Writers Festival Reinvigorated!

Dates for the newly revitalised Whitsundays Writers Festival have been announced for Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 September 2024.

A new committee has been formed and its Chair, Karen Jacobsen, said she is thrilled to be part of a previously loved event.

“I look forward to celebrating uniquely Queensland and Australian stories with the authors we are excited to invite,” she said.

others.”

If you, your business, or your community group would like to participate in the upcoming b kinder Day, simply reach out directly through bkinderfoundation.org.

WHAT: b kinder Day

WHEN: June 22

WHERE: Everywhere!

“The transformation of books and the love of reading is so important for the young and old, and we look forward to bringing readers and writers together at this fantastic event.”

Still in the planning stages, the keynote speakers are yet to be confirmed but discussions are already taking place to create a lively and entertaining festival itinerary.

It is expected this will include a mixture of interactive workshops, panel discussions and author talks. There will also be a Cocktails and Poetry Salon on the Friday evening, a long table lunch on the Sunday afternoon, a special children’s morning and a lively Literary Dinner on the Saturday Night.

During the Literary Dinner a selection of competition winners will be announced, and awards given. Most notable is the Gloria Burley Award for the best unpublished manuscript.

Aleisha leads a team of three midwives in the women’s health clinic, providing antenatal and postnatal care.

“We do clinic every day and also have a doctor’s obstetrics and gynaecology clinic one day a week.”

Her team also performs at home postnatal check-ups as Bowen Hospital is not a birthing hospital.

‘We do everything here except births, though we do have a few unplanned births each year here.”

Aleisha decided to pursue education into gestational diabetes when she noticed a need for healthcare in the Bowen area.

“All the women that we had come to the clinic who had gestational diabetes were having to go to Proserpine to see a diabetes educator,” she said.

She enrolled in post graduate study through James Cook University in Cairns and became qualified to educate women.

“It’s one of the areas where we’ve been able to build up the care we can offer in Bowen,” she explains.

“For the women who have gestational diabetes, it’s really cut down their travel, the stress for them, and inconvenience because it meant taking days off work just to go to Proserpine, Mackay, or Townsville for a 15-mintue appointment.”