tanya Plibersek has brought together some of the country's most interesting thinkers who are ready to imagine a better Australia, and to fight for it. It is a compelling vision for a stronger economy, a fairer society and a more environmentally sustainable future. Tanya Plibersek joins Jane Caro in a conversation exploring the possibilities and opportunities created in and by adversity.

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In a live version of his popular 2017 TedX talk, The Art of Forgetting, David Hunt argues that in order for Australia to understand who we are, we must embrace the good and bad in our history.

David is the author of the bestselling, award-winning, Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia and the sequel, True Girt. He writes regularly about Australia’s past for the national newspapers and talks about the same on radio and in his podcast Rum, Rebels and Ratbags. He is also the presenter for Foxtel History Channel’s 2019 documentary series, Aussie Inventions That Changed the World.

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Storyfest

Naturalist, poet and seasoned bushwalker John Blay worked for over a decade to uncover the Bundian Way, a 380-kilometre ancient pathway from Mount Kosciuszko to the New South Wales far south coast, used by both the Aboriginal people of the area and the earliest British arrivals. John collaborated with the Eden Aboriginal Land Council to survey and researching the history of the ancient pathway. Thanks to their efforts, today the Bundian Way is heritage listed. But what is it about the Bundian Way that makes it less like a walk and more like a pilgrimage? Hosted by Inga Simpson

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They call it the Sandwich Generation. Adult children juggling children of their own, work and ageing parents. In her latest book, journalist Amal Awad reveals society’s discomfort with the stark realities of ageing, disease and death in a culture that celebrates eternal youth. As a GP, Joanna Nell knows only too well what ageing looks like. Drawing on personal experience, these two writers share insights into what we are facing as our parents age, as we age, and how to navigate that path with compassion and humour. Hosted by Pamela Cook.

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David Hunt’s narration of Girt is one of Audible Australia's bestselling audio books of all time. Rolling Stone declared his Australian history podcast, Rum, Rebels & Ratbags, one of 2016’s hottest podcasts. Katherine Collette documented her path to publication in The First Time Podcast. Allison Tait is co-host, of the top-rating podcast So You Want To Be A Writer. Join them as they discuss why the publishing industry is no longer just about printing books and why we're turning to sound. Hosted by Pamela Cook.

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In this chat with Caroline Baum, Emily Maguire talks about love and family, betrayal and forgiveness, and the things we do to fill our empty spaces.

About Love Objects...

Nic is a forty-five-year-old trivia buff, amateur nail artist and fairy godmother to the neighbourhood's stray cats. She's also the owner of a decade's worth of daily newspapers, enough clothes and shoes to fill Big W three times over and a pen collection which, if laid end-to-end, would probably circle her house twice. Every Sunday, she meets her beloved niece Lena for lunch. Except for one Sunday when Nic fails to show up. Worried, Lena goes to Nic’s house to see if her aunt is all right and gets the shock of her life.

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Storyfest

Born in the 50s and 60s, they faced the future armed with the pill, free education and the chance to earn their own paycheque. But it's been a long row to hoe and there's still plenty of work to do to make this a better, fairer world. Join Jane Caro in conversation with Meredith Jaffe as they discuss Jane’s book "Accidental Feminists" -  the story of a generation of women who unintentionally changed the world.

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The Opening Night event at StoryFest 2021 featured the inaugural Garry Evans Memorial Address, delivered by StoryFest patron and international bestselling author, Markus Zusak.

In the spirit of the late, great Garry Evans - South Coast bookseller, publisher, and booklover extraordinaire - Markus spoke about and read from the books that opened up entire new worlds, and made him want to be a writer.

Introduction by David Hunt.

Content Warning: Contains swearing.

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Storyfest

Welcome to the Storyfest Podcast where you can hear recordings of the thought-provoking, inspiring and sometimes hilarious sessions from StoryFest, a biennial storytelling festival held in the Milton-Mollymook-Ulladulla region on the NSW south coast. 

In this episode, literary superstar Markus Zusak chats with Suzanne Leal about his career, love of the south coast and writing his most recent bestselling novel "Bridge of Clay."

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Storyfest