2017 Festival Presenters

Key note speaker, Andrew Denton, Leading Australian polymath, will open proceedings on Friday night sharing some of over 70 stories he heard while interviewing for his book “The Damage Done”. The Damage Done is a collection of testimonies that describe the suffering across Australia caused by the absence of a law for voluntary euthanasia. Available as a free e-book at

Bryan Dawe, local and national author, political commentator and speaker extraordinaire will assist us throughout the weekend with introductions to a range of speakers and also give up some time to present A Satirist’s Journey. Click here to visit Bryan Dawe’s website.

Kutcha Edwards says “ Music is not what I do, it is who I am. My songs may be contemporary but they are more than 40,000 years old. They come through me from my ancestors and my people…and they tell our stories”. Kutcha will share some of those beautiful stories with us in his celebrated session. Click here to visit Kutcha Edwards’s website.

Dr. Rodney Syme, Vice President of Dying with Dignity and author of the book “A Good Death”, will speak on his work and his advocacy for people wishing to die with dignity. He will share his experience of working towards law reform and his support for terminally ill people and their families. Click here to view Dr. Rodney Syme’s bio

Stephanie Dale is an award-winning journalist and author with a background of 25 years in media, politics and publishing. She is a skilled media trainer and writing coach whose passions are walking very long distances and writing. Stephanie has published two books: the travel memoir My Pilgrim’s Heart and the novel Hymn for the Wounded Man, which won the 2011 Independent Publisher Book Award for Best Fiction (Australia/NZ). She is the founder of The Four Rights Movement, which is dedicated to

Andrew Jobling, author, motivational speaker, ex-pro footballer, and self made success, will speak about what it takes to write and publish a book. If you have big ambitions but lack the motivation to achieve them, Andrew’s presentation will be a great place to start you on your path to success. Click here to visit Andrew Jobling’s website

Adam Wallace is a three-time New York Bestselling author and cartoonist who has written over 40 books, all of them very serious (not!). He has also illustrated six books. Adam’s books are filled with humour, crazy antics, and sometimes even a little grossness. Sometimes. In the gross books. Join Adam Wallace to find out how he gets ideas for his crazy stories, creating characters and making true events fun. Then delve into the world of cartooning, as Adam teaches you some warm up techniques bef

, Olympic medallist and former Senator, whose book “My Story” the autobiography of Nova Peris was published in 2003 before she went into politics, explores her sporting and family stories. She will join us and speak on her public and cultural life. Click here to view Nova Peris’s bio.

Nicole Kelly will be doing a live reading of her children’s book series “Peanut Monkey” in the library for the children to enjoy. Click here to visit Nicole Kelly’s website Click here to find out about Nicole’s live reading of her book series “Peanut Monkey”.

Local resident, Kylie Jones, author of “The Other Woman”, will share the story that lead her to write her book and why writing it has had a profound impact on her life and the lives of her daughters.    Recently interviewed by Richard Fidler for Conversations Kylie has said that she wanted to share a side of the transgender story that she felt was missing from the public debate. While the book is a true and honest account of the loss of a husband and dad it also gave Kylie the opportunity to ex

Suri, once a child author of Magabala Books ‘The best little knitter in the West’ is now an member of Short Black Opera Company’s ‘Pecan Summer’. He is a playwright, professional actor, dancer, choreographer and is a teaching artist for Melbourne Theatre Company. A jack of all trades Suri also produces and presents 94.9FMs Urban Dreaming radio show. Click here to view Sermsah Suri Bin Saad’s bio

Author and Aboriginal storyteller, Boori will discuss how the stories of Aboriginal people are told and how important their oral history is to the story of Australia as a whole. Born in Townsville, Boori has lead a diverse and exciting life. An accomplished didgeridoo player, playing with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra, he has travelled the country as a public speaker and storyteller. His first book, Maybe Tomorrow was written in collaboration with Meme McDonald and has been followed by the awa

Film makers Joe and John Fairhurst will discuss their research into the story of the Seaside Garden Home for Boys in Newhaven in the early years of Phillip Island settlement and the tragic death of a young boy in 1933 and the subsequent trials of the home’s superintendent.

