Can a book change the world? David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator, explored the critical need of ecological writing for our transition to a carbon positive low-energy future.

Author Cate Kennedy’s short story collections are currently on the VCE English syllabus. In this session she gave us an insider scoop on the stories, their themes, how she wrote them, and how we can craft our own short stories for assessment.

Hosted by Dr Miin Chan, this session was filled with the passion fueled stories of Australia’s pioneers in artisanal, small scale baking, from growers to millers, bakers, activists and researchers.

Best-selling author and feminist commentator, Clementine Ford was joined by festival director, Maia Irell and Lauren Mathews.

Daylesford favourites, Ross Gillett, an Australian multi-award winning poet, and Richard Perry, a Canadian emeritus professor of Asian Arts read and discussed some of their favorite poems of Change and Chance.

Leading historian Bain Attwood discussed the impact of white settlement/invasion on Aboriginals in Central Victoria.

We had a fantastic line up of workshops  this year… From lyric writing, storytelling slams, learning to write for kids, to overcoming nerves with some spoken word poetry.

Kevin Childs asks rising star of Iranian literature, Shokoofeh Azar and prolific local author Dee White, how to write good fiction based on factual events.

Nick Ritar showed us some low-tech mushroom cultivation methods and Nick and Kirsten Bradley shared some tips from their brand new book Milkwood – Real skills for down-to-earth living.

Renown harpsichordist Ann Morgan was joined by soprano Vivien Hamilton and Alison Catanach playing baroque flute. They played a delightful ‘winter’ themed programme of classical works.

Shari Kocher – Ode to Earth

Runners up: Michael Farrell – Nature is a Misreading, JP Quinton – The Dingo Poem.  Honourable mentions:  Connor Weightman – Plastic Free July,  Dennis Garvey – Three Teared Wedding Cake.

With and entertaining story about pillow forts…

With her story But You Always Have the Carbonara.