On Thursday 30 October, the Writing NSW community gathered for Night of Letters, a joyful evening celebrating Australian storytelling and helping us continue our work supporting writers and writing in NSW. The night was an ode to the people and stories that have inspired some of Australia’s most talented writers throughout their literary journeys.
The evening began on the verandah of Garry Owen House, overlooking the blooming jacarandas in Callan Park. Over canapés and drinks, guests filled the building with enthusiastic and warm conversation.
Attendees moved inside for a memorable night of letters and stories. The evening, hosted by Michaela Kalowski, began with an address from the Chair of the Writing NSW board, Adam van Rooijen, about Writing NSW’s work in supporting Australian writers, nurturing emerging voices, mentoring careers, and building a thriving future for literature in our state. Sophie Groom, the CEO of Writing NSW, welcomed attendees and encouraged them to connect with fellow lovers of literature and support the future of writing.
We heard letters dedicated to mothers, grandmothers, younger selves, teachers, Dr Seuss, and others. Speakers reflected on how these individuals shared a belief in the power and value of storytelling, and how this belief shaped their love of literature.
We were privileged to hear from some of Australia’s most talented writers. Miles Franklin Award winner Shankari Chandran, Melina Marchetta, Richard Cooke, and James Colley kicked off the night with emotional and entertaining dedications to their writing inspirations.
There was a quick break for attendees to refresh their drinks and enjoy desserts before a special musical performance by Nardi Simpson. The room seemed to hold its breath as Nardi sang, carried by the wonderful depth of her music.
The next letters, from Mark Mordue, Saman Shad, Michael Robotham, and Jessie Tu, were moving reflections on the people that have motivated them to write. Their letters were beautifully composed, reaffirming why nurturing writing matters so deeply.
Writing NSW is grateful for the generous support of patrons including Hachette Australia, Next Chapter Retirement Solutions, Allen & Unwin, HarperCollins Australia, Simon & Schuster Australia, Ali Green and Michelle Laforest, along with the generous wine donations from Mercer Wines, Thea Wines, and Gundog Estate. We are also grateful to Creative Australia for their support in matching funds donated to Writing NSW up to the value of $12,000 via their Plus 1 program.
We are thankful to everyone who attended and donated to Writing NSW. Their valuable support will help invest in the next generation of writers. They will allow Writing NSW to continue offering free and low-cost programs that help writers at every stage of their careers.
If you would like to support our work, we would be so grateful. You can donate here.
More from Writing NSW
Check out our full range of in-person writing courses in Sydney, our online writing courses and our feedback programs to see how we can help you on your writing journey. Find out about our grants and prizes, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, opportunities and giveaways.