To be Highly Commended in the HerStory Arts Festival for my poem Remembering Judith Wright and to be invited to read it at the Wharf 2 presinct was a great honour and I hope Judith Wright, one of our finest Australian women poets 1924- 2000 is honoured as a result.
I have written many poems about Judith Wright, her friendship with Oodgeroo Noonuccal, as an environmentsl mystic and about meeting her in Braidwood at a Two Fires Festival in the 90’s with her Biographer Sr. Veronica Brady IBVM, a Loreto nun and now it is exciting to have one of these poems be Highly acclaimed.
Susan Brooker: Gwen Bitti: Colleen Keating
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HerStory is a new and independent arts festival on Gadigal Land, debuting at the iconic Wharf 2,
in the heart of Sydney’s creative district.
to experience exciting new Australian works from emerging artists and creatives.
It is a vibrant 4 days of art, music, poetry, play, short stories, memoirs and networking .
Writers will be showcasing their work through staged readings and presentations throughout the festival.
We want to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who submitted — your voices are truly inspiring!
Congratulations and thanks for all the heart work.
Pip Griffin who was a judge in the writing competition and Gwen Bitti with their books for sale at the book table.
and we enjoyed the spectacular venue in the city
Poets Pip Griffith, Sonia Hunt and Colleen Keating
The Amazing Lucas Girls premieres at the 2025 Written by Cate Whittaker, this new play honors the real-life Lucas Girls of Ballarat. When Clara’s fiancé Wilf is pushed to enlist, she leads the charge against conscription, rallying women to bring hope and unity to a divided town. A powerful, true story of resilience, courage, and community. This often forgotten part of Australian history centres the women lost to HISStory. Congratulations Cate.
1:00 PM – Wharf 2 Theatre
Abigail Williams by Rebecca McNamee (Post-show Q&A)
2:00–2:40 pm – Atrium (Foyer)
-Readings & Book/Art Display
– Acknowledgement of Country – Prudence Weir
– Memoir: Yellow Gate – Vicki Geraghty
– Short Story: Uprooted – Susan Brooker
– Tribute: Remembering Judith Wright – Colleen Keating
– Memoir: One Piece – Gwen Biti
– Essay: The Ghost Ship – Kaye Spence
– Presentation: Matruchhaya Women’s Refuge – Preeti Kotwal or Lalita Kanakar
Thank you Colleen for this amazing tribute to the magic of Judith Wright’s image making, which takes us into the core of her intimate experience with the landscape around Braidwood and elsewhere. What was particularly powerful was the way you wove into your poem that painful image from her poem “Nigger’s Leap, New England” which you used as the opening two lines of your poem. In this way you bring into focus the way that all of her poetry is trying to restore a connection, a relationship with our indigenous fellows who have been so painfully marginalised in the latest referendum. Thank you Colleen! A truly beautiful tribute to the essence of Judith Wright’s creative purpose.