Festival 2013

Ita Buttrose - A Passionate Life

Best known and loved by Australians as the Editor of The Australian Women's Weekly Ita Buttrose has also made a lasting contribution to many aspects of our lives and culture. In this optimistic, humorous and courageous autobiography, Ita traces her working career - from 15 year old cadet journalist, through editorships of the Weekly, Cleo and ITA magazines, to heading up the National Advisory Council on AIDS, working with World Vision and accepting broad-ranging public speaking engagements. Ita shares with us the insights and philosophical views she has developed through her rich and diverse experiences: she gives us glimpses into the inner workings of the Australia media, politics and the arts, as well as allowing us into the more personal aspects of her life as a working mother. A Passionate Life is the uniquely Australian perspective of a remarkable, influential and always passionate woman. Ita Buttrose is the 2013 Australian of the Year.

Ita Buttrose will be in conversation with Celebrity Moderator, Lisa Forrest.

Lisa Forrest - Moderator

Lisa became a household name when she burst onto the international swimming scene in 1978 as a 14 year old school girl – with an infectious grin and bright personality she quickly became the darling of Australian sport. Following a highly successful swimming career at both Commonwealth and Olympic levels, Lisa has since become a multi-published author, M.C, TV host, and mother. Her engagement with her audiences is always insightful, funny and inspiring.

Helen O’Neill -  David Jones:175 Years

Helen is an award-winning journalist and author whose work has appeared around the world. A former staff journalist   on The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and Vogue Australia, she has written biographies on the iconic Australian designer Florence Broadhurst, yachtsman David Pescud and (due for release November 2013) the architect Harry Seidler. Her latest book, David Jones’ 175 Years, tells the remarkable of story of Australia’s best-known and oldest department store. DJs’ main store is still operating in Elizabeth St, Sydney, nearby The Women’s Club.

Kate Forsyth -  Wild Girl

Kate Forsyth is the internationally bestselling author of more than twenty books, including The Witches of Eileanan and Rhiannon's Ride series for adults, and The Puzzle Ring, The Gypsy Crown, and The Starthorn Tree for children. She has won and been nominated for numerous awards and her books have been published in 13 different countries. Kate is currently undertaking a doctorate in fairytale retellings at the University of Technology. Her latest book, Wild Girl, is about one of the great untold love stories - how the Grimm brothers discovered their famous fairy tales - filled with drama and passion, and taking place during the French Revolution.

Elizabeth Lhuede – The Australian Women Writers’ Challenge

Are male authors more likely to have their books reviewed in influential newspapers, magazines and literary journals than female authors? They are, according to VIDA count, an analysis of major book reviewing publications in North America and Europe. In the lead-up to 2012, Australia’s National Year of Reading, Elizabeth decided to help redress this imbalance and raise awareness of Australian women’s writing. She created the Australian Women Writers’ Challenge contacting librarians, booksellers, publishers, book bloggers, English teachers and authors, and invited them to examine their reading habits, and commit to reading and reviewing more books by Australian women throughout 2012. The Challenge is continuing in 2013 with a new blog, a new look and a great new team.

Helen Trinca – Madeleine: A Life of Madeleine St John

Madeleine St John was the first Australian woman to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her novels sparkle with warmth and wit and yet her own life reveals a far more troubled story of loss and abandonment. Spanning the twentieth century, this book is an unforgettable insight into the life of a fiercely talented and highly-acclaimed Australian writer.

Helen has co-written several other books and held senior reporting and editing roles in Australian journalism, including a stint as Australia’s London correspondent, and is currently Managing Editor of the Australian.

SUSANNAH FULLERTON -  HAPPILY EVER AFTER: CELEBRATING JANE AUSTEN’S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Guest presenter Susannah Fullerton launched her literary history, Happily Ever After: Celebrating Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, to coincide with the 2nd centenary celebration in 2013 of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. In polls conducted around the world, Pride and Prejudice is regularly chosen as the favourite novel of all time. Here is the tale of how Austen’s book came to be written with a discussion of the famous characters – sex-symbol Mr Darcy, charming heroine Elizabeth Bennet, and the superb range of comic characters who make readers laugh again and again. 

Susannah looks at the style of the novel – its wicked irony, its brilliant structuring, its revolutionary use of the technique known as ‘free indirect speech’. Pride and Prejudice has morphed into many strange and interesting forms – screen adaptations, sequels, prequels and updates. Happily Ever After explores these, and the wilder shores of zombies, porn, dating manuals, T-shirts, tourism and therapy.