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Writers at the Woolshed began as a pop-up festival bringing together writers and readers with a love of country and a shared connection to the landscape. Writers at the Woolshed now holds regular writing workshops and an annual Winter Writing Retreat in the beautiful Southern Highlands. Both our workshop series and our Winter Writing Retreat aims to provide writers with the opportunity to learn from renowned writers.
Writers at the Woolshed was first conceived in 2019 when four writers held a writing retreat at ‘Bibbaringa’, a rural property located on the Southern Slopes of NSW. Bibbaringa's woolshed had recently undergone a transformation from a working woolshed to a venue for art related activities. It screamed out as the perfect location for a writers’ festival. Hence, Writers at the Woolshed came to life when Gillian Sandbrook (owner of Bibbaringa and Director of Earth Canvas) and Lynette Ainsworth (writer and now Festival Co-ordinator) sat down and chatted over a cup of tea. Twenty minutes later, the program was set.
The first festival was held in the woolshed at 'Bibbaringa' in March 2021 in collaboration with Earth Canvas Inc and featured authors Richard Anderson, Patti Miller, Kim Mahood, Alison Pouliot and Karen Viggers. Writers at the Woolshed Festival 2024 was held in support of Dolly's Dream, on the weekend of 20/21 April 2024 and included authors Margaret Hickey, Patti Miller, Alison Pouliot, Karen Viggers, Chris Hammer, Hayley Scrivenor, Inga Simpson and Michael Thompson plus internationally renowned professional portrait artist, David Thomas.
As the daughter of a wool and grain grower, and lover of the Australian bush, Festival Co-ordinator, Lynette Ainsworth has a strong connection to the land and for her, it is important that money raised in rural areas goes to help those in the region. Therefore, in 2024 while also supporting local businesses, all profits from the festival went to support Dolly’s Dream, an organisation created by Kate and Tick Everett following the shattering loss of their 14-year-old daughter, Dolly, to suicide, after ongoing bullying. Kate and Tick's goal is to prevent other families walking this road. The portrait painted during the Paddock to Plate dinner by David Thomas was subsequenly auctioned with the proceeds of$638 donated directly to Dolly's Dream via Writers at the Woolshed Fundraising Page. A big thank you to festival supporters who also donated to Dolly's Dream via our fundraising page.
Writers at the Woolshed was first conceived in 2019 when four writers held a writing retreat at ‘Bibbaringa’, a rural property located on the Southern Slopes of NSW. Bibbaringa's woolshed had recently undergone a transformation from a working woolshed to a venue for art related activities. It screamed out as the perfect location for a writers’ festival. Hence, Writers at the Woolshed came to life when Gillian Sandbrook (owner of Bibbaringa and Director of Earth Canvas) and Lynette Ainsworth (writer and now Festival Co-ordinator) sat down and chatted over a cup of tea. Twenty minutes later, the program was set.
The first festival was held in the woolshed at 'Bibbaringa' in March 2021 in collaboration with Earth Canvas Inc and featured authors Richard Anderson, Patti Miller, Kim Mahood, Alison Pouliot and Karen Viggers. Writers at the Woolshed Festival 2024 was held in support of Dolly's Dream, on the weekend of 20/21 April 2024 and included authors Margaret Hickey, Patti Miller, Alison Pouliot, Karen Viggers, Chris Hammer, Hayley Scrivenor, Inga Simpson and Michael Thompson plus internationally renowned professional portrait artist, David Thomas.
As the daughter of a wool and grain grower, and lover of the Australian bush, Festival Co-ordinator, Lynette Ainsworth has a strong connection to the land and for her, it is important that money raised in rural areas goes to help those in the region. Therefore, in 2024 while also supporting local businesses, all profits from the festival went to support Dolly’s Dream, an organisation created by Kate and Tick Everett following the shattering loss of their 14-year-old daughter, Dolly, to suicide, after ongoing bullying. Kate and Tick's goal is to prevent other families walking this road. The portrait painted during the Paddock to Plate dinner by David Thomas was subsequenly auctioned with the proceeds of$638 donated directly to Dolly's Dream via Writers at the Woolshed Fundraising Page. A big thank you to festival supporters who also donated to Dolly's Dream via our fundraising page.
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