Day One and Two

I think it will not be naive to say that I started the Mildura Writer’s Festival from a dark underground hall and finished high on upper deck of paddle steamer. Although day one in the class was a little boring but nonetheless it was fun to meet other new bright students from Mildura and even some from Latrobe Melbourne – Campus. After some warm-up poetry exercises in the class everyone was looking forward for the very first evening session of the literary festival at the Mildura Brewery Club.

The session started by a new and emerging American fiction writer and novelist Sunil Yapa. The session was hosted by economist and writer Richard Dennis. It commenced by some wonderful insight from Richard who not only elaborated on Sunil’s debut novel, ‘Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist’ but also reflected his personal experience from the current economic disparity and political upheavals around the globe. On the other hand, I don’t know if Richard as a host read closely his novel but he certainly was quite meticulous and eloquent when he discussed the impact of globalisation on the economy. I think Sunil was very lucky to have him as a presenter to ask those well-presented questions and insights.

I really enjoyed his reading which was followed by some discussion and Q & A session from audience. The important lesson I learned from the session was his incredible hard work and flexibility with his writings when he mentioned how he meet some of his characters in the book. I think personally every writer and author must be honest with his or her character when portraying them in their writing even in fiction novels.

Day two was a mix of psychogeography and poetry by Jan Owen and Les Murray. Nick Gadd the 2016 in Sunraysia residency representative at the Mildura Writers Festival provided a close insight history of Mildura city. The tour across Mildura CBD was an eye opening, it was like a hidden treasure where I was not exposed or I was not aware of those rich historic and geographical environments of the city.

In the afternoon session it was Les and Jane who both brought laugh and cheer to the face of dedicated literary audience attended the session. They both recited their poems as requested by audience but also their favourite ones. It was a long tiring day couldn’t resist going for YOGA class at Mildura Waves for a good night sleep.