Apollo Bay’s WORDfest returns this July with a library’s-worth of events

The power of words has been proven time and time again, so much so that it deserves its own weekend. Welcome WORDfest - a celebration of the thread of dictionary characters.

Published in 1939, Finnegans Wake was Irish writer James Joyce’s final work. It was written over a period of seventeen years and blends English with newly coined words, portmanteaus and Irish mannerisms, as well as puns in multiple languages. Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange) called it “a great comic vision, one of the few books of the world that can make us laugh aloud on nearly every page”. It is also regarded as one of the most difficult works of fiction.

In lighter reading, Dr. Seuss’ final book to be published in his lifetime, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, reached #1 on USA Today’s Best Selling Books list as recently as 2022. It remains a popular book for graduating students.  

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

Carving out its own place within the word world is WORDfest, Apollo Bay’s celebration of language that has been bubbling along since 1993. Whether written, spoken, debated, performed or sung, WORDfest is a meeting place for lovers of lexicon. In 2024, the theme is Crisis & Hope.  

Check out the 2024 Apollo Bay WORDfest program from Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 26 – 28 July.

Friday Sessions & Panels

 

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Juniors’ Session

Join Wylah the Koorie Warrior creators, Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard, as they discuss their award-winning series.

Short Story Competition Winners

Discover the talent of the future as the festival announces the winners of the Under 12 and Young Adult categories of their short story competition. 

Story Time

When Rob Lorenzon chose Spike at a home for lost dogs, little did he know Spike would become a surfing champion. Enjoy a story of friendship and devotion. 

Poetry & Pies

Enjoy a nibble and a stand-up poetry event before the winner of the short story competition (open category) is announced. 

Saturday Sessions & Panels

 

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Warm Winter Words 1

Emerging authors Anna Kate Blair (The Modern) and Rijn Collins (Fed to Red Birds) discuss themes of art, personal crisis, identity, passion and obsession

Warm Winter Words 2

Kgshak Akec (Hopeless Kingdom) and Margaret Hickey (Cutters End, Stone Town) discuss the role of hope in the motivation of their writing and shaping their visions of place.

Warm Winter Words 3

Join in on a conversation with Miles Franklin award-winner Shankari Chandran (Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens), whose new book, Safe Haven, is out now.  

The Great De(bay)te

The gloves are off. Join some of Apollo Bay’s sharpest minds as they tackle the subject: in times of crisis, ignorance is always bliss. 

Sunday Sessions & Panels

 

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Writing Workshop

Margaret Hickey returns for another session, this time hosting a practical writing workshop. Enjoy an insider’s view on writing and publishing. 

WORDfest Book Club

Rijn Collins returns for a special book club discussion of her debut novel, Fed to Red Birds. First time at a book club? No worries.  

Apollo Bay’s WORDfest takes place from 26 – 28 July. Further information is available here. Purchase tickets to sessions here.

Words by Staff Writer