Celebrating women’s stories will be the feature of International Women’s Day events held by Campaspe Libraries.
In partnership with the Kyabram Town Hall Writer’s Group, Campaspe Libraries is fortunate enough to have award-winning international writer, Simmone Howell, conducting a writer’s workshop on Saturday, 5 March. Ms Howell is an accomplished young adult fiction novelist (Notes from the Teenage Underground, Everything Beautiful, Girl Defective) as well as being a writer of plays, screenplays, poetry, comic strips, and just about every other written composition imaginable. Ms Howell has had her work transformed into short films and adapted into plays.
Ms Howell said her workshops included a lot of different creative prompts.
“I might use music or objects or maps. I love to look at other people’s techniques, particularly surrealist techniques like using cut ups and collage, or black out poetry or ekphrasia (writing from pictures).”
“I love the idea that art is all about ‘making strange’ – good writing gives us something familiar and makes us see it in a new way.”
The workshop will be held at Kyabram Town Hall between 10am – 12.30pm, which includes morning tea. This workshop is a free event, but bookings are essential. Bookings can be made online at
All attendees must be over the age of 18. Under government guidelines, attendees must also be double vaccinated or otherwise, have a medical exemption.
On Sunday, 6 March, the Echuca Library will host the ‘Every Woman Has a Story’ event. This is the seventh year the library will host this recognition of International Women’s Day. The event will include two guest speakers, Simmone Howell and a familiar face to ABC TV viewers, Maxine McKew.
Ms McKew is an author, journalist and previously, television anchor to prestigious programs such as Lateline and The 7.30 Report.
Upon leaving broadcasting, Ms McKew made the switch to politics, defeating Prime Minister John Howard in the Sydney seat of Bennelong. She was also a parliamentary secretary for early childhood, and later, also for infrastructure and local government.
Mayor Chrissy Weller said we were fortunate to have such high calibre people speaking to Campaspe residents.
“Ms McKew’s political memoir, Tales from the Political Trenches, received great success. Her new book, Class Act, delves into Australian education. Two subjects that will pique the interest of many people in our community.
“Ms Howell is an accomplished writer in so many different fields, I know her creative mind will inspire our own local writers and artists.
“We are unbelievably fortunate to have these two talented women joining us for International Women’s Day. To hear about their experiences and to learn from their teachings will be invaluable.
“I encourage