Byron Writers Festival

Classes from both our Primary and High School had an exciting trip to the Byron Writers Festival

Students attended different talks and events to help creativity, imagination and inspire a love of  learning English. As well as loving listening to some of their favourite authors, several of our students won awards for their creative writing: Coco Winchester in Class 11, Goldie Evans in Class 8 and Hazel Compton in Class 7 were highly commended for their submissions to the acclaimed Susie Warwick Award for Young Writers. 

Zachary Jane

Also at the Byron Writers Festival as a panel Chair and a slam poet was our very own English teacher and Class 12 Guardian, Zacharey Jane, author of a number of novels and for the second year in a row a finalist in the Slam Poetry competition. Zac will go on to compete in the NSW finals and hopefully, like last year, on to the Opera House stage as well. Good luck Zac!

Extension English students reflect on some of their favourite moments at the festival

“I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse range of novelists, poets, comedians, actors and journalists that brought forth their insights. They addressed profoundly relevant topics that covered political, societal, religious, and environmental issues through an accessible voice that reached not only enthusiastic readers but people who may have been taken by surprise at the relevance of writing.” – Tillie East-Lee

“I really enjoyed meeting one of my favourite authors, (fantasy writer) Lynette Noni, it was a surreal experience and I am very grateful for the opportunity” –Bella 

“Matt Condon and his experience of investigating corruption within the Queensland police as a journalist was engaging and provided me with a lot of insight into the nature of corruption as a societal issue in a country that is known for strict regulation and effective policing”. – Reuben

“The space of the writers festival was filled with so much knowledge and passion for literature, allowing every individual to become immersed within the experience as well as connecting with the authors on a personal level”. – Holly

“The power of poetry as an activism platform was highlighted for me after listening to Meena Kandasamy, a Tamil poet, novelist and anti-caste advocate”. – Tillie 

“We were allowed the space to sit and consider knowledge shared from renowned, up-and-coming, and independent authors, all who brought their own unique perspectives on their passions and interests”.- Indigo

“The whole day was extremely inspiring as there was a diverse range of conversation topics. I especially enjoyed listening to the True Crime session with Matthew Condon and Gideon Haigh. Walking out of this festival I felt so informed and had a different perspective on what it means to be a great journalist”. -Coco 

“The Ethics in Crime Writing talk gave me a new respect for the dedication and passion that investigative journalists and crime authors put into their work. The conversations were insightful and interesting, with unbelievable anecdotes such as interviewing a serial killer in San Quentin Death Row. This festival opened my eyes to how active writing can be as a profession, and I felt that the whole day was generally thought provoking and inspiring”. – Tonali