PROGRAM 18-21 MAY 2017 - Stories crossing at the heart of the country - NT Writers' Centre
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PROGRAM
18-21 MAY 2017
Stories crossing at the heart of the country
ntwriters.com.au
1
The NT Writers’ Centre brings you
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL
in Alice Springs, and
WORDSTORM
in Darwin on alternate years.
CROSSINGS | IWERRE-ATHERRE
We also offer year-round workshops, talks and For the past eight months I’ve been
opportunities for writers at all stages of their caught in the current of Crossings |
craft, including residencies and mentorships. Iwerre-atherre.
I was drawn to the word 'crossings' for
and the idea of the writer isn’t a
Membership is $55/$45 conc. per year its multiple meanings – linguistic,
given; where songwomen sit beside
cultural and geographic crossings; of
writers – all storytellers; story-holders.
Alice Springs borders and boundaries; of migrations,
I know this is only a beginning.
08 8952 3810 movements and diasporas; of hybridity
and living-together-in-difference. There are too many amazing guests
to mention here – Indonesian
www.ntwriters.com.au Alice Springs or Mparntwe is home
to the Arrernte people, whose stories
writer, Agustinus Wibowo; prolific
and passionate writer Bruce Pascoe;
are embedded in country, carried by
award-winning Kim Mahood; senior
song and memory, in spoken and writ-
songwomen from the Gulf Country
NT Writers’ Centre ten words. As the geographical centre
and Yuendemu, and prize-winning
Executive Director – Sally Bothroyd so many stories cross here.
field biologist and writer, Tim Low;
Alice Springs Program Manager – It wasn’t until I met with a group of inspirational poets Eunice Andrada,
Fiona Dorrell Arrernte women at Akeyulerre that the Abe Nouk, Anthony Lawrence and
theme came into focus. In Arrernte, they
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL
Festival Director – Dani Powell
THE NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL said, iwerre-atherre means two roads
Michelle Cahill. Writers from across
Australia meet in the Centre, and come
Program Co-ordinator – WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE meeting, neither blocking nor erasing the
other; two-way learning or travelling to-
into conversation with a prolific line up
of local authors.
Shrike O'Malley
Production Team – THE ARRERNTE PEOPLE AS THE gether. From this point the two languages
would travel together, neither a bracketed
Welcome to the journey of Crossings |
Rob Hoad, Kristy Schubert
TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE explanation of the other.
Iwerre-Atherre.
Alice Springs Office
Ph 08 8952 3810
LAND WE ARE MEETING ON, So, in the spirit of iwerre-atherre, I
have hoped to create a festival where
alice@ntwriters.com.au MPARNTWE, ALICE SPRINGS. stories cross, languages are multiple, Dani Powell Festival Director 2017
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 3
TICKETS
ONLINE: ntwriters.com.au
IN PERSON:
Red Kangaroo Books, or at
WELCOME TO THE
Festival until sold out. NT WRITERS' FESTIVAL
All events have limited capacity so The NT Writers’ Centre exists to
pre-book to avoid disappointment. support writers from all parts of the
Northern Territory, and also strives to
SPECIAL OFFERS: promote our unique and rich history
Weekend Pass $125/$80 NTWC/Conc of literature and storytelling for the
Day Pass (Saturday or Sunday)
$70/$45 NTWC/Conc
WELCOME FROM benefit of readers across Australia
and worldwide.
LAUREN MOSS The NT Writers’ Centre could not
All other sessions individually As the Northern Territory’s Minister operate without the continued support
ticketed. for Tourism and Culture, I am of the NT Government, and the
Official Festival Book Seller
delighted to welcome you to the NT
Writers’ Festival 2017.
Australia Council, and we thank all
our funders and sponsors for their The NT Writers’ Festival –
79 Todd Mall, 9am-5.30pm week days
and 9am-3pm weekends and pop-up
Since 1998 the NT Writers’ Centre
has been presenting festivals with
commitment to the Territory’s literary
culture. Satellite Sessions
shop at OPBG during Festival a focus on Indigenous Australian, We also value our membership, and
hope our many Central members are For the first time ever, we are
www.redkangaroobooks.com South East Asian and regional voices.
able to come and enjoy the inspiring taking the festival program
This year the festival is set in the across the Northern Territory
program on offer at this year’s festival.
unique beauty of Alice Springs, and with festival sessions livestreaming
it will celebrate words, culture and Thanks also to the NT Writers’
direct from Alice Springs to librar-
ideas, connecting with the theme of Centre board, led by Professor Martin
ies and other venues across the NT.
Crossings | Iwerre-Atherre. Jarvis, Alice Springs Program
For more information and a full
Manager Fiona Dorrell, Festival
The Northern Territory Government is list of Satellite locations visit
Co-ordinator Shrike O'Malley, and
very proud to support our region’s rich
and exciting literary culture, and I’m
most
%
Dani
%
of all to the Festival Director
Sally%Bothroyd%
Powell.
www.ntwriters.com.au
excited to see such a diverse program. %
%
%
Lauren Moss Sally Bothroyd Executive Director
NT Minister for Tourism + Culture NT Writers’ Centre
WELCOME 5
FEATURE Night
EVENTS Event Crossing Country
A storied walk along a sandy river
Dark Emu Dinner
Sold-out at the last writers’ festival,
Let the country speak its own
Crosslines – stories we bring you again the writers’ walk
crossing the heart Night quiet poetry as we gather for sunset
beneath the ranges at Madigan’s, in
along the banks of the Todd River.
of the country Event the Alice Springs Desert Park.
Led by local journalist and author
of Writing Home: Walking, Literature and
Not so much a line up as a circle of Prepare for a feast of words and bush Belonging in Australia’s Red Centre,
writers. Not so much a reading as a foods, featuring special festival guest Glenn Morrison, the walk follows the
performance from several outstand- Bruce Pascoe. Author of over
From Alice to Mparntwe river for 4 kms along its shady banks
ing storytellers and writers whose 20 books, Bruce is a Bunurong, from the CBD to the historic Alice
Guided tour of Arrernte country stories come from near and far to Tasmanian and Yuin man based in Springs Telegraph Station.
intersect here. Bring your swag and Victoria. Bruce’s recent book Dark
Alice Springs is built on Arrernte Along the way four local writers and
picnic and settle in for a poetic picnic Emu (Magabala Books 2014) won the
country, at a place called Mparntwe, storytellers – Veronica Dobson,
under the desert sky as we traverse Book of the Year as well as the
belonging to the Mparntwe-arenye Fiona Walsh, Alex Nelson and Pat
country and continents, tracing Indigenous Writer’s Prize in the 2016
people. Doris Stuart Kngwarreye, Ansell-Dodds – will each offer a par-
literary and migratory lines through NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
Apmereke-artwye for Mparntwe, ticular perspective of the country to
Europe, Central and South-East
would like to invite you as writers In Dark Emu Bruce draws on the begin to build a sense of the Centre’s
Asia, from Sudan to Central Australia,
and storytellers to join with her on a diaries of early explorers as evidence multi-layered history: the landscape
to see how storylines intersect.
