We are thrilled to welcome the legendary Kate Grenville (shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction) as the author of the WAM 2024 Book of the Festival, Restless Dolly Maunder.

We also delve into stories within stories and all their different formats. These include:

  • Social satirist Siang Lu talking cinema and his two books (The Whitewash and Ghost Cities) with a retrospective screening of Enter the Dragon at the Regent Cinema;
  • Award-winning First Nations author Ellen van Neerven and their new play swim and comedian and actor Jane Clifton and her show A Day At a Time In Rhyme;
  • The ever-popular annual literary lunch will feature Shirley Le and her novel Funny Ethnics;
  • A very special free WAM4Kids and WAM Schools program, including a celebration of 50 years of the works of Hazel Edwards, author of There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake plus Danny Katz and Mitch Vane with their new Little Lunch books and former Australian Children’s Laureat Leigh Hobbs, George Ivanoff, Chris Kennett and Nova Weetman;
  • Panels about Star Wars and Dr Who, stand-up comedy, visual art, historical fiction and cultural appropriation;
  • A dessert masterclass with the winner of Dessert Masters, chef Gareth Whitton;
  • And Stereo Stories, the WAM Poetry Slam, masterclasses, workshops, writing competitions, exhibitions and history and art tours.
  • Plus lots more!
*Write Around the Murray is happy to accommodate accessibility requirements. Please get in touch if you have any accessibility requests.

events

Image of three light blue book icons on a navy blue and pink background. Text overlayed the image says, Festival Pass
11 Sept - Wednesday 12 Sept - Thursday 13 Sept - Friday 14 Sept - Saturday 15 Sept - Sunday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Festival Pass: Enjoy all festival talks for one low price!

Festival Pass Talk
Image of Rob Waters and KJ Hayward both standing behind microphones. The image has a orange background with a pale blue triangle.
6:30pm-8:30pm, 10 Sept - Tuesday
Hyphen – Wodonga Library Gallery

How To Slam Your Poetry

With KJ Hayward and Rob Waters Workshop
Image of Author and Short Story Judge, Margaret Hickey Standing infront of a illustration of a tv screen. Text on the bottom of image, writearoundthemurray.org.au
10am, 11 Sept - Wednesday
Online

AlburyCity Short Story Award Winner Announcement

Special Event
Image of Author George Ivanoff. He is blue suit with white and blue floral shirt. He is holding his hand palm upwards with a two dinosaur on it.
10:30am-11am, 11 Sept - Wednesday
Lavington Library

Storytime with George Ivanoff

WAM4Kids
White heart on blue background
11am-11:30am, 11 Sept - Wednesday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Festival Launch

Special Event
Historical image of Dean St Albury.
3pm-4pm, 11 Sept - Wednesday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Albury & the Arts Historical Walking Tour

Walking Tour
Image of Leigh Hobbs illustration of his cat character, Old Tom.
4pm-5pm, 11 Sept - Wednesday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Drawing for Families

With Leigh Hobbs Workshop
Collage image of Star wars edition Little Golden Books and Unit, a Dr Who series book. Also in the image is the Old blue police phone box, the Tardis, from Dr Who and the Dr Who and Starwars logos.
5:30pm-6:40pm, 11 Sept - Wednesday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Retelling the Stories of Star Wars & Dr Who

With George Ivanoff & Chris Kennett Festival Pass Talk
Image of Ellen van Neerven's book, Personal Score.
6pm-7:30pm 11 Sept - Wednesday
Murray Art Museum Albury

Radical Book Club

Special Event
Image of Rob Waters and KJ Hayward both standing behind microphones. The image has a blue background with a yellow heart.
6:30pm-9pm, 11 Sept - Wednesday
Hyphen – Wodonga Library Gallery

WAM Poetry Slam

Special Event
Image of Illustrator Chris Kennett and two of the school of monster series books which he illustrated
10:30am-11am, 12 Sept - Thursday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Storytime with Chris Kennett

WAM4Kids
Image of Ruth Davys. Ruth is infront of green background with large yellow comma.
1:30pm-3pm, 12 Sept - Thursday
Lavington Library

Writing an Acknowledgement of Country

With Ruth Davys Workshop
Image of Author Shirley Le
4pm-5pm, 12 Sept - Thursday
Hyphen – Wodonga Library Gallery

Writing for Teens

With Shirley Le Workshop WAM4Kids
Image of person in one piece swimwear with brown tracksuit pants over the top. They are standing casually with a towel over their shoulders and swimming googles around their neck.
6:15pm -8:40pm, 12 Sept - Thursday
Hothouse Theatre

swim with La Trobe In Conversation with Ellen van Neerven

This special performance of swim is accompanied by a pre-show conversation with the author of the play, Ellen van Neerven. Special Event
Image of Panellists Eden Porter, Alyce Fisher and Daniel Phillips
6:30pm-7:40pm, 12 Sept - Thursday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Just for Laughs

With Eden Porter, Alyce Fisher and Daniel Phillips Festival Pass Talk
Image of Jane Clifton performing on stage.
6:30pm-7:30pm, 12 Sept - Thursday
Albury Entertainment Centre

A Day At A Time in Rhyme

With Jane Clifton Special Event
Image of Author Jane Clifton
9am-12pm, 13 Sept - Friday
Albury Entertainment Centre

