True Story 2023
Stranger Than Fiction

18-19 November 2023

This year’s True Story Festival definitely lived up to its name, featuring a collection of authors, and journalists speaking unapologetically about everything from food and language to fake news and inclusion. The feeling of community and diversity, both from our speakers and within the audience, created a safe space for people to discuss current events between sessions over a hot cup of tea or coffee.  

Saturday morning began with Alan Sunderland’s workshop ‘Think Global, Write Local’. Despite his previous position as an Editorial Director for the ABC, he focused on the importance of independent, local news organizations in order to reignite truthful and accurate investigative journalism. For those who attended Sunderland’s workshop, it set the tone for the rest of the festival.

As doors officially opened for the day, Yuin woman with Dharawal kinship Dr Jodi Edwards welcomed the audience to country before handing over to Bronwyn Adcock for the opening keynote address. Bronwyn continued the discussion on the 2019 bushfires detailed in her Walkley award-winning book, Currowan. This session provided a thought-provoking and confronting start to the festival – how can we move forward from the horrors of the fires conscientiously and respectfully? And arguably more importantly, what impact are our politicians and journalists aiming to have on climate change, especially as we head into El Nino once again this summer? 

After this confronting and serious address, the tone lightened a little as author and cultural experience consultant Jodi Edwards and screenwriter David Roach took the stage. Jodi walked us through the process of reclaiming language and food customs through her collection of recipes Dharawal Bush Tucker: Bawa Dhanjma. The sense of community and cultural exchange in this session was palpable, as Jodi shared moments from her childhood on country and festival goers had a chance to learn some words of Dharawal language. 

Finally, Saturday was rounded off by Wendy Harmer’s session ‘Laughing and Crying’, which coincidentally summed up much of the audience’s response (although there seemed to be much more laughing than crying). An extremely candid and unapologetic recount of her life as a broadcaster, performer, author and journalist, Wendy expressed a cheerful acceptance of her past and an unwavering hope for the future, especially in terms of inclusivity and a place for women’s voices in journalism. 

Sunday’s festivities opened with Chris Masters and Margaret Throsby. Their session ‘Truth Teller’ exposed Chris’ unique perspective as an investigative journalist and author on the war in Afghanistan, as well as the trauma off the battlefield – in particular, the difficulties of defending himself in court. His position on truth and reliable sources provided a fantastic collection of information for budding journalists, and reinforces the need for critical, truthful journalism – no matter how taxing it may be. 

In the session ‘Belonging and Other Challenges’ Turkish Australian author Eda Gunaydin shifted the audience back onto our own shores, in a discussion confronting the nature of class, capital, and generational trauma. She expressed her truth from a millennial’s perspective, showing both the humor and discomfort present within her award-winning collection of essays, Root and Branch. 

After a morning of hard truths and trauma, it was time for lunchboxes and a mouthwatering conversation between Gerringong cheesemaker and farmer Fiona Weir Walmsley and ABC Illawarra broadcaster Nick Rheinberger.

The lunchbox, supplied by the fabulous Earthwalker Café in collaboration with Beuna Vista Farm, was an overall hit with those who ordered, with many suggesting it become a regular feature of SCWC’s festivals. Fiona’s book From Scratch sounded equally delicious, as she aims to expand your culinary boundaries with simple recipes she has gathered during her career. 

After lunch was another heavy-hitting, yet quietly comforting, conversation between gardener and broadcaster Indira Naidoo and journalist/broadcaster Caroline Baum – ‘Constellations and Consolations’. Indira Naidoo explored the loss of her sister, a topic covered in her memoir The Space Between the Stars, and the way grief encourages both introspection and a new outward perspective.  

Jack Manning Bancroft, founder of AIME and Bunjalung man, took to the stage for the festival’s penultimate session, ‘Show Me the Money’. In a wide-ranging conversation, that included Jack live painting with the audience, he delivered straightforward yet inspired thoughts on how our society can be more inclusive, respectful, and progressive by including Indigenous culture and practices. 

The festival came to a close late on Sunday afternoon with author Jackie Dent, podcaster and local author Siobhan McHugh, and public speaker/writer Malika Reese sharing entertaining anecdotes from the field in ‘Funny Stories of Failure’. Siobhan and Jackie shared anecdotes regarding their writing process, including the mistakes and mishaps along the way.  

We can be sure that the audience left True Story Festival full of fresh perspectives, deep thoughts, delicious food, and new books, making it a phenomenal festival for all our audience.