Words Out West
Kurt Fearnley
John Marsden
Fleur McDonald
Rachael Treasure
We know that sometimes Writers Festivals can seem a little stuffy, so Words Out West is taking a different approach.
We’re not just interested in words that sit on a page, but words that do — words that inspire, words that uncover, words that excite, and even words that teach you how to bake a cake.
Words Out West features five distinct programs for readers and writers from the Western Downs and beyond. Discover more about what you can expect from Words Out West!
Kurt Fearnley AO
Australian wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley AO, is one of Australia’s most well known and respected athletes. Kurt has competed in marathons and paralympic events around the globe and famously crawled the 96km Kokoda track. In 2005, Kurt was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia or OAM after winning a gold medal at the Athens Paralympic Games. In 2018 Kurt received an Officer of the Order of Australia or AO, and in 2019 was awarded the NSW Australian of the Year. Kurt’s memoir is titled Pushing the Limits.
Where to see Kurt...
John Marsden
John Marsden has written more than 40 books, mostly for teenagers and children, including Tomorrow When the War Began, So Much to Tell You, and Letters from the Inside. He has sold over five million books worldwide, and has won every major award in Australia for young people’s fiction.
Where to see John...
Fleur McDonald
Bestselling author Fleur McDonald is a leading rural literature author and is one of the country’s favourite storytellers. Her books are inspired by her childhood on her parent’s property in SA and more recently, her life on her property in WA. Fleur’s works include Red Dust, Crimson Dawn and Suddenly One Summer.
Where to see Fleur...
Rachael Treasure
Rachael Treasure is a mother, regenerative agriculturalist and author of rural fiction such as Fifty Bales of Hay, The Farmer’s Wife and most recently White Horses. Rachael’s stories showcase contemporary rural women, and her first novel, Jillaroo has become an iconic work of fiction, kick starting a boom of rural women’s fiction.
Where to see Rachael...
Tony Park
Tony Park was born in 1964 and grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, a public relations consultant and a government press secretary and now makes a full time living as an author. Tony also served 34 years in the Army Reserve, including six months in Afghanistan in 2002. He and his wife, Nicola, first visited southern Africa in 1995 on what was supposed to be a once in a lifetime holiday. They now divide their time equally each year between Australia and South Africa, where they own a home on the edge of the Krurger National Park. Tony is the author of 17 thriller novels set in Africa and six biographies.
Where to see Tony...
David Fagan
David Fagan is an author, journalist and former editor of The Courier Mail. David spent more than thirty years in journalism mainly in the fields of business and politics at The Courier Mail and The Australian. David’s works include Wake Up: The nine hashtags of digital disruption and Has the luck run out? What’s going wrong. What’s going right. And what can we do to redefine Australia’s future.
Where to see David...
Isobelle Carmody
Isobelle Carmody is an award winning young adult, sci-fi author. Her works include Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering.
Where to see Isobelle...
Hayley Maudsley
Hayley Maudsley is the author of My Smoko Break and leads an enthusiastic online community of rural cooks via her Facebook page of the same name. My Smoko Break features more than 200 recipes the whole family will love, along with useful tips for around the house, inspired by life with her husband and three kids in rural Queensland.
Where to see Hayley...
Stig Wemyss
Stig Wemyss is Australia’s most loved narrator of audiobooks for children and young adults and has narrated stories from Andy Griffiths, Paul Jennings, Tim Winton and more. Stig has released his own audiobook series The Tripp Diaries. Stig’s narration of Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton was named the Audio Book of the Year Award at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Where to see Stig...
Paula Doneman
Paula Doneman is a multi-award winning crime and investigative journalist who has worked in newspapers and television for 28 years. The Walkley award winner is a true crime author and podcaster who is 7NEWS Brisbane’s Crime Editor.
Her varied reporting career has spanned from interviews with the likes of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Sarah Ferguson the Duchess of York while working in New York, to the colourful gamut of Queensland’s criminal justice system.
Where to see Paula...