guided tour, through her homeland, that Aboriginal people were sowing, of the totemic ancestors, its settle-
Featuring Agustinus Wibowo, Lizzie
Mparntwe. harvesting, irrigating and storing food. ment through conflict, the river’s
Marrkilyi Ellis, Anthony Lawrence,
Cost: By donation. Kngwarreye sees Michelle Cahill, Leni Shilton, Includes poetry readings and the short desert ecology, and a generation lost.
these tours as part of her sacred duty of Penny Drysdale, Abe Nouk. film Walk To Gather Learn To Gather, Let walking help shed the usual filters
looking after country and feels setting a Hosted by Craig San Roque with courtesy of Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa. through which we see and perceive
price will cheapen it. Any donations will Alistair Jackson on electric fiddle. Catered by Kungkas Can Cook, with the world anew – for things look dif-
be used to cover costs and to assist Doris native foods collected from country. ferent at four kilometres an hour.
and her families to continue to live and Mezze Picnic hampers for sale at the
work for their country. Bean Tree café until 6.30pm! Madigan’s, Alice Springs Desert Park Sunday 21 May
Saturday 20 May, 6-9pm 8-11am
Bus departs Alice Springs Public Library Olive Pink Botanic Garden (OPBG) $85/$75 NTWC/Conc $60/$55 NTWC/Conc
Friday 19 May, 1.30-4pm Tuncks Rd Limited capacity – presale tickets Strictly limited capacity – presale
Strictly limited capacity – Friday 19 May, 6-8.30pm only. Bookings essential. tickets only. Bookings essential.
prior bookings only, ntwriters.com.au $30/$25 NTWC/Conc ntwriters.com.au ntwriters.com.au
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 FEATURE EVENTS 7
WORKSHOP PROGRAM
Wednesday 17-Wednesday 24 May
Creative Non-fiction –
Kim Mahood
The Art of Seeing –
Anthony Lawrence
Level: Beginners, General Level: Beginners, General
Workshops will only go ahead Literary journalism, stream-of- Don’t miss this chance to work with
with sufficient bookings, so consciousness rant, tell-all memoir, acclaimed Australian poet Anthony
register early. All bookings discursive essay – creative non-fiction Lawrence. This workshop assists
essential (unless indicated) at has entered the literary arena as one poets to enter into negotiations with
ntwriters.com.au of the most dynamic forms of con- all their senses, and offers skills and
temporary writing. What is creative strategies to unlock your vision.
non-fiction? How does the writer Through a close reading of selected
negotiate the issue of subjective truth poems, and exercises that demand
Young Writers’ Workshop and other people’s privacy? How your critical and emotional attention,
Me and My Place – Getting into Place – ‘creative’ is it possible to be before The Art of Seeing will change your
Felicity Castagna Felicity Castagna the work becomes fiction? ideas about how you see the world.
Level: Beginners, General Participants will discuss the genre,
This workshop with award-winning
learn to identify the techniques of Olive Pink Botanic Garden (OPBG)
author of YA novel The Incredible Here Place doesn’t need to be backdrop;
creative non-fiction, and carry out Blakeman's Shelter
and Now and No More Boats, Felicity it can be the main character, the
one or two short writing exercises. Saturday 20 May, 2-4pm
Castagna, encourages young writers driving force, it can shape your plot
to write about their world by examin- line and get your reader hooked into $50/$45 NTWC/Conc
ing the community they live in. a story they won’t want to put down. The Residency, crn Parsons & Hartley
Young people will consider the Felicity Castagna helps you to con- Saturday 20 May, 2-5pm Art of Seeing Masterclass –
sider the techniques used by writers $65/$60 NTWC/Conc
techniques used by writers to convey Anthony Lawrence
‘a sense of place’ and learn how to to convey ‘a sense of place’ and learn
Level: Advanced, practising writers
apply these to their own writing. For how to apply these to your own writ- Creative Non-fiction The Art of Seeing masterclass is offered
ages 7-12 years. ing. If you’re writing fiction, memoir, Masterclass – Kim Mahood
creative non-fiction or travel writing on Wednesday 24 May after the
Kim returns in July to offer a two day Writers’ Festival. See website for details.
Alice Springs Public Library this workshop is for you.
masterclass directed towards people
Wednesday 17 May, 3.30-5pm who have a non-fiction work in prog-
Alice Springs Public Library Alice Springs Public Library
Free, limited numbers. Bookings ress which they want to develop.
Wednesday 17 May, 6.30-8.30pm Wednesday 24 May,
essential: Danielle Schaeche
$50/$45 NTWC/Conc 5.30-8.30pm
Ph: 8950 0508 1-2 July 2017 $65/$60 NTWC/Conc
Further information and bookings
ntwriters.com.au
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 WORKSHOP PROGRAM 9
Picture Book Meet Up Create Your Own Cheeky Nature town: Writing the Start at the Heart –
Ask Me Anything – Character – Johanna Bell Local Landscape – Kaye Aldenhoven,
Johanna Bell For children (4-7 yrs & 8-12 yrs) Meg Mooney & Nicole Gill Julie U’ren, Kaye Hall
Thinking of writing or illustrating Work with the author of Too Many Level: General (young people welcome 14+) Level: Beginners, General
a picture book? Or working on a Cheeky Dogs and Go Home Cheeky What many of us love about living Three Top End writers present
picture book idea? Come and meet Animals! to create your own cheeky in Alice Springs is how the natural ‘Start at the Heart’ exploring ‘truth’
Johanna Bell, the author behind Too characters. Learn about the tricks and urban worlds intersect. Walking, in memory, landscape as character,
Many Cheeky Dogs and Go Home Cheeky that writers use for creating riding your bike or even driving, you deep diving, and forces that change
Animals! She assures us you can ask characters and discover the secret spot a huge golden orb spider web, a us. A grab bag of tools, inspiration
her anything and she’ll do her best to ingredient that every character must mob of tiny blue butterflies under a and writing exercises for writers of
come up with an answer. Or if you’re have. Once you have your character, mulga tree, a procession of caterpil- fiction and non-fiction, poetry and
not the asking type, just grab a coffee have fun imagining the places they’ll lars crossing the road. short story. BYO paper and pens.
and listen to the discussion. Super go and the mischief they’ll get up to. What is nature writing and how does
casual. Anyone welcome! it overlap with science writing? Is Blakeman's Shelter, OPBG
Blakeman's Shelter, OPBG writing about urban areas nature Sunday 21 May, 3-5pm
OPBG, Bean Tree Café (meet under 4-7 yr olds (children must be writing? $50/$45 NTWC/Conc
the pergola, east end) accompanied by a carer) Bring your laptops and digital
Saturday 20 May,1.15-2.15pm Sunday 21 May, 9.30-10.30am cameras/smartphones for a
Free 8-12 yr olds workshop where you get to explore
Sunday 11.30-12.30pm the botanic gardens and write
$15 per session in situ. Upload your writing on the
Singing in Language ecology of Alice to a free blog.
