Celebration of the written word

THEMES of change and hope resonated throughout the Bendigo Writers’ Festival over the weekend.

For Bendigo locals Giselle Lawler and Amy Rogers, the festival’s timing just before the Federal election meant their choices of sessions were somewhat influenced by politics.

“I’ve got two small kids and I’m concerned about the future so being able to go and listen to things about change and hope for the future, I really needed to hear that,” Ms Lawler said.

“[The festival] was more about the ideas, how do you create a positive political future, how do you become engaged in politics and feel empowered, rather than complaining about the current situation too much.”

Ms Rogers said the program was well curated, and especially enjoyed Friday night’s session with Thomas Mayor, Eliza Hull, Hannah Moloney, and Norman Swan hosted by Jon Faine.

“Everyone there wrote about different things, but they’ve all got a similar theme of hope, advocacy and change,” she said. “It was great.”

“I’m so glad Bendigo’s got this. I hope it never disappears and it continues to get bigger and better each year because it’s so important to have those conversations and ideas thrown around.”

Manager at Bendigo Venues and Events, Julie Amos, said she was ecstatic with the response to this year’s festival.

“It’s great to be back out after COVID, and have such a great turnout in Bendigo, and such fantastic weather for our festival.”

Ms Amos said it was good to see more venues included in the literary celebration, with sessions held at the La Trobe Art Institute, Bendigo Library, Mackenzie Quarters, the Great Stupa and even Blind Cow Pottery in Marong.

“We’ve really expanded our reach of where we’re taking our activities, just to give people a little bit different experience to previous years, and also to get around Bendigo,” she said.

Around two thirds of event goers were from Bendigo, with three per cent coming from interstate and the remaining from metropolitan Melbourne and elsewhere in Victoria.

Ms Amos said the festival’s theme of flourish is an apt descriptor for Bendigo’s events scene, with bumper crowds again turning out for the Elvis exhibition and View Street traders benefiting from a busy autumn weekend.