Alison Sandy
Alison Sandy is an award-winning journalist and the nation’s first female Freedom of Information Editor. Alison produces The Lady Vanishes, a number one true crime podcast that explores the story of Marion Barter, who boarded a plane to Europe in 1997 and was never seen again.
Where to see Alison...
Mark Guthrie
Mark Guthrie is originally from a small town in north-eastern Victoria called Strathmerton. One of those blink and you miss it places that are prevalent in Australia. His upbringing was the family dairy farm where he chased and milked many cows but more often drew them, so he (and his parents) thought it a good idea for him study art. Which he did. After obtaining a Bachelor of Visual Arts majoring in Illustration from Griffith University in Brisbane he worked in animation with Walt Disney Animation Australia in Sydney. His film credits include An Extremely Goofy Movie, The Little Mermaid 2, Peter Pan – Return to Neverland, Jungle Book 2, Lion King 3, The 3 Mouseketeers and Lilo and Stitch – Stitch Has a Glitch. He also worked in TV animation for the Disney Channel and Warner Bros.
He returned to Brisbane to pursue his true passion in art which is straight Illustration and Cartooning. He has authored and illustrated children’s books for Scholastic Australia, Koala Books, Blake Publishing, Random House, Pearson Education and Cengage Learning.
He is a syndicated Illustrator/Cartoonist and his children’s features Nutcrackers, PicPuzzles and Kids Boot Camp are seen weekly throughout Australia in Sydney’s The Sunday Telegraph, Alice Springs Centralian Advocate, the Adelaide Sunday Mail and The West Australian. His single panel cartoon titled Bottled Fruit are published weekly in West Australian and Victorian country newspapers.
Where to see Mark...
Sophie Volker
Sophie Volker is a producer for ABC Radio National. She works on Drive and The Drawing Room to cover a wide range of stories every day – including federal politics, breaking news, world affairs, science and arts. Having grown up in Dalby, Sophie has always loved telling the stories that matter to regional and rural Australians, and she loves having the opportunity to share those stories to a national audience on RN. Sophie has previously produced for triple j and ABC News Online, and also worked as a News Reporter for ABC Southern Queensland, filing for radio, online and television.
Where to see Sophie...
Gregg Dreise
Gregg Dreise is a gifted artist, storyteller and musician, and he features the didgeridoo and guitar in his performances at schools, libraries and festivals. He is a descendant of the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi people of south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales.
He is the author and illustrator of Cunning Crow; Silly Birds; Kookoo Kookaburra; Mad Magpie and My Culture and Me. All of these stories are about teaching morals. They address self-image, friendship, kindness, bullying and indigenous culture.
Gregg is also the illustrator of the classic story Tiddalik the Frog, and has poetry with his illustrations in the anthology A Boat of Stars; and illustrations in High 5 to the Boys and contributions towards Why I Love Australia. He has a Children’s Music CD titled Sing. Dance. Walk Together.
He is very proud to be an ambassador of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation a charity that brings books, laughter, confidence and fun to remote communities around Australia. Teeny Weeny Yikiyikini and I Open the Door were collaborations with students from remote Indigenous communities.
Travelling to schools all over Australia and other countries of the world has continually expanded his love of his profession. He is proud to work with Magabala Books; Panguin Random House; Pearson Publishing; ABC Books; Harper Collins; and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Where to see Gregg...
Jo Cuskelly
Jo Cuskelly is a Dalby-based artist and illustrator. Jo’s work includes the Speech Pathology of Australia Book Award’s shortlisted children’s book, Roses are NOT Red, illustrated by Jo and written by Scott Rheuben.
Where to see Jo...
Harry Clarke
Harry Clarke is a Nine News journalist originally from Chinchilla, where he started his career with the Chinchilla News and wider Surat Basin News group. He’s since worked as a writer for New Corp publications The Courier Mail and The Cairns Post, before moving to broadcast journalist with the Nine Network. After three years producing and reporting in the weird, wacky and wonderful world of A Current Affair, Harry moved to Nine News, where he is a daily reporter for the Queensland bulletin and national morning show, Today.