Music is an important tool in With Alice Springs natural scientist
language preservation, story-telling and poet Meg Mooney and
and keeping culture strong. MusicNT
and NT Writers’ Centre proudly
Tasmanian environmental writer We would like to thank
Nicole Gill. the writers who have been
invite you to join community elders working in schools this festival
from the Gulf Country to listen and – Eunice Andrada (Red Room
Ancient Landscapes Shelter, OPBG
learn songs in language. Company), Felicity Castagna,
Sunday 21 May, 12.50-2.50pm
Note that this session is for women $50/$45 NTWC/Conc Sanya Yorth, Johanna Bell,
only, all ages welcome. ($25 for under 18s) Meg Mooney & Nicole Gill.
Open Space, OPBG
Saturday 20 May, 1.30-2.30pm, Free
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 WORKSHOP PROGRAM 11
THURSDAY 18 MAY
ALL
WELCOME
Festival Opening short readings from festival guests
including Bruce Pascoe, Agustinus
Please join us in the gardens for a
Wibowo, Eunice Andrada and Abe
truly special opening of the 2017
Nouk, and writers from Central
NT Writers’ Festival – Alice Springs,
Australia as we embark upon the
with an Arrernte welcome at sunset.
journey of Crossings | Iwerre Atherre.
We are honoured to have songwomen
from the Gulf Country here as
Knowledge
Olive Pink Botanic Garden (OPBG)
Exploring the Research special guests of the festival who
tonight will share some of their 5.30-7pm
of Central Australia
Intersections own songs. Enjoy a sample of Free
The Yarning Chair – Night
A one-day research symposium showcasing Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis
Mixtape Memoirs
Central Australian Research - Thursday 18 May Music is a powerful cue for Event
The Alice Springs Public Library potent memories. In the tradition
This event will take place in the same week as the 2017 NT Writers’ Festival presents the Yarning Chair – where of this popular Emerging Writers’
in Alice Springs. We have adopted the theme ‘Knowledge Intersections’ in you get to put down your books and Festival event, tonight we bring you
harmony with the festival theme, ‘Crossings | Iwerre-Atherre’. listen to life stories that inspire. a brilliant line up of writers who will
Born in the Western Desert at the take to the stage to share something
Researchers from across the central Australian region will share how the local time of first contact, Lizzie Marrkilyi from the soundtracks of their lives.
research work they are doing reflects these thematic ideas. Ellis grew up to become an educator, Join us for a night of music and
This is a free event but places are limited. interpreter and linguist and has memoir in a tiny tin shed theatre.
recently published her memoir Pictures
Writers include Sylvia Neale,
from my memory: my story as a Ngaatjatjarra
Hosted by Batchelor Institute Catherine Satour, Christopher Raja,
woman (Aboriginal Studies Press).
at the Desert Peoples Centre Felicity Castagna, Nicole Gill,
Desert Knowledge Precinct – Alice Springs Jo Dutton, Glenn Morrison.
Alice Springs Public Library
12-1pm Totem Theatre, ANZAC Oval Reserve
For more information visit: go.batchelor.edu.au/knowledge-intersections Free. No bookings required 8-9.30pm
$20/$15 NTWC/Conc
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 THURSDAY 18 MAY 13
FRIDAY 19 MAY Crossings and Borders –
Agustinus Wibowo
NT Writer’s Festival are proud to be
hosting Indonesian travel writer and
photographer as a special guest of
the festival.
Agustinus’ first book Selimut Debu
(A Blanket of Dust) soon became a
best-seller. It chronicles his journey
in the war-torn Afghanistan. Selimut
Debu was followed by Garis Batas
(Borderlines) – a reflection on the
meaning of borders.
Then after ten years wandering
the world, he wrote Titik Nol (Zero:
When the Journey Takes You Home). Part
travel book, part memoir, Zero has
pioneered a new genre in Indonesian
Book launch:
Tjulpu and Walpa –
travel literature by allowing readers From Alice to Mparntwe
to experience the writer’s physical, Guided tour of Arrernte country
NPY Women’s Council spiritual and emotional journey. by Doris Stuart Kngwarreye –
Tjulpu and Walpa is the story of two Today he will talk about his life and Apmereke-atwye for Mparntwe.
girls who travel down very different The Uti Kulintjaku project is a group See Feature Events (p. 6)
writing and his obsession with bor-
paths. Tjulpu (Pitjantjatjara) is the of ngangkari (traditional healers),
ders – political borders, geographical
bird that sings. Tjulpu’s story is about senior Indigenous women, and west- Bus departs Alice Springs Public Library
borders, psychological borders – and
a girl who had all the love and sup- ern health professionals exploring 1.30-4pm
identities, with local journalist Glenn
port she needed to grow up strong, mental health concepts from both Limited capacity. Bookings essential
Morrison.
healthy and happy. Walpa is the wind. Indigenous and western perspectives. ntwriters.com.au
Walpa’s story is about a girl who was www.npywc.org.au or email ukinfo@
npywc.org.au for information. Alice Springs Public Library
blown around from place to place.
12-1pm
This book weaves together stories
Free. No bookings required
from senior Indigenous women The Residency
dedicated to bringing positive change 10.30-11.30am
for their families and communities. Free. No bookings required
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 FRIDAY 19 MAY 15
FRIDAY 19 MAY WEEKEND PROGRAM
All daytime events at Olive Pink Botanic Garden (OPBG), Tuncks Rd
Book launch: Ptilotus Press
– Carol Adams &
Frank Byrne SATURDAY 20 MAY
Join the Alice Springs-based publish-
ing group Ptilotus Press as they Book launch: Ayeye
launch their new Inland Writers series
of short works by Central Australian
thipe-akerte – Arrernte
writers. The first two in the series, Up with the Birds stories about birds,
both memoir, will be launched this Crosslines – stories Poetry readings at the café Therese Ryder
evening − one by local artist Carol crossing the heart Arrernte artist Therese Ryder
Early birds come one and all to hear
Adams, and the other by Kimberley- extends her creative repertoire to
born Frank Byrne, supported by
of the country how our feathered companions have
crossed the hearts and minds of place thipe mape ‘birds’ amid
Frances Coughlan and Gerard A poetic picnic under the desert sky Arrernte landscapes in this exquisite
featuring Agustinus Wibowo, Lizzie poets. Featuring Anthony Lawrence,
Waterford. book published by Batchelor Press.
