UON researchers represent at Newcastle Writers Festival

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

University of Newcastle researchers will be out in force at the fifth annual Newcastle Writers Festival on Friday 7 – Sunday 9 April. With a range of programs over three days, the breadth of our researchers’ talents will be highlighted in an array of sessions. From chairing panels, moderating debate, to providing insight on a novel topic, 11 University of Newcastle representatives are featured in the program.

To whet your appetite, here are a few highlights:

A packed crowd enjoys an event from the 2016 Newcastle Writers Festival

Book Launch – The Restorer

Dr Michael Sala, Scholarly Teaching Fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, will launch his eagerly anticipated second novel, The Restorer during the Festival.  Dr Sala’s last novel The Last Thread, won the NSW Premier’s Award for New Writing and the Commonwealth Book Prize (Pacific region) in 2013. Read more about the book.


Living with the Locals

Professor John Maynard and Professor Victoria Haskins will talk about their recently published book Living with the Locals - Early Europeans’ Experience of Indigenous Life, which provides a fascinating insight into the experiences of 13 individuals who were taken in my Aboriginal people and lived with them with mutual respect between the 1790s and the 1870s. Read more about the session.


Violence: A Conversation

Professor Joanna Bourke, Global Innovation Chair at the Centre for the History of Violence will join with Professor Philip Dwyer, Director of the Centre for the History of Violence, on stage. Their presentation will cover the history of violence and will touch on topics as broad as warfare, killing and mass killing, sexual abuse and rape. Read more about the session.


Below is a full list of University of Newcastle representatives at the 2017 Newcastle Writers Festival.

  • Yarn Spinners - A celebration of Dymphna Cusack, Florence James and Miles Franklin. Marilla North in conversation Dr Ann Hardy. 11am 7th April, Mulubinba Room, City Hall.
  • From the page to the stage - With playwrights Carl Caulfield and Pamela Whalan. Hosted by Felicity Biggins. 12.30pm 7th April, Cummings Room, City Hall.
  • Every Sentence Counts - The art of the short story. With Ryan O’Neill, Isabelle Li and Maria Takolander. Hosted by  Dr Michael Sala. 10am 8th April, Cummings Room, City Hall.
  • On Location - Newcastle as a setting. With Wendy James, Andy Muir and Dr Michael Sala and Dr Keri Glastonbury. 11.30am 8th April, Cummings Room, City Hall.
  • In Harm’s Way - Exploring the impact of violence. With Sarah Armstrong, Emily Maguire and Dr Michael Sala. Hosted by Suzanne Leal. 1.15pm 8th April, Concert Hall, City Hall.
  • Reporting from the Edge - With Gary Ramage and Matthew Thompson. Hosted by Paul Scott. 1.15pm 8th April, Hunter Room City Hall.
  • Love and Other Catastrophes: Exploring Relationships - With Belinda Alexandra, Dr Kathryn Heyman and Fiona Higgins. Hosted by Meredith Jaffé. Tickets $22. 1.15pm 8th April, Cummings Room, City Hall.
  • Knowledge is Power - Nobel Prize-winner Professor Peter Doherty in conversation with Professor John Germov. Tickets $22. 5.45pm 8th April, Civic Theatre.
  • Trumped: Is this the End of Satire? - With Charles Firth, Ryan O’Neill and Jonathan Biggins. Hosted by Linda Jaivin. Tickets $22. 5.45pm 8th April, Concert Hall, City Hall.
  • Time Travellers - Historians on their craft. With Tom Griffiths and Grace Karskens, hosted by Dr Nancy Cushing. 10am 9th April. Mulubinba Room, City Hall.
  • Close to Home - How living in the Hunter region shapes the work of Matthew Thompson and Ed Wright. Hosted by Mark Mordue. 10am 9th April, Port of Newcastle Marquee.
  • Rock this City - Live music in Newcastle from the 1970s to 80s. Gaye Sheather in conversation with Dr Phillip McIntyre. 2.45pm 9th April, Newcastle Museum.
  • Getting Even - The Politics of Resentment. With Jonathan Biggins, Charles Firth, George Megalogenis and Chris Uhlmann. Hosted by Paul Scott 1.15pm 9th April, Cummings Room, City Hall.
  • Songs of a war boy - Deng Adut in conversation with UON’s Felicity Biggins. Tickets $22. 3pm 9th April, Civic Theatre.

Check out the full program here.