Where to see Harry...
Lydia Burton
Lydia Burton grew up on the Darling Downs immersed in her family’s beef cattle operation and her Dad’s livestock agency business. Growing up she thought he had the best job in the world – travelling around the bush, talking to farmers and spending time with livestock. But, knowing that being a livestock agent wasn’t for her – she decided to study a Bachelor of Entertainment Industries at the Queensland University of Technology – during which, she interned with ABC Rural’s Queensland Country Hour. It was then that she discovered that being a Rural Reporter for the ABC was the best job in the world!
After interning with ABC Rural for several months, she was offered the ABC Western Queensland Rural Reporter position – which she says set her career up. After three years in western Queensland, she took up the Northern Territory Country Hour presenter position and was then promoted to be the Executive Producer of the program – making her the youngest ever Country Hour EP, at just 24 years of age. Lydia then decided to head home to Queensland at the start of 2019 to be the Southern Queensland Rural Reporter – putting her back in touch with the area she grew up in.
Over the last six years Lydia has reported on radio, online and television including for programs such as Landline and the ABC News.
To summarise, Lydia is an extremely passionate and enthusiastic rural journalist – in fact she once cried telling her boss how much she loved her job.
Where to see Lydia...
Karen Land
Karen Land is an experienced and trusted Naturopath, focused on empowering her clients and assisting them holistically to achieve optimal health, using herbal and nutritional medicine.
She is also a secondary school teacher, wife and mother. Her latest accomplishment is her self- published recipe book ‘Eat well, be well’- consisting of over 60 simple, delicious, healthy recipes designed for the everyday person as well as those suffering from lifestyle conditions. The book encourages people to get back to eating real food.
Karen is a passionate educator, helping her clients be the best version of themselves.
Where to see Karen...
Jane Grieve
Jane Grieve is the author of 2 books – one, SLIPPIN’ ON THE LINO, a self-published collection of short family humour stories, published in the Courier Mail during the nineties; and the other, a memoir IN STOCKMEN’S FOOTSTEPS, published by Allen & Unwin.
She read the Slippin’ on the Lino stories over the ABC breakfast show for several years.
Jane has written in a freelance capacity for a number of publications including the Courier Mail, Highlife Magazine, the West End Magazine, People n Places, several short-story books. Her writing has been in print many times during the past 20 years.
Jane grew up near Bowenville on the Darling Downs, travelled widely, and was closely involved with the establishment of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. She raised her family outside Warwick and now lives in Dalby and runs the family motel, the Country Pathfinder Motor Inn.
Where to see Jane...
Main Festival Days @ MyALL 107
Saturday 15 February – From 9.30am
Sunday 16 February – From 10am
Held at MyALL 107, the Main Festival Days combine the best of local and national talent in the writing realm. Concurrent sessions will feature keynote presentations, panels and workshops across a number of genres.
What else can I expect?
Dymocks will be on site with a selection of books available to purchase all day Saturday, and Sunday until 12pm.
There will be ample FREE parking available at both venues.
The following food vendors will be available at the event;
Please bring CASH on the day, as not all vendors will have EFTPOS facilities.
Big Buddy Coffee (Sat, Sun)
Urban Paddock (Sat, Sun)
C’est Cheese (Late Sat, Sun)
Colin’s Donuts (Sat)
Butchers Pantry (Sat, Sun)
Collaborative Storytelling Through Play
Saturday 15 February – 10am, 11.30am, and 1pm (1 hour sessions)
Held in the Library at MyALL107, will be a series of exhibition Dungeons & Dragons games to showcase the power of collaborative storytelling through the lens of fantasy role playing games.
There will be three interactive sessions throughout the day targeted at beginners of all ages.
Bookings will be made available on the day, and seats will be strictly limited, so please make sure to book in on arrival to avoid missing out!
