Day Three - Mildura Writers Festival

The day consisted of great company, interesting sessions, awesome snacks and some purchasing of some exciting reads.

Our first session was with the Philip Hodgins Memorial Winner, Jan Owen who is just a lovely soul. Her session showed her true colours of being naughty and nice, with some of her poetry that was scandalous coming from a lady of her nature. It caught the audience completely off guard and really exposed her humour and wit. I was also very impressed with this session as she referred to me! Yep! ME! Starstruck.

Although she didn't mention my name, she did remember me and also make note of 'a young lady who is studying to become a teacher'. In response to a question asked about whether poetry should be celebrated on cultural events such like our American Neighbours, Jan responded that she spoke to me the day before and stated that all appreciation for poetry starts at school and our best practise would be for students to start young to learn their appreciation of the art. Whether it be to recite the verses of poetry when given and encouraged, or whether it is teaching and allow for students to create and play with their own poetry creation. The opportunity is the must!

Following this session was a fiction reading with David Malouf and Emily Bitto. Both read from their own fiction novels, of which I personally was so drawn in by Emily's fiction novel The Strays (Which I still cannot put down!!) as it properly transported me back in time. This also was a great time for both authors to associate their styles, expose their feedback and little tips and tricks of their craft as writers about what they felt was difficult or become easier with time and practise.

To conclude this session the indigenous awards were presented where a few familiar faces received prizes for their outstanding writing - particularly in poetry. This was presented by Tony Birch, and was a pleasure to see people locally being rewarded for their work that often goes unnoticed!
We then gathered for a lunch prepared and given to us by Stefano. In little wooden boxes, contained goodness with; vegetarian roll, a delicious quinoa, feta, spinach and couscous salad, a Mandy, and a little wooden fork to eat with. It was divine and we were very grateful.

Coming back with a full stomach, we listened again to Les with some more of his poetry writing. His humour and good laughs, as well as his poetry provided an entertaining session as he discussed what his inspirations are, what his motives are and where he writes.

The last session of the day for me, was involving Sunil Yapa and Tony birch, again reading both of their own fiction novels.
I thought this was an amazing pairing of writers and authors, speaking about their journey and their differences but also speaking from experiences and reality based on a fiction story.

This was one of my favourite sessions from the festival due to the conversation and level of enthusiasm and debate about how the authors can create.