Helen Garner to headline Word For Word

AUSTRALIAN author Helen Garner has been revealed as the star attraction at this year’s Word for Word National Non-Fiction Festival in Geelong.

The award-winning author will return to her hometown of Geelong to headline the opening night event at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, which is expected to sell out.

“We are excited to be bringing Helen Garner back to her home town and are grateful to Deakin University’s School of Communication and Creative Arts for partnering with us to present this Opening Night special event, which will feature Ms Garner in conversation with Deakin University’s Associate Professor Maria Takolander,” Word for Word Festival Advisory Committee chair Cr Margot Smith said.

“Also taking place on the night will be the announcement of the winner of the 2018 Scribe Non-fiction Prize for Young Writers, who will be invited to present a short reading from their winning piece at the event.”

Garner was born in Geelong and attended Manifold Heights State School, Ocean Grove State School and then The Hermitage Girls’ Grammar School in Geelong before leaving at the age of 18 to study at the University of Melbourne. She is an award-winning novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist and her books include Monkey Grip, The Children’s Bach, The Spare Room and This House of Grief.

Now into its fifth year, Word for Word is Australia’s only non-fiction festival and is presented in partnership with Geelong Regional Library Corporation, the City of Greater Geelong and Deakin University.

This year’s festival will run from November 16-18, with 76 speakers across 45 individual sessions, including masterclasses, forums, keynote addresses and panel discussions.

“Presenters include distinguished advocate for Indigenous Australia Professor Marcia Langton, six-time Walkley Award winner Kerry O’Brien, feminist icon Clementine Ford, renowned historian Peter Cochrane, and writer and actor William McInnes,” Cr Smith said, adding that the theme for this year was “Get Real”.

“We are aiming to facilitate robust, hard-hitting and frank discussions on a wide range of topics including racism, asylum seekers, social justice, Indigenous issues, true crime, artificial intelligence, memoir and so much more.”

For tickets and more information, head to wordforwordfestival.com.au.