Experience a night of refined country glamour at the recently refurbished Dalby Events Centre.
Kurt Fearnley, author and paralympian, will be our very special guest speaker for the night.
Stig Wemyss, award winning audiobook narrator (think Trent Dalton, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton) will be your
host thanks to generous support from our sponsor, Bolinda Publishing.
Live music, dancing and a cash bar will round out the night which promises to be one to remember.
Hidden away amongst the ancient trees of the Bunya Mountains…
An intimate group of emerging authors will discover how to think, write, publish and promote like an expert in an immersive writing retreat experience.
Delivered in conjunction with Queensland Writer’s Centre.
Novel In A Day: Plot Structure, Character Arcs & Everything Else with Christine Wells
Join us at Poppies on the Hill Cafe for a Novel In a Day!
From inspiration to finished draft, this workshop covers everything you need to know about generating ideas and developing them into a workable premise for a novel, structuring your story for maximum emotional impact and creating a powerful character arc for your protagonist. Whether you are an inexperienced writer seeking guidance on how to begin or a more advanced writer wanting to make your stories better and more marketable, this workshop is for you.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive the day before and participate in a social dinner to be held on Thursday night 13 February at the The Bunyas Coffee Shop & Tavern at 6.00pm.
Lunch and morning/afternoon refreshments will be provided on Friday 14 February as part of the Retreat ticket price. All other meals and accommodation (including the social event on Thursday night) are the responsibility of the attendee.
About Christine:
Christine Wells is a former corporate lawyer who gave up her career to write full-time. She was the first Australian to win the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award and she has since published 13 novels which have been translated variously into German, Dutch, Spanish, Brazilian, Portuguese, Russian and Japanese.
Local early education centres and schools are invited to engage with key literacy themes through a range of workshops, presentations and hands-on activities at MyALL 107, the cultural hub of Dalby.
See the full Friday program here
All bookings can be made through Dalby Library via email or by phoning 1300 COUNCIL.
Get your class booked in quickly. Places are strictly limited.
Will there be books available for purchase at the event?
Yes! Dymocks will be on site with a selection of books available to purchase all day Saturday, and Sunday until 12pm.
Will there be food available at the event?
Yes. The following vendors will be available at the event, however, please bring CASH on the day, as not all vendors will have EFTPOS facilities.
Big Buddy Coffee (Sat, Sun)
Urban Paddock (Sat, Sun)
C’est Cheese (Late Sat, Sun)
Colin’s Donuts (Fri, Sat)
Butchers Pantry (Sat, Sun)
Will there be parking available at the event?
Yes. There will be ample FREE parking at both venues.
Can I bring my Registered Carer?
If you would like to bring your registered carer along, please contact dalby.library@nullwdrc.qld.gov.au or 1300 COUNCIL to arrange your booking.
Can I bring my children to the Saturday and Sunday events?
Storytime in the Park is well suited for young families and no tickets are required.
The Saturday and Sunday events at MyALL 107 and the Dalby Events Centre a primarily targeted at audiences over 15 yrs. However, parents and carers who would like to accompany their under 15 year old children may do so at their own discretion. Tickets are required for all attendees.
Schools Day (Friday 14 February)
Can anyone come along to the School Day, or only school students?
The Friday program is focused on school age children and as such the workshops and presentations are geared towards this audience.
Other adults and children are welcome to attend but must register in advance. An entry fee of $5 applies to all attendees.
What do I get for my $5 entry fee to the School Day?
Admission to the Schools Day is $5 for students, children and accompanying adults. Admission includes a range of interactive workshops and performances. A complimentary sausage-on-bread and bottle of water will be supplied between 11am and 2pm.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer alternative dietary options, however attendees are welcome to bring their own packed lunch.
How can I register for the School Day?
If your child is attending with their school they are already registered. If you would like to bring your child along you can register by emailing the team at Dalby Library or by phoning 1300 COUNCIL.