MasterClass in Crime Writing

With Jane Clifton Workshop
Image of Illustrator Chris Kennett and two of the school of monster series books which he illustrated
10:30am-11am, 13 Sept - Friday
Lavington Library

Storytime for Toddlers with Chris Kennett

WAM4Kids
Image of Author Shirley Le and her book, Funny Ethics.
12:30pm-3pm, 13 Sept - Friday
Atura, Albury

Dorothy Simmons Literary Lunch with Shirley Le

Special Event
Image of Author Libby Hathorn. She is sitting at a table behind a large display of her books
3:30pm-5pm 13 Sept - Friday
Lavington Library

Poetry for Adults

With Libby Hathorn Workshop
Image of artist Adrian Osbourne drawing on a whiteboard.
4pm-5pm, 13 Sept - Friday
Murray Art Museum Albury

Creating Caricatures for Kids 10 to 12

With Adrian Osbourne Workshop WAM4Kids
Image of authors Siang Lu, Julie Janson and Shirley Le. They are infront of a navy blue background with a large pink circle.
6pm-7:10pm, 13 Sept - Friday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Whose story is it?

With Siang Lu, Julie Janson and Shirley Le Festival Pass Talk
image of red metal mug with tea bag label hanging over the edge. The label has the Aboriginal flag on it. The mug is sitting on a shelf amongst Eucalypt leaves.
7:30pm-8:40pm, 13 Sept - Friday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Sovereign-Tea: First Nation Storytelling

Sovereign-Tea is a night of hard-hitting storytelling that will challenge, disrupt and get to the heart of storytelling here on the Border. Special Event
Image of Author Hazel Edwards and her book, There's a hippo on my roof eating cake.
10am-10:30am, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Storytime with Hazel Edwards

Join author Hazel Edwards for a very special storytime to celebrate her 50 years in publishing. WAM4Kids
image of large public art mural.
10am-11am, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Albury's Public Art Walking Tour

Walking Tour
Image of Author Libby Hathorn. in the background is a large display of her books
10am-11:30am, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Poetry for Teenagers

With Libby Hathorn Workshop WAM4Kids
image of a illustration showing a hippo and a child on the roof of a house, eating cake.
10:30am-11:15am, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Junior Dessert Masters

Dessert Masters winner Gareth Whitton, author of Little Lunch Danny Katz and head chef of Miss Amelie Isaac Rich WAM4Kids
Image of Author Hazel Edwards and her book, There's a hippo on my roof eating cake. In the background are many children with their hands in the air in joy. They are holding award certificates
11:30am-1pm 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

In Conversation with Hazel Edwards Featuring the Barry Young River of Stories Awards

Special Event WAM4Kids
Image of Illustrator Mitch Van and books she has illustrated. The image has a bold pink and yellow background
12pm-1:30pm, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Illustration

With Mitch Vane Workshop
Image of author Nova Weetman and her book, Love, Death and Other Scenes
12pm-2pm, 14 Sept - Saturday
Bonegilla Migrant Centre

Writing a Memoir

With Nova Weetman Workshop
Image of author Katrina Kell and visual artist Andrew Whitehead and Kell's book, Chloe.
1:30pm-2:45pm, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Repainting the Past

With Katrina Kell & Andrew Whitehead Festival Pass Talk
Image of authors Libby Hathorn, Solli Raphael and Julie Janson
3pm-4pm, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Why Poetry?

With Libby Hathorn, Solli Raphael and Julie Janson Festival Pass Talk
4:15pm-5:15pm, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

हाम्रो कथाहरू: नेपाली कविता कार्यक्रम
Our Stories: Nepali Poetry Showcase

Bilingual event in Nepali and English Special Event
Image of the Stereo Stories Band on stage.
7pm-10pm, 14 Sept - Saturday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Stereo Stories

A lively and memorable night of storytelling featuring the much-beloved Stereo Stories band with guest authors Danny Katz, Siang Ly and Ellen van Neerven. Special Event
Image of Gareth Whitton standing in the Dessert Masters kitchen. He has a big smile on his face. Large confetti tinsle is falling around him and he is holding a dessert Masters trophy. Image has the word sold out
10am-1pm, 15 Sept - Sunday
Miss Amelie

Dessert MasterClass

with Gareth Whitton Workshop
Image of the 1890's painting, Shearing of the Rams by Tom Roberts
11am-12:10pm, 15 Sept - Sunday
Albury LibraryMuseum

The Story of the Shearer

With Kate Grenville, Andrew Whitehead and Sophie Gerhard Festival Pass Talk
Image of a tiny hippo sitting on a typewriter
11am-1pm, 15 Sept - Sunday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Writing for Young Audiences

With Hazel Edwards Workshop
Image of Bruce Lee in punching pose taking from the film Enter the dragon.
11am-2pm, 15 Sept - Sunday
Regent Cinema

Re-entering the Dragon

Special screening followed by a conversation with Siang Lu Special Event
Image of the authors, Katrina Kell, Julie Janson, Emily Gale
1pm-2:10pm, 15 Sept - Sunday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Retelling the Past

With Katrina Kell, Julie Janson, Emily Gale Festival Pass Talk
Image of author, Kate Grenville and her book Restless Dolly Maunder
2:30pm-3:40pm, 15 Sept - Sunday
Albury LibraryMuseum

Big Book Club: Book of the Festival

With Kate Grenville Festival Pass Talk