Marrkilyi Ellis, Anthony Lawrence, Meg Mooney, Bruce Pascoe, Kaye
Ptilotus Press was established in 1996 Aldenhoven. Combining painting, writing and
Michelle Cahill, Leni Shilton, Penny voice recordings, the book offers an
by a dedicated collective of writers,
Drysdale, Abe Nouk. Hosted by Arrernte perspective on birds as part
who are devoted to the publication
Craig San Roque with Alistair Jack- Bean Tree café, OPBG of the natural world, describing their
of Central Australian writing.
son on electric fiddle. Picnic hampers 8-8.45am behaviour, diet and habitat, and their
for sale at Bean Tree café. Free role in a traditional diet. Therese’s
Bean Tree café, OPBG
5-5.45pm stories also give readers a glimpse of
See Feature Events (p. 6) the cultural significance of birds as
Free
messengers and spirits. The book has
Olive Pink Botanic Garden a companion App, so you can hear
Note: The Bean Tree café will
(open space) Therese read her stories and listen to
remain open until 6.30pm
6-8.30pm the bird calls!
selling picnic hampers for those
$30/$25 NTWC/Conc
going to Crosslines at 6pm.
Gallery, OPBG
9-9.45am
Free
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 SATURDAY 20 MAY 17
Tim Low – Birds and Us
When ravens snatch food scraps from Crossing Country: Book launch:
rubbish bins, and bower birds deco- recovering, remapping, dew and broken glass,
rate with trinkets, they are continuing retelling Penny Drysdale
a relationship to humans that goes
Country itself might be seen as a Local author Penny Drysdale’s debut
back more than 40,000 years…
palimpsest, embedded with the strata collection of poetry by Recent
Biologist and author of the best- of stories, sometimes lost or erased. Work Press breaks open the prison
selling books Where Song Began and This panel brings together four of self to lay bare the many
The New Nature, Tim Low, talks about writers who each scrape the surface contradictions in contemporary
Australian bird-human relationships of place to recover, remap and retell Australian relationships. A credit
across time. new and fascinating records of this card, a mouse trap, a discarded car
country. battery, a pile of children’s clothing,
Gazebo, OPBG all become an opportunity to
10-10.45am The Writing and Work of examine aspects of ourselves we
Bruce Pascoe, Kim Mahood,
$15/$10 NTWC/Conc Two Lives Crossing Charlie Ward, Felicity Castagna usually confine to the dark.
A dynamic conversation and multi-
the territory in between – media presentation about cross- Gazebo, OPBG Gallery, OPBG
online journal cultural collaboration between senior 12-1pm 1.15-2.00pm
Arrernte linguist, educator and $15/$10 NTWC/Conc Free
the territory in between is an online writer, Veronica Dobson (AM) and
journal for writing and art about research scientist, ethnoecologist and
Central Australia founded by a media artist, Fiona Walsh – guided
collective of local artists and writers. by Wardaman woman, researcher
It aims to ask questions about the and social scientist, Josie Douglas.
territories we mark for ourselves, why
and how we do this and what spaces These three women share a passion
this creates in between? for Country and its entwined human
and plant ecology. For each of them
Founding member Ahmed Adam and caring for country must include the
contributors discuss the territories sharing of traditional, local and
we occupy and how we negotiate the scientific knowledge.
space between cultures.
Gallery, OPBG Gallery, OPBG
10-10.30am 11-11.45am
Free $15/$10 NTWC/Conc
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 SATURDAY 20 MAY 19PROGRAM
SATURDAY 20 MAY SUNDAY 21 MAY
Up with the Birds Crossing Country
Poetry readings at the Bean Tree café Storied walk; 8-11am
8-8.45am Free Bookings essential
PLANNER
Book launch – Ayeye Thipe-akerte Book launch – Yurntumu-wardingki
(Arrernte stories about birds) juju-ngaliya-kurlangu yawulyu:
Therese Ryder Warlpiri women’s songs from
Gallery, OPBG; 9-9.45am Free Yuendumu
Tim Low: Birds and Us
Gallery, OPBG; 9.30-10.15am Free
Gazebo, OPBG; 10-10.45am Memoir – Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis &
Renee McBryde
the territory in between –
Gazebo, OPBG; 10.30-11.30am
online journal
THURSDAY 18 MAY FRIDAY 19 MAY Gallery, OPBG; 10-10.30am Free Mixed Feelings – graphic novel
by CMS Polly Farmer Foundation
The Yarning Chair – Book launch – Tjulpu and Walpa, The Writing and Work of Two Lives students
Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis NPY Women’s Council Crossing – Veronica Dobson &
Fiona Walsh, with Josie Douglas
Gallery, OPBG; 11-11.30am Free
Alice Springs Public Library The Residency, Cnr Parsons & Hartley St
No bookings required. 10.30-11.30am Free Gallery, OPBG; 11-11.45am Crossing Forms: pushing the
boundaries of books
12-1pm Free Crossings and Borders – Crossing Country: recovering, Gazebo, OPBG; 11.45am-12.45pm
Festival Opening Agustinus Wibowo remapping, retelling
Alice Springs Public Library Gazebo, OPBG; 12-1pm Short fictions – Michelle Cahill &
Olive Pink Botanic Garden
No bookings required. Michael Giacometti
5.30-7.00pm Free Book launch – dew and broken
12-1pm Free Gallery, OPBG; 11.45am-12.45pm
Mixed Tape Memoirs glass, Penny Drysdale
From Alice to Mparntwe – Gallery, OPBG; 1.15-2pm Free Book launch – The Crying Place,
Totem Theatre Lia Hills
7.30-9.30pm Guided tour of Arrernte country No More Boats – Felicity Castagna
Departs Alice Springs Public Library Gallery, OPBG; 1-1.45pm Free
& Humble – Abe Nouk
Book launches 1.30-4pm. Bookings essential. Gazebo, OPBG; 1.45-2.45pm Q&A: Why these stories of trouble?
Book launch – Ptilotus Press – Kieran Finnane
Panels Gulf Country Songbook: Yanyuwa, Gazebo, OPBG; 1.45-2.45pm
Bean Tree Café , OPBG Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji Songs
Talks Language Crossings
5-5.45pm Free Gallery, OPBG; 3-4pm
Presentations Gazebo, OPBG; 3- 4pm
Crosslines – stories crossing the Cross Currents: the trace of past
Journeys on country heart of the country places, stories and mythologies Reading the Past – Tim Low
Events Olive Pink Botanic Garden Gazebo, OPBG; 4.15-5.15pm Gallery, OPBG; 3- 4pm
6-8.30pm Homecomings, Memoir and
Dark Emu Dinner – Bruce Pascoe
Landscapes – Kim Mahood &
WORKSHOPS
Workshop Program
Madigan’s, Alice Springs Desert Park
6-9pm Bookings essential Agustinus Wibowo
Gazebo, OPBG; 4.15-5.15pm
Reading Rooms
Wed17-Wed 24 May pp.8-11 Endnotes at the Bean Tree Café
The Residency, Cnr Parsons & Hartley St
Bookings essential: ntwriters.com.au 7.30-9pm Bookings essential Bean Tree Café, OPBG; 5.30-8pm Free
entry. Café open for dinner until 7pm.