Joe Fairhurst was working for the Age when he came across the story of the Superintendent of a Boy’s Home on Phillip Island, who killed 2 youngsters in his care. One death was in 1926 and the other in 1933. To protect his research, Joe wrote a Play on the killings. It won the Lyrebird Award for best one-act Play of the year. Click here to view Joe & John Fairhurst’s’s bios

The Bass Coast Pickers, formed to foster live acoustic music events and opportunities for people of all abilities to join in making music together, will lead a workshop on telling your story through song and will perform as part of the festival on Saturday night. Alison – Guitar, Mary – Banjo, Michael – Guitar and Rod on Double Bass and Mandolin make up this Bluegrass based band of musicians who are seen at venues all over the Bass Coast and often host visiting bands as part of their connection

Gregor Buchanan will discuss his book “Penguin Land” that tells the remarkable story of an 80 year battle to save the Phillip Island penguin colony and what can arise when development interests and property rights collide with the environment and precious wildlife – the much loved little penguins. It is believed to be the first time human settlement was displaced for a single animal species anywhere in the world.

Safina Stewart, contemporary Aboriginal artist and teacher and winner of the 2011 Victorian Eastern Region NAIDOC Art Award produces acrylic paintings that are vibrant in colour and fluid in the line work. Click here to visit Safina Stewart’s website.

Local artist Patrice Mahoney, winner of the 2014 Federation University Australia Acquisitive Award at the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards, her work Jobs, Policy and LOST is the sad story of her family history. Click here to view Patrice Mahoney’s bio

Sue Saliba, Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary award for her young adult fiction book, “Something in the world called Love” and nominated for both the APA design Awards and the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, this highly acclaimed author will share with us her most recent literary work for young people “For the Forest of a Bird” and how she writes for a younger reader. Click here to view Sue Saliba’s bio.

Peter Dann will share with us the story of the Summerlands Golf Course, established in the late 1920’s the course was adjacent to the site of the Penguin Parade on the western extremity of the island. From those early beginnings, it has evolved into a popular and vibrant club for locals and visitors alike. Mary Whelan will provide a historical look at the guesthouses, the game of golf and the first course which was established on the Summerlands estate. Click here to view Peter Dann’s bio.

Lenka is an ensemble member, facilitator and creative director at Melbourne Playback Theatre Company. She currently works across Victoria for Melbourne Theatre Company as a teaching artist. Lenka is a connector and has been engaged to develop strategic partnerships through out regional Australia for companies such as Phunktional Ltd and Ilbijerri Theatre. Both artists use the arts to plant the seeds for innovative community building outcomes in corporate, government and community settin

Carolyn Landon, long-time resident and member of the Ibis Writers, will speak about her latest and much acclaimed book “Banksia Lady,” which tells the fascinating story of Celia Rosser, Botanical Artist. Carolyn will speak on the complexities of writing someone else’s story. Click here to view Dr. Carolyn Landon’s bio

Local Poet and Slam Poetry winner Mike Cleeland says “I like to play a role in maintaining a tradition in bush poetry and the telling of interesting stories that deserve to be told”. Mike will bring his unique style of poetry to the festival in our very own Slam event. Click here to view Mike Cleeland’s bio

Dr. Stacey Davie and Dr. Andrew Lewandowski will discuss working with communities overseas in particular the provision of health education in Cambodia. They will share their stories of volunteering for the Growing Cambodia organisation which provides funding for school and other educational and health programs in Cambodia. Click here to view Dr. Davies & Dr. Lewandowski’s bios

vid Vincent, a young South Sudanese man who came to Melbourne as a refugee will talk about his memoir “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Die”. Recounting his story as a child soldier, spending almost twenty years in refugee camps until he was granted a humanitarian visa to live in Australia. Since coming to Australia he has completed a double BA, worked with young people in community development programs and coached a football team. He has many stories to tell. Click here to view David Vincent’s bio