WRITERS WORKSHOPS

Details of Writers Program at Port Fairy Folk Festival 2025 coming soon. Please see details of 2024 Writers Program below.

DIANE JACKSON HILL

Diane Jackson Hill previously a primary school teacher, is now an award-winning children’s author. She lives along the southern coast of Australia and is strongly drawn to the ocean and the creatures that call it home. Diane aims to educate children about the marine environment and to help protect and restore it for future generations. She is the author of Baby Band, Annabel’s Dance, Chooks in Dinner Suits, Windcatcher, Seal and Animal Migrations.

Jim Haynes

Jim Haynes former teacher/academic turned professional entertainer, Jim had several comedy
hit songs in the 1990s. Author of 32 books he has been the ‘Australiana guy’ on Macquarie radio
network for 22 years and was awarded an OAM in 2016, ‘for service to the performing arts as an entertainer, author, broadcaster and historian’, his latest publication tells the story of the 270 years of criminal transportation from Britain. Jim has written over 100 published songs and taught songwriting at the University of New England and the CMAA Academy.

LOUEY AND DI

Louey Hesterman is a multi-instrumentalist who has been composing and playing music since childhood. He has entertained solo and in many bands and still plays with Bushwahzee – a popular folk band for school shows and bushdances. Diane Jackson Hill co-wrote seven books with CDs in the series Uke’n Play Ukulele that started many beginners on their musical journey. As a guitar/ukulele combo, Louey an Di play original and Aussie traditional songs that make you want to sing along.

MATT NEAL

Matt Neal is an award-winning ABC reporter, as well as being an author, musician (The 80 Aces,
Doctor & The Apologies), songwriter, podcaster, film reviewer, blogger (Movies8MyLife),
screenwriter and playwright. He grew up on dairy farms in south-west Victoria and still lives in the region with his family in Warrnambool. He co-wrote his first book, Bay of Martyrs, in 2017, and his podcast Can You Believe It? has been explaining the unexplained since 2019.

PETER MACE

 

Peter Mace is a former Australian Bush Poetry Champion, a three times winner of the prestigious Golden Damper Award at Tamworth, Reciter of the Year at the National Folk Festival and best male performer at The Man From Snowy River Festival. A quiet unassuming bloke with a past successful career in tele-communications, Peter comes alive on stage performing his original poetry – from the frivolous and light-hearted to the serious. He is also a wonderful reciter of traditional verse.

THE WIT AND WISDOM OF C J DENNIS

Jim Haynes, Peter Mace and guests highlight the amazing variety, humour and wisdom in the poetry of Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis. He wrote a poem every day for the Melbourne Herald Sun – for 16 years – as well as Australia’s best-selling book of verse The Sentimental Bloke.

The Aussie Morning Show

‘A Swag of Aussie Humour, Verse and Song’ featuring humorous verse, and Aussie comedy hosted by Jim Haynes, with bush poet / yarnspinners, Gregory North, Mick Coventry and guests. With the traditional One Minute Poets’ Brawl on Monday. This has been the traditional way to kick off a day at the festival for a quarter of a century!

JAMES COOK – THE FACTS & THE FURPHIES

Jim Haynes looks at the truth behind the myths we were told and taught. Explaining exactly who Cook was and what he set out to do, as revealed by recent research and publications exploring his life story.

REMEMBERING JOHN DENGATE AND DENIS KEVANS

Peter Mace and Jim Haynes perform a tribute to two legendary left-wing folkies, whose songs and verse made us howl with laughter in the golden years of the folk movement.

MATTHEW FLINDERS 250TH BIRTHDAY

 

The amazing true story of a village lad who ran away to sea and lived more adventures than we can dream of in his short life. A man who died almost forgotten by the British but never forgotten by the people living in the land he charted and named. Tales of war at sea, shipwrecks, intrigue and a love story for the ages.

Pat Glover Memorial Storytelling Competition

This photo shows six winners of nine Pat Glover Storytelling Awards, Left to Right: Mick Coventry, Kath Stewart, Gordon Phillips-Ross, Eric Purdie, Rob England Terry Rooney and organiser / compere Jim Haynes.

A regular event since 1983 – this competition is Port Fairy Festival’s longest running award. Named in memory of local storyteller Pat Glover, who passed away in 2005. The aim of the award is to preserve the art of story-telling.

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