General News
13 May, 2025
Words in Winter festival set to impress
Words in Winter returns later this month promising strong ideas and lively debate to the Maryborough community.
Across three days — from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1 — the program offers more than a literary festival for locals.
True of the festivals promise to pose questions comes a familiar one for fiction authors. What comes first: the story or the character?
According to Melbourne author and creative writing teacher Tania Chandler, if you create a compelling character, the story will follow.
Her workshop, Crafting Complex Characters, takes point on the Friday for those seeking to sharpen their fiction skills.
In this hands-on session participants will explore the web of character building — from motivation and backstory to writing engaging dialogue.
“Characters are the heart of any good story,” she said.
“When we understand them deeply, they begin to act and speak in ways that shape the plot in unexpected and exciting directions.”
But for those not interested in writing, the program offers speakers as diverse as people’s interests.
Saturday is kicked off with Dr Richard Mayes on alternative approaches GPs can take to improve patient wellbeing.
Particularly relevant to Maryborough’s aging community is a conversation between Dr Lee Kofman, Ramona Koval AO and Gail Rice on what it means to grow older in Australia.
Later is Professor Barry Golding who is keen to explore the contested histories and unsettled relationships of southern Dja Dja Wurrung Country in a conversation based off his recent book.
“That story is a really important one for people to know about,” he told The Addy earlier this year.
“The truth is actually quite confronting. To acknowledge that we are living on stolen country is not easy for some people to talk about. But I think it’s time for us to do some truth telling.”
Locals can turn to the animal kingdom later on Saturday with Ann Jones, host of Radio National's podcast What the Duck, to learn the stories behind their calls.
Meanwhile, for a taste of the serious, social commentators Andrew Scott, Dennis Glover and Denis Muller will discuss how we might break through in the world’s social climate.
One for the crime fans is a discussion between authors Jacqueline Bublitz, Christine Keighery, Adrian Hyland and Amy Doak, as they ask: does crime pay?
The centrepiece of Sunday, perhaps showing why crime doesn’t pay, is the highly-anticipated insight into the world of forensic investigation.
Victorian Coroner Audrey Jamieson joins forensic experts Dr Linda Iles, Dr Linda Glowacki and Dr Jo Glengarry from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for a behind-the-scenes look at real-life crime and justice.
The events organisers expect attendees to be coming from far and wide, including overseas, for the three day event.
Locals are able to book now, or find out what else this year’s program offers, at wiwcg.com.au