Bar open.
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017No More Boats – Gulf Country Songbook: Dark Emu Dinner Night Reading Rooms Night
Felicity Castagna & Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa Bush food dinner featuring Event Shhh! Once the social and Event
Humble – Abe Nouk and Gudanji Songs special festival guest author administrative hub of the early
Bruce Pascoe. township of Alice Springs, host to
No More Boats is the latest novel from Affectionately called ‘the singing book’
Catered by Kungkas Can Cook, with visiting dignitaries (including the
Felicity Castagna, author of the this multimedia, multilingual publica-
native foods collected from country. Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh!),
multi-award winning novel, The tion literally sings! Senior songwomen
the Residency will tonight become a
Incredible Here and Now. Set during the Dinah Norman a-Marrngawi, Jemima See Feature Events (p. 7)
house of reading, where several
Tampa Crisis, No More Boats explores Miller a-Wuwarlu, Marjorie Keighran
writers will give intimate readings
Australia’s long history of invasion Managirri and others join with
Madigan’s, Alice Springs Desert Park from recent works, in honour of the
anxiety through the eyes of a postwar co-author and creative producer Karin
6-9pm quiet space of reading. Including
Italian migrant whose life begins to Riederer, to present this beautiful book
$85/$75 NTWC/Conc Eunice Andrada, Lia Hills,
unravel while his TV insists that the published by Waralungku Arts. Not to
Limited capacity – presale tickets Michael Giacometti, Leni Shilton,
nation is being flooded, inundated be missed!
only. ntwriters.com.au Ted Egan, Michelle Cahill.
and overrun by migrants.
Sudanese-born Abe Nouk was Gallery, OPBG
The Residency
illiterate when he and his family 3-4pm
7.30-9pm
arrived in Australia in 2004, as $15/$10 NTWC/Conc
$20/$15 NTWC/Conc
UN High Commission designated
Limited capacity – presale tickets
refugees. Now an award-winning Cross Currents: the trace only. ntwriters.com.au
spoken-word artist and poet, Abe of past places, stories and
talks about his first collection,
Humble, and the power of
mythologies
language. What of the countries and cultures,
languages and landscapes, stories and
mythologies that flow through our
Gazebo, OPBG bloodlines and storylines – sometimes
1.45-2.45pm freely, sometimes like cross currents,
$15/$10 NTWC/ Conc pulling us this way and that?
Eunice Andrada, Christopher Raja,
Craig San Roque, Michelle Cahill
Gazebo, OPBG
4.15-5.15pm
$15/$10 NTWC/Conc
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 SATURDAY 20 MAY 23SUNDAY 21 MAY
Crossing Country
A storied walk along a sandy river
See Feature Events (p. 7) Two memoirs –
Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis
8-11am
$60/$55 NTWC/Conc
Pictures from my memory:
Strictly limited capacity – presale my story as a Ngaatjatjarra
tickets only. Bookings essential. woman & Renee McBryde
ntwriters.com.au The House of Lies
Born in the bush at the time of first
Book launch: Yurntumu- contact, Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis’ vivid
wardingki juju-ngaliya- personal reflections are recorded in
kurlangu yawulyu a memoir published by Aboriginal
Studies Press (2016), offering both
Warlpiri women’s songs an historical record and profound
from Yuendumu emotional insight into her unique
Yawulyu are a genre of song that experience of being woven between
has been passed down through cultures.
generations of Warlpiri women. First time author and local writer
This extraordinary book not only Renee McBryde’s The House of Lies
details 63 songs from four different (Hachette) is at once a book about
yawulyu song series – documenting Presented by anthropologist Georgia family secrets, murder, sexual assault
their rhythms, sung words, transla- Curran, senior juju-ngaliya ‘ritual ex- and domestic violence; Renee’s is
tions and accompanying stories – but pert’ Lorraine Nungarrayi Granites a gripping story of the struggle to
includes audio-links and film. and translator and educator Barbara accept the truth and her true identity,
The juju-ngaliya of Yuendumu have Napanangka Martin, with others. to forge a life on her own terms.
made this book so that their songs
and knowledge can be remembered Gallery, OPBG Gazebo, OPBG
and performed by future generations 9.30-10.15am 10.30-11.30am
of Warlpiri women. Free $15/$10 NTWC/Conc
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 SUNDAY 21 MAY 25Mixed Feelings – a graphic Crossing Forms: pushing Book launch – Lia Hills Q&A: Why these stories of
novel by Centralian Middle the boundaries of books The Crying Place trouble when there are so
School (CMS) In many Aboriginal communities books Join Melbourne-based poet, novelist many stories to tell?
Central Australia is a place of mixed are now being used to preserve, pass and translator Lia Hills for the launch – Kieran Finnane
cultural stories, all living in close on and rejuvenate what was once passed of The Crying Place (Allen & Unwin, Kieran Finnane is a longtime Alice
proximity to one another. Sometimes down orally. But how to translate an 2017) – a haunting, luminous novel Springs journalist and arts writer.
these stories get on well together, oral tradition into a written form? Join about love, country, and the varied Her book, TROUBLE: On Trial in
sometimes not. the creators of these new forms of ways in which we grieve. In its Central Australia (UQP, 2016), takes a
publishing that upturn common notions portrayal of the borderlands where
Mixed Feelings is a graphic novel about compassionate yet unflinching look
of author, reader and reasons for writing. worlds come together, and the
Pam a young Indigenous woman who at some of the deep disorder in our
past and present overlap, it speaks
happens to have a father who can Karin Riederer, Barbara Martin region. Professor Marcia Langton
of the places and moments that
time travel. Setting out to find out how Georgia Curran, Julia Burke has welcomed it as ‘powerfully
bind us.
western scientific and cultural stories explanatory’. This facilitated Q&A
are woven together they test their own Gazebo, OPBG Gallery, OPBG is a chance for the community to
mettle as they meet the phantoms of 11.45-12.45pm 1-1.45pm respond and ask questions of the
their past, present and future. $15/$10 NTWC/Conc Free writer.
CMS Polly Farmer Foundation
students present their first chapter on Gazebo, OPBG
Short fictions – Michelle 1.45-2.45pm
the inland sea, as experienced from
Simpsons Gap. Cahill & Michael Giacometti $15/$10 NTWC/Conc
Mixed Feelings graphic novel was cre- Two new collections of short fiction
ated by students of Centralian Middle that traverse geographies, literatures,
School (CMS) Polly Farmer Foundation. locations and time to take us across
CMS ‘Follow the Dream’ - Polly Farmer the thresholds of the possible.
