Celebrating literary brilliance

Last year, the English department staged its third annual Literary Festival, aptly themed “Inside Stories”. Continuing on from previous years’ successes, the festival foregrounded the imaginative capabilities of our pupils while offering an opportunity for keen readers and writers in our broader community to engage with some of the world’s finest writers.

The festival kicked off with an elegant Literary Salon at the State Library of NSW, marking a perfect beginning to our celebration of stories. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the unveiling of our Creative Writing Collective’s anthology. Under the guidance of our Writer-In-Residence, Ms Jane (JC) Burke, our young writers shared their diverse and compelling works. These narratives not only reflected their unique voices but also demonstrated the powerful influence Jane has had on their creative development.

Pictured: Boys at the Literary Salon at the State Library

The festival’s climax was the much anticipated Literary Night, which began with a lively panel discussion. English master Ms Laura Llewellyn moderated a discussion with our very own Dr David Dyer and guest Mr David Hunt, invoking insights into their creative processes and discussing David’s recent publication, This Kingdom of Dust. The dialogue provided a fascinating (and humorous) glimpse into the minds of writers, revealing the intricate layers of their narrative techniques and creative inspirations.

Pictured: Mr David Hunt, Ms Laura Llewellyn and Dr David Dyer who presented at the Writers in our Midst session

The “Inside Stories” festival was more than a mere collection of events; it was a profound celebration of storytelling’s unique ability to forge connections and inspire diverse audiences. We are immensely grateful to everyone who played a part in organising, participating in and attending the festival.

Pictured: Illustrator Mr Matthew Lin with the mural that was launched at one of the Literary Lunchtimes