Published 26th April 2023

The three-day festival at the Whyalla Public library was deemed a great success by locals and visitors

Lauren Mullinder (Writers SA) and her workshop attendees show off their illustrations

Whyalla’s inaugural RaW Festival a success

26 April 2023

The final chapter was read, and the hard cover closed on Whyalla’s first Readers and Writers (RaW) festival.

The three-day festival at the Whyalla Public library was deemed a great success by locals and visitors, with organisers flooded with overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Seventeen events were held over the weekend, including inspirational storytelling, lunch and conversations, author talks, book signings and workshops in writing / publishing / illustration and other media.

Presenters included nine visiting published authors and illustrators, along with locals Rachel Attwood / Reign Atkins, Michal Hughes, Stephen Stanley, and the Whyalla Writers Groups, all sharing their knowledge and experiences with those in attendance.

Author Lea McInerney said it was an honour to be a part of the festival.

“Having the opportunity to share and talk about the process of making ‘The Wonder of Little Things’ – the book I co-wrote with Ngadjuri Elder Vince Copley – was a real heart-warming experience,” Ms McInerney said.

“To be joined by Kara – Vince’s daughter – for our Q&A session, and to connect with local Barngarla people and share stories after our session was wonderful too.”

The weekend saw over 300 tickets allocated - including many visitors travelling from neighbouring towns - with attendees listening, learning and sharing stories.

Whyalla Library Team Leader Natalie Williams said her team was really proud of the first ever RaW Festival.

”We want to thank those who attended for supporting the event, as well as the Libraries SA Board, as without their funding this event would never have happened,” Ms Williams said.

“The grant enabled us to build a program that was unique and had never been done in our area before.

“We were joined by authors and illustrators of different genres who shared with us the importance of storytelling, their love for reading and writing, and tips and tricks of their trade. The program celebrated diversity and inspired creative thinking for all who attended.

“We also want to thank Margie and Mark Arnold from Meg’s Bookshop for coming over to Whyalla and supporting all of the authors, selling their books, and arranging signings.”

See below to check out more photos from the event.

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