Scotch College

The fourth biennial Scotch College Literature Festival

The literature festival offered a sensational program of authors, illustrators, musicians, script writers, journalists and comedians.

Words: Suzette Boyd • Head of Library & Information Services & Festival Co-ordinator Photography: Loredana Pufulete, Wei Hu and Jan Goldsmith

The Festival was launched at assembly in the Senior School on Friday 27 July by the edgy, polished and inventive Charlie Pickering, an exciting new name in Australian comedy.

Once again a sensational program of authors, illustrators, musicians, script writers, journalists and comedians presented to students from Prep to Year 12.

Over 100 students and 20 teachers from a range of Victorian schools attended the Festival as our guests.

To kick off our festival program on Friday 27 July, Richard Piper’s players performed Shakespeare by the River. In the Senior School, each day the festival commenced with a stimulating keynote speaker. Authors Kirsty Murray, Simon Higgins, John Larkin and Glenn Manton shared their very different stories. Jason Clarke from Minds at work challenged students in Years 11 and 12 to overcome obstacles by thinking creatively, while Bryan Dawe, one of Australia’s finest political satirists asked, Satire: are you serious?

Students then moved onto a range of interactive sessions with topics as diverse as The art of being serious with comedian, Damian Callinan and Free your mind with artist and musician Jeff Raglus. Barry Heard drew on his own experiences as a young conscript to look back at life before, during and after the Vietnam War.

Steve Gadlabardi Goldsmith is a proud Kaurna man whose energetic performance touched on many aspects of the oldest living culture in the world. Masterclass presenters included Dr Nigel Simpson, Chris Leptos, and Dr Kate Burridge, who engaged, provoked and stimulated Year 11 and 12 students with sessions about science, language, ethics and business.

Theatre performances, such as the confronting Love Drunk followed each afternoon.

Books, Blokes and Brekky on Tuesday 31 July was once again a highlight and an opportunity for dads, granddads, uncles and big brothers to get together over a delicious FREE breakfast and talk books. Thank you to the Library Auxiliary for once again supporting this event.

Alongside the formal program, each lunchtime came alive with entertainment and activities. There were author signings, performance art, Weg the cartoonist, a bookshop, a staff v student debate, writing competitions, music and much MORE!

Junior School students from Prep to Year 6 enjoyed a feast of activities as Marc McBride, Sofie Laguna, Michael Wagner, Gabrielle Wang, Mark Cathew and READiscover ensured that there was something for everyone.

Sam Myers holding Well done those men	Andrew Bates and author Simon Higgins

Cael de Rooy, Ms Morris (library staff) and Edwin Anderson

Suzette Boyd, Don Watson, Julie Angus-Kiddle and Principal Dr Donaldson

The Festival Dinner on Friday 3 August was a fitting finale to the week’s events. This year the guest speaker was Don Watson, one of Australia’s most distinguished writers and public speakers, whose topic ‘The use and misuse of language’ created hilarity, as everyone made sure that they didn’t fall into the language traps that Don was setting!

The organising committees and library staff enjoyed putting together this exciting and rewarding program of non-stop events. GS