Writers Retreat (Friday 14 February)
Unless otherwise stated, Queensland Writers Centre workshops are suitable for participants aged 16 years and over. If you are under 18 years of age, please check with us for suitability before purchasing a ticket.
Membership of Queensland Writers Centre is not essential but is highly encouraged so participants can get the best from the workshop and be part of a community of fellow writers. Become a member here.
What are my transport/parking/accommodation options for getting to and from the Writers Retreat?
Information on getting to the Bunya Mountains can be found at Bunya Mountains National Park web page, Bunya Mountains Accommodation Centre, The Bunyas website and Southern Queensland Country.
What can I bring into the Writers Retreat?
You can bring either pen and paper or a laptop along with you to write with. If you do bring a laptop, please remember to bring a power adaptor if necessary.
How can I contact the organiser with any questions?
You can contact the Words Out West Writers Retreat coordinator on 1300 COUNCIL or by emailing library@nullwdrc.qld.gov.au. Or contact Queensland Writers Centre by phone on 07 3842 9922 or email us at admin@nullqldwriters.org.au
What’s the Writers Retreat refund policy?
If Western Downs Regional Council or Queensland Writers Centre cancels an event, we will try to reschedule it for a later date. If we cannot reschedule the event, or if you are unable to attend on the amended date, your payment will be refunded in full.
Except in special circumstances, if you cancel a booking for, or are unable to attend an event, workshop, seminar, or course, a refund cannot be provided. However, transferring your ticket to someone else can be arranged prior to the event. You can contact the Words Out West Writers Retreat Coordinator to discuss your situation on 1300 COUNCIL or email library@nullwdrc.qld.gov.au or Queensland Writers Centre on 07 3842 9922 or email us at admin@nullqldwriters.org.au
Writers Retreat Terms and Conditions
All information is correct at the time of publication. We reserve the right to make changes to the advertised program information (including course content and tutors), but if this occurs, we will try to provide as much notice as possible.
We expect that all participants will behave respectfully and professionally towards their tutor and fellow students. We reserve the right to remove anyone who behaves in an aggressive or disruptive manner. If a participant is asked to leave the class on this basis, we will not offer a refund.
We cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or expense sustained by students as a result of an event or circumstance whether arising from natural causes, human agency or beyond our control otherwise.
Festival Days
The workshop I want to attend has multiple sessions. Do I need to attend all of them?
No, each session is a standalone workshop. Where there are multiple sessions the same workshop will be repeated.
Are any of the sessions interactive?
All workshop sessions will be interactive. All other sessions are presentations or performances. Featured Author sessions will include a short time for questions and answers.
What is a Featured Author session?
Featured Authors will deliver a keynote style presentation on various topics of their choosing, from their own lives and backgrounds and their work as writers and authors, to their writing styles and techniques. Each Featured Author session will also include a short time for questions and answers.
Will there be food and drinks available at the festival?
Yes, we will have a range of food and drinks options available to purchase at the festival on Saturday and Sunday.
I can no longer attend the festival, can I get a refund?
In the event that you are unable to attend your registered sessions, refunds will be available until 10am Friday 14 February 2020. After 10am on Friday 14 February, refunds will not be provided except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of WDRC.
In the event that WDRC cancels any presentations, workshops, sessions, or the event, a full refund will be offered to all attendees impacted.
WDRC reserves the right to make changes to the Words Out West program or cancel the event at any time without notice.
Gala Dinner
What dietary options will be available at the Gala Dinner?
Vegetarian and gluten free options are available.
What is the dress code for the Gala Dinner?
Dress Code for the Gala is Cocktail.
What is included in the ticket price?
The ticket price includes an evening with author and athlete Kurt Fearnley AO, a sumptuous three course meal and live entertainment.
A cash bar will be operating throughout the evening.
Dalby
Where can I get accommodation in Dalby?
There are several motels and accommodation options available in Dalby. When calling to book, make sure to indicate that you are attending Words Out West.
Where is Dalby?
Dalby is the largest town in the Western Downs, an easy 2.5 hour drive from Brisbane.
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