Program provides education support to Visiting poet, essayist and fiction writer
Indigenous students. A range of enrich- Michelle Cahill talks about Letter to
ment tasks and tuition are provided to Pessoa (Giramondo) with local writer
support students to successfully graduate Michael Giacometti whose debut
and achieve their post-secondary goals. collection is forthcoming from
Spineless Wonders.
Gallery, OPBG Gallery, OPBG
11-11.30am 11.45-12.45pm
Free $15/$10 NTWC/Conc
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 SUNDAY 21 MAY 27Language Crossings Homecomings, Memoir & Endnotes at the Night
Publishing in standardised languages Landscapes – Kim Mahood Bean Tree Café Event
arguably leads to wider readership, & Agustinus Wibowo Enough said! Join us for
greater connectivity and perhaps even drinks and dinner in the
A fitting end to this festival of crossings
empathy across cultures and borders. Bean Tree Café as the sun sets
with a closer look at cartography,
But what is lost in translation? What is on the NT Writers’ Festival –
borders, landscapes and memories.
left of multiligualism? Writers, linguists, Alice Springs for another two years.
educators and publishers talk about Position Doubtful: mapping landscapes and
language, the base element of writing. memories is writer and artist Kim Bean Tree Café, OPBG
Mahood's long-awaited second book, 5.30-8.00pm
Lia Hills, Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis, described as ‘a shimmering, evocative Free entry. Dinner and drinks
Terri-ann White, Agustinus Wibowo memoir’ (BOOKS+PUBLISHING) available for purchase.
and ‘an extraordinary excavation of the Café open til 7pm
Gazebo, OPBG relationship, past and present, between
3-4pm settlers and indigenous Australians’
$15/$10 NTWC/Conc (The Monthly).
Titik Nol (Zero: When the Journey Takes
Reading the Past –Tim Low You Home), is Indonesian travel writer
In Central Australia rare plants have and photographer Agustinus Wibowo's
survived millions of years of drying by third book and first to be translated
hiding on cool south facing cliffs – often into English. After ten years wandering
these appear in Albert Namatjira’s the world, Zero is the story of coming
paintings. Ferns survive in gorges, and home and facing a reality he has always
on the edge of the Simpson Desert feared. His mother is dying. Part travel
grows waddywood, the rare and sacred book, part memoir, Zero has pioneered a
tree that has spines left over from when new genre in Indonesian travel literature
it was chewed by megafauna. These by allowing readers to experience the
plants tell us about a past that was very writer’s physical, spiritual and emotional
different. Biologist and author Tim Low journey.
takes us on a journey that will become
an important part of his next book. Gazebo, OPBG
4-5pm
Gallery, OPBG $15/$10 NTWC/Conc
3-4pm
$15/$10 NTWC/Conc
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 SUNDAY 21 MAY 29Eunice Andrada is a poet and teaching artist Frank Byrne was born on Christmas Creek
Georgia Curran is an anthropologist who
NT WRITERS' FESTIVAL 2017 based in Sydney. Featured in The Guardian,
CNN and other media, her poetry has also
station in the Kimberley in 1937, the son of
a Gooniyandi woman and Irish stockman.
has for the last twelve years worked with
WRITERS & STORYTELLERS been performed in diverse international
stages, from the Sydney Opera House to the
He was taken from his Aboriginal mother
when he was 6 years old because he was
a core group of senior women from
Yuendumu recording and documenting
Warlpiri songs (yawulyu) to assist in their
UN Climate Negotiations in Paris. She was of mixed race, and spent the next 9 years
inter-generational transmission. Georgia
awarded the John Marsden & Hachette Aus- at Moola Bulla settlement and then Beagle
is currently a research associate at the
tralia Poetry Prize in 2014. In 2016, she was Bay mission. Frank’s writing is supported
Sydney Conservatorium of Music where
honoured by Australian Poetry as the first of by Frances Coughlan and Gerard Waterford
she continues her interests in repatriating
their 30 Under 30 Poets. Her first collection and the Central Australian Aboriginal
ceremonial recordings and utilising these
Ahmed Adam is an independent film- of poetry is forthcoming. Congress.
as ways to inspire community-led
maker and photographer living and
working in Central Australia. He is also Johanna Bell lives in Darwin. She has Michelle Cahill is an award-winning revitalisation of song traditions.
the founding editor of local art and created two picture books with Tennant
Creek artist Dion Beasley. In 2016, Johanna
writing online journal the territory in between.
poet who writes fiction and essays. Her
latest books are Letter to Pessoa (Giramon-
Veronica Perrule Dobson AM
is an Eastern Arrernte woman highly
Born in Sudan, Adam considers his major won the Northern Territory Literary Award do) and The Herring Lass (Arc). She won
respected for her cultural and linguistic
influences thinkers such as Deluze and for best short story and was runner-up in the Val Vallis Poetry Award, the Hilary
knowledge. Veronica co-authored a
Guattari. Overland magazine’s national short fiction Mantel International Short Story Prize
dictionary of Arrernte. She is the author of
competition. She is currently working on and was shortlisted the Elizabeth Jolley
Arelhe-Kenhe Merrethene: Arrernte traditional healing
Carol Adams is originally from South a collection of inter-linked short stories, Prize among several others. She was a
(2007), and a co-author of Anpernirrentye kin
Australia, and has now lived and worked a fiction for 9-12 year olds and a picture fellow at Kingston University and a Visit-
and skin: talking about family in Arrernte (2013).
in Central Australia for the past thirty-five book about grief. Johanna is also Creative ing Scholar in Creative Writing at UNC,
years. She is a music teacher, painter and Director of the sellout live storytelling event
writer. SPUN: True Stories Told in the Territory.
Charlotte. She has written essays on race
and cultural diversity for Sydney Review of
Patricia Ansell Dodds is an Arrernte and
Anmatyere woman, a Flinders University
Books, The Weekend Australian and Cordite.
Kaye Aldenhoven is passionate about Julia Burke has worked for Aboriginal
Lecturer, and artist. Patricia was the winner
country, NT plants, NT birds, NT history, organisations in Central Australia for the Felicity Castagna is the author of the award-
of the 1990 NT Literary Awards for an essay
about her father’s country, Undoolya. Taken
her family. Kaye has read her work in past twenty-two years in digital content winning novel The Incredible Here and Now,
from her parents near Ti Tree when she was
India, Thailand, Wollongong, Ubud, development, social history, communica- and its stage adaptation, to be premiered
about four years old, writing her story helped
Tasmania, Newcastle, and Shoalhaven. tions and program development. Projects at The National Theatre of Parramatta in
Pat understand her family history and to
She has published three collections – include Ara Irititja, walyaku.org.au (Central 2017. Her collection of short stories Small
acknowledge her identity as an Undoolya
Skin, Botanica Erotica and In my Husband’s Land Council), Ngangkari Work Anangu Indiscretions was named an ABR book of the
(Arrernte) and Anmatjere woman.
