FIVE special guests will come together to discuss their stories of public advocacy at the Bendigo Writers Festival.<\/p>\n
On Friday, 8 May, Golden Square Pool president and project officer of Bendigo Foodshare\u2019s YouFoods program Sam Kane will host the panel of writers for the People Power event.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
22-year-old Mr Kane said he\u2019s been involved with the writers\u2019 festival for many years and is keen to hosting the Friday night session at Ulumbarra Theatre.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be exploring a lot of different topics related to grassroots led community movements and whether they make an impact in society,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people that I\u2019ll be speaking to have all got different and varied backgrounds in this area about bringing people together about issues and causes they\u2019re passionate about.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got involved when I was 13 in that campaign, it was our local community coming together because we didn\u2019t think it was fair that our local swimming pool was going to close,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout that journey I\u2019ve learnt so much about myself and standing up for what I believe in and what I thought was right in society and it\u2019s been just an incredible journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI usually say that our swimming pool, now that we\u2019ve successfully changed it, is the people\u2019s pool.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Writers Festival starts tomorrow and will hold 52 events, finishing on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis festival I think will bring so much life and discussion and really rich conversation and I\u2019m really thankful to be a part of it,\u201d Mr Kane said.<\/p>\n