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The 2019 Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival has wrapped up after an overwhelmingly popular response to its program of ‘wild, weird and wonderful’ stories.

The 11th annual festival started spectacularly as former broadcaster and radio personality Verity James MC’d the festival launch which was headlined by writer, contrarian, activist and feminist, Professor Germaine Greer. Wadandi Cultural Custodian Iszaac Webb had the audience enthralled – as well as many of the headline guests it seemed – as he welcomed festival guests to Wadandi Boodja.

The festival drew sell-out crowds to most events on Saturday and Sunday, including those of Professor Greer and Australian icon Michael Leunig, with people coming from Perth and other parts of WA to experience the event, as well as a strong cohort of locals.

Festival Creative Director Tanya Perdue said she and Event Manager Michelle Wright enjoyed staging the event and seeing it all come together. “There were fits of laughter from the crowd any time William McInnes took the stage and perhaps more laughter than may have been expected in some of Germaine Greer’s sessions – along with a dose of controversy of course,” Ms Perdue said. “There was admiration for Michael Leunig’s uncanny ability to change the emotion of a character with a single stroke of his pen and tears as local writer Tom de Souza and Dr Gregory Peel Smith from NSW, shared their deeply personal stories and their aspirations for the future.”

‘We have been fortunate to retain local support while also garnering a bigger and better reputation further afield, putting the event firmly on the literary festival circuit. There was a fabulous buzz – and there is already huge anticipation for next year’s festival,” she said.

The festival continues this week as the Young Readers & Writers Program tours authors to schools in the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and the City of Busselton to inspire a love of reading and writing in young people. Children’s authors Cristy Burne and Kylie Howarth will also appear for a free book signing event at the Margaret River Bookshop after school on Wednesday 15th May at 3.30pm – all are welcome.

Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival is proudly presented by Arts Margaret River Inc.

Image credit: Michelle Troop

The Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival is soon to kick off with a range of ‘wild, weird and wonderful’ stories in line with this year’s theme. Festival Creative Director Tanya Perdue has shared with us some fabulous events happening at the Voyager Estate festival hub, as well as an exclusive Cape Lodge dinner you won’t want to miss out on, and free events for the whole family.

The Writers’ Room at Voyager Estate has some fabulous local writers with some amazing stories to tell,” she said. “Dunsborough-based artist and author Ian Mutch will take the stage on Friday to talk about his book More and More and More, while Stolen Generation mother and Wadandi Elder Sandra Hill and her daughter Tracie Pushman will speak about their journey home to family, culture and community. On Saturday, festival-goers will have the chance to see William McInnes and Dave Warner talk on cultural cringe in Aussie 2.0, a panel of editors and contributors talk on Woman of a Certain Age, and more. On Sunday, Dr Gregory Peel Smith will take the stage with local writer and photographer Tom de Souza in Back from off-track,” she said.

“These are just some of the many events happening in the Writers’ Room, and with tickets just $10 it makes the festival really accessible to those who might not have attended before. Plus, pensioners can access all Friday sessions in the Writers’ Room for free,” she said.

Ms Perdue also pegged the festival finale – a grand dinner at Cape Lodge – as a not be missed event. Memories, Media and Chateaubriand is being held at 6.30pm on Sunday 05 May and will see acclaimed Australian journalist and broadcaster, Geraldine Doogue, in conversation with former journalist and local personality Ian Parmenter. The lively evening of conversation, music, and nosh-stalgia will feature a grand dinner showcasing dishes from the 1970s and 80s, paired with top wines.

Over the weekend, the festival hub at Voyager Estate will come alive with a range of free activities and events, with free lunch time sessions at 1pm each day, book signings, a sculpture walk exhibition called Curious Creations, as well as a children’s storytelling tent, roving fairy, free music and entertainment between 11am and 2pm, food vans and more. Feature events and workshops will also take place at other locations around the region including at local libraries, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival is being held from 03-05 May on the picturesque grounds of Voyager Estate and is for anyone who loves reading, writing, cultural events, current affairs and of course, Margaret River.

Images – 2018 Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, credit: Michelle Troop.

The State Government is proud to support the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival as part of its Regional Events Program.

This project is also supported by the Australian Governments regional arts program, the Regional Arts Fund, which gives all Australians better access to opportunities to practice and experience the arts. The Regional Arts Fund is administered in Western Australia by Country Arts WA.

 Arts Margaret River is supported by the State Government of WA, Lotterywest and Country Arts WA.