Closing the Book

It’s the end of an era for me. I’ve been involved with Byron Writers Festival for eight years. Four of them as a volunteer Board member of which two of those were as the Chair of the organisation. Last Sunday, at the conclusion of the 22^nd Byron Writers Festival, I stepped down as Chair.

It was an honour and a privilege to help lead the organisation for the past two years. I’ve worked with, and met, amazing people. One of my favourite encounters this year was with a luminary Australian novelist and playwright last Saturday night. I drove him back to his hotel and before we got in the car, he wanted to check that I’d completed my HSC! I think he was checking I was old enough to drive. Oh yes, over thirty years ago. I loved him for that question.

The role of Chair has been a wonderful but a very busy one.  There were some weeks when I was working over 20 hours a week. So, with a new full time job, it was simply unsustainable. Also, I think with a change of leadership, comes a change of focus, which I believe is good for a community not-for-profit organisation.

2018 Festival site

This year’s Festival was extra special as we had a good representation from romance and women’s fiction including Rachael Johns, Christine Wells and Victoria Purman. They were wonderful and the hilarious Mandy Nolan brought out the best in the panel they were all on together.

Next year I’ll be able to walk around the gorgeous Festival site and enjoy it from a patron’s perspective. I can’t wait. Hope to see you there.