Country. Kaye has twice won the Way (NPY Women’s Council) and forth- year. She holds a PhD from Western Sydney
NT Literary Awards for Poetry. coming autobiography of Yankunytjatjara University and has served as the National
woman, Nura Nungalka Ward. Ambassador for Literacy and as a director at
WestWords. No More Boats (Giramondo 2017)
is her latest novel.
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 31Josie Douglas is a researcher and social Ted Egan AO is an Australian folk Kieran Finnane is a founding journalist Lorraine Nungarrayi Granites is a senior
scientist. Her research experience includes musician and writer of over ten books, who of the Alice Springs News, established juju-ngaliya ‘ritual expert’ who is central
investigating Indigenous livelihood strategies, served as Administrator of the Northern in 1994, and now online. She studied in to the organisation of performances of
Aboriginal knowledge concepts, custom- Territory from 2003 to 2007. In 1993 he be- Sydney and Paris, arts and film studies. yawulyu in Yuendumu today. She has
ary, commercial bush food use, and remote came a member of the Order of Australia Kieran moved to Alice Springs in 1987. acquired a deep knowledge of this genre
education. She has worked in community- for ‘an outstanding record of service to the Her arts writing and journalism has been of song through a lifetime of participation
controlled Aboriginal organisations, Com- Aboriginal people and an ongoing contribu- published in Griffith REVIEW, Inside Story, in yawulyu events. She is passionate about
monwealth agencies and the university tion to the literary heritage of Australia, Art Monthly Australia and Artlink. Her book passing this knowledge on to younger
sector. Josie is a Wardaman woman from through song and verse’. He has since been of long form journalism, TROUBLE: On generations of Warlpiri women and has
the Top End who has lived and worked for promoted to an Officer of the Order. Trial in Central Australia, was published in interests in engaging with new technologies
many decades in Alice Springs on the lands 2016 (UQP). to assist this process.
of the Arrernte people. Lizzie Marrkilyi Ellis
is a Ngaatjatjarra
educator, interpreter and linguist from the Michael Giacometti has been a computer
Penny Drysdale grew up in Maryborough, Western Desert. She is currently an Austra- programmer and trekking guide, an arts Kaye Hall works as a writer and editor in
Victoria. She studied psychology and law lian Research Council Discover Indigenous worker and bus driver. Michael won the Darwin. She draws from her own journey
and has worked on social justice and cultural Fellow at the Australian National University NT Literary Award for Poetry 2012, to write raw and revealing poems, short
projects throughout her varied career. She where she is working on a project docu- and his stories have been published stories and scripts. She was threatened with
moved to Alice Springs in 2010 where she menting Western Desert speech styles and in Meanjin, Island, Wild, and several legal action over her first published work,
currently works for the Akeyulerre Healing changing modes of communication across anthologies including Cracking the Spine: Room To Be (Linq Vol 32, No 2, 2005) and
Centre established by Arrernte elders to generations. ten short Australian stories and how they were so it was 10 years before her second piece
practise and celebrate culture and ensure it written (Spineless Wonders 2014). His made it into print, Mirror Mirror (2015 NT
is passed on to the next generations. Penny Sue Fieldinglives in Alice Springs. Her debut collection of short fiction will be Literary Awards, Works by Winners &
won the NT Literary Awards Poetry Prize in work explores cross-cultural life, the natu- published by Spineless Wonders in 2017. Finalists).
2015 and was a finalist in 2011 and 2012. ral world and its current crisis, and the
big experiences of life. She is published Nicole Gill is a Tasmanian writer and en- Lia Hills is a Melbourne-based poet,
Jo Dutton is the author of three novels. On nationally, and her work is recognized in a vironmental management specialist, whose novelist and translator. Her debut novel,
the Edge of Red (Transworld 1998) Out of Place number of awards and fellowships. Sue is writings on the environment, humans and The Beginner’s Guide to Living, was shortlisted
(Random House 2006) and From Alice with a member of the Ptilotus Press publishing other animals have featured in The Monthly, for the Victorian, Queensland and Western
Love (Allen and Uwin 2013). Her current group. In 2012, she was an Australian Island, The Guardian and The Best Australian Australian Premiers’ Literary Awards and
novel Wrecked is under consideration with Poetry Poet in-residence at the Olive Pink Science Writing. She was shortlisted for the has been translated into several languages.
Allen and Unwin. Her short stories and Botanic Garden. She is currently working 2016 Bragg UNSW Press Prize for Science Other works include her award-winning
poetry have been widely published to critical on a collection of poetry. Writing. Her first book for children, Animal poetry collection the possibility of flight and
acclaim. Eco-Warriors, will be published through her translation of Marie Darrieussecq’s ac-
CSIRO Publishing in June 2017. claimed novel, Tom is Dead. The Crying Place
is her latest novel.
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 33Marjorie Keighran Managirri is a Garrwa Kim Mahood is the author of two non-
fiction books, the recently-published
Renee McBryde majored in Community
Welfare at university. She has worked in
Glenn Morrison is a journalist living in
Alice Springs where he divides his time be-
singer, artist and senior member of the
memoir Position Doubtful, and the multi the community services sector for the tween a weekly newspaper column, media
Wurdaliya clan, whose freshwater country
award-winning Craft for a Dry Lake, last fifteen years, primarily working with and cultural research, and producing for
is near the Queensland border, south-east
published in 2000. She wrote the much- disadvantaged children. Renee currently local radio. In 2015 he earned a PhD from
of the remote town of Borroloola where
circulated essay ‘Kartiya are like Toyotas works in Child Protection for the Northern Macquarie University, and in 2016 lectured
she now lives. Marjorie was an active
– white workers on Australia’s cultural Territory government. She also teaches vari- in journalism at the University of Sydney.
initiator of the Gulf Country Songbook, and
frontier’, and her work is published in art, ous Community Welfare courses to upskill He is the author of Writing Home: Walking,
a major contributor. She says she was put
literary and current affairs journals. Kim other professionals within the sector. Renee Literature and Belonging in Australia’s Red
here to sing, and her Yanyuwa family often
grew up in Central Australia, and is a lives in Alice Springs with her husband and Centre (MUP 2017) and is working on a
invite her to sing with them. Marjorie also
regular visitor to Alice Springs. children. The House of Lies is her first book. trade book version for September release.
features in several Garrwa animations.
