Power to the people, write on!

FIVE special guests will come together to discuss their stories of public advocacy at the Bendigo Writers Festival.

On Friday, 8 May, Golden Square Pool president and project officer of Bendigo Foodshare’s YouFoods program Sam Kane will host the panel of writers for the People Power event.

Speakers include Indigenous activist Thomas Mayor, former independent MP for the rural seat of Indi Cathy McGowan, award-winning journalist Margaret Simons and queer, disabled writer, teacher and musician Jessica Walton.

22-year-old Mr Kane said he’s been involved with the writers’ festival for many years and is keen to hosting the Friday night session at Ulumbarra Theatre.

“We’ll be exploring a lot of different topics related to grassroots led community movements and whether they make an impact in society,” he said.

“The people that I’ll be speaking to have all got different and varied backgrounds in this area about bringing people together about issues and causes they’re passionate about.

“I think it’s a fantastic festival that Bendigo puts on to bring some really wonderful internationally renowned writers and thinkers to Bendigo to explore some really wonderful topics.”

A 2019 Young Citizen of the Year awardee, Mr Kane has his own personal experience with people power as part of the successful campaign to save Golden Square Pool from closure.

“I got involved when I was 13 in that campaign, it was our local community coming together because we didn’t think it was fair that our local swimming pool was going to close,” he said.

“Throughout that journey I’ve learnt so much about myself and standing up for what I believe in and what I thought was right in society and it’s been just an incredible journey.

“I usually say that our swimming pool, now that we’ve successfully changed it, is the people’s pool.”

The Writers Festival starts tomorrow and will hold 52 events, finishing on Sunday.

“This festival I think will bring so much life and discussion and really rich conversation and I’m really thankful to be a part of it,” Mr Kane said.

For tickets to the events visit bendigowritersfestival.com.au/tickets-1.