Inaugural writers’ festival to bring in the best

Clare Bowditch, Helen Garner and David Williamson.

The inaugural Yarra Valley Writers Festival is bringing with it some of the country’s most acclaimed creative minds.

Author Helen Garner, playwright David Williamson and musician and writer Clare Bowditch will present at the Healesville event from 8-10 May.

Helen Garner will discuss her latest release the Yellow Notebook: Diaries Volume 1 1978-1987 which reveals her insightful thoughts on Australia and her writings on the decade, just after the publication of her first novel Monkey Grip.

One of Australia’s most significant dramatists, David Williamson, will present on the ongoing themes of politics and family in contemporary urban Australia.

David first rose to fame in the 1970s with Don’s Party and The Removalists.

On Saturday night, Clare Bowditch will immerse the audience in her stories of childhood, growing up and becoming a musician.

Clare’s presentation will be based on her bestselling memoir Your Own Kind of Girl.

Festival programmer, and playwright, Hannie Rayson said the event will feature local, national and internationally-recognised writers, thinkers and speakers.

‘’It’s an absolute honour to have these three extraordinary writers in Healesville for the very first Yarra Valley Writers Festival,” she said.

‘’This is the best job. I read wonderful books and then write to their authors and say, ‘Would you like to come to the Yarra Valley for the weekend?’ And they say, ‘Yes, please!’ How brilliant is that?”

The entire Yarra Valley Writers Festival will take place from 2-13 May with the main features showcasing over Mother’s Day Weekend.

The full Yarra Valley Writers Festival program will be announced on Friday 14 February.

Tickets available from www.yarravalleywritersfestival.com.