Anthony Lawrence has published sixteen Barbara Napanangka Martin has worked
all her life as a teacher at the Yuendumu
Jemima Miller a-Wuwarlu is a senior
Yanyuwa woman of the Mambaliya-
Sylvia Purrurle Neale is an Eastern
Arrernte woman born in Alice Springs.
books of poems. His books and individual
School. She continues to assist at the Wawukarriya clan, and a key contributor She is a grandmother and a great-grand-
poems have won many awards, including
school’s Bilingual Resource Development to the Gulf Country Songbook. She has been mother. She doesn’t regard herself as a
the Philip Hodgins Memorial Medal; The
Unit (BRDU) as well as working on other involved in many innovative cultural poet but as someone who puts her thoughts
Kenneth Slessor Poetry Prize (NSW Pre-
community-based cultural projects. She productions, and has been an important and feelings down in writing. Her work is
mier’s Award for Poetry); Josephine Ulrick
is a skilled Warlpiri to English transcriber teacher of Yanyuwa culture and language, published in Voice from the Heart (1995) and
Poetry Prize; Newcastle Poetry Prize; the
and translator and has also engaged on her traditional lands of Wubunjawa, and This Country Anywhere Anytime (2010).
Blake Poetry Prize; Judith Wright Calanthe
with senior women to figure out ways of around Australia. Jemima is a descendant
Award; Gwen Harwood Memorial Award.
representing traditional oral stories in of several highly regarded Yanyuwa singers Alex Nelson is a lifetime resident of Alice
Tim Low is a field biologist, writer, written form. and composers. She lives in Borroloola, NT. Springs. He grew up at the AIB Farm and
CSIRO, and was educated at the Convent
environmental consultant, and wildlife
photographer. He is the prize-winning
Laurie May is a Central Australian poet Meg Mooney has lived in central Australia School and ASHS. The swirling changes
hailing from the Gulf of Carpentaria. for 30 years, working with remote of the Whitlam era and NT self-govern-
author of six previous books, includ-
Forever searching for an understanding of Aboriginal communities most of that time. ment prompted a keen interest in politics
ing Feral Future and The New Nature,
her own identity Laurie explores themes Her third poetry collection, Being Martha’s and current affairs which morphed into
and a frequent contributor to Wildlife
of family, poverty and heartache and the Friend, was published by Ginninderra Press an appreciation of the importance and
Australia magazine. He lives in Brisbane,
‘new’ Australian identity. Laurie represented in 2015. Her other books are For the dry relevance of history. He contributes
Australia.
Alice in the Australian Poetry Slam in 2012 country: writing and drawings from the Centre frequently to local media.
and has gone on to perform at festivals (Ptilotus Press), a collaboration with artist
and stages and run workshops throughout Sally Mumford; and The Gap, co-winner of
Australia and New Zealand. The Picaro Poetry Prize in 2010.
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 35Abraham ‘Abe’ Nouk is the founder and Bruce Pascoe is a Bunurong, Tasmanian Craig San Roque lives in Central Australia. Leni Shilton is a poet, teacher and
director at Creative Rebellion Youth. and Yuin man based in Gipsy Point, a He has many published works on researcher. She has won the NT Literary
Sudanese-born Abe was illiterate when he remote corner of Far East Gippsland in psychological and inter-cultural issues. Awards numerous times, and in 2015 was
and his family arrived in Australia in 2004, Victoria. The author of over 20 books, his He also composes performance works short-listed in the University of Canberra
as UN High Commission designated refu- Young Adult novel, Fog a Dox (Magabala developed from classic mythic story lines Poetry Prize. In 2016 she completed a
gees, and is now an award-winning spoken- Books 2012), won the 2013 Prime Minister’s on themes of local issues, mixed relations PhD in creative writing based on the
word artist and poet, MC and author Young Adult fiction Award. In 2016, his and cultural preservation. Craig and Joshua life of little-known Central Australian
whose craft developed from a realisation of non-fiction book, Dark Emu (Magabala Santospirito produced the graphic novel A figure Bertha Strehlow. Leni is a founding
the freedom of speech. He self-published Books 2014) won the Book of the Year and Long Weekend in Alice Springs (NT Literary member of Ptilotus Press, a local
HUMBLE, his first collection, in 2013. the Indigenous Writer’s Prize in the NSW Award winner). They are now working publishing initiative which promotes
Premier’s Literary Awards. on Sydney/ Purgatorio, an historical crime Central Australian writing.
Dinah Norman a-Marrngawi is a multi- story set in East Sydney.
lingual Yanyuwa educator and senior Law Christopher Raja migrated to Doris Stuart Kngwarreye’ s family
woman. She is an author of the Gulf Country Melbourne from Kolkata in 1986, and Therese Ryder is a well known artist and has lived alongside the Todd River for
Songbook, and was instrumental in shaping now lives and works in Alice Springs. language teacher. She learned how to read countless generations. Alice Springs, or
the book’s written and digital Yanyuwa con- He is the co-author of the play The First and write her Arrernte language in work- Mparntwe, was her father’s traditional
tent. Dinah has contributed to the making Garden (Currency Press, 2012) and author shops run by Gavan Breen in 1983. She has ground. She is an Mparntwe-arenye
of ground-breaking albums and films, and of the novel, The Burning Elephant worked on many language projects, including woman – Apmereke artweye (traditional
the accuracy of the Yanyuwa Encyclopaedia, (Giramondo, 2015). the Eastern and Central Arrernte Dictionary, the owner) for Mparntwe and speaks Central
and has performed at places including the Keringke book about Arrernte artists at Arrernte.
Sydney Opera House. Dinah was born in a Karin Riederer is a co-author and the Ltyentye Apurte, the murals on the walls of
canoe travelling from her Wuyaliya country creative producer of Gulf Country Songbook: the Yeperenye Shopping centre, and many Margaret Kemarre Turner belongs to
of South West Island in the Gulf of Car- Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji Songs, a gospel translation projects. the Akarre people (Arrernte). Margaret
pentaria. Today she lives in Borroloola, NT. book she published on behalf of Waralungku is an interpreter, artist and author, and
Arts in Borroloola, NT. Karin is a creative Catherine Satour is a singer, performer, has taught language and culture at the
Maureen Jipyiliya Nampijimpa O’Keefe engineer of cultural initiatives, exhibitions tv presenter, producer and writer. Music is Institute for Aboriginal Development.
is a Warlpiri woman, born and raised in and festivals, pursuing ideas that evolve from in her blood, having played her first gig at 9 She is the co-author/translator of Iwenhe
Ali-Curung, south-east of Tennant Creek. thoughtful community engagement. She has years old at Amoonguna with her father Tyerrtye: What It Means to Be an Aboriginal
Maureen’s short stories and poems appear extensive arts worker experience in urban Bunna Lawrie and his legendary band Person (2010) with Barry McDonald and
in This Country Anytime Anywhere and in the and remote communities, and is a former Coloured Stone. An Arrernte and Mirning Bush Foods: Arrernte Foods of Central Australia
Red Room’s The Disappearing App. Maureen book publisher, editor and publicist. woman, she shares experiences of love and (1996) with Shawn Dobson and John
was a guest poet at the 2011 Sydney Writers’ place through songs that fuse rock and soul. Henderson.
Festival. She is a translator and interpreter.
NT WRITERS’ FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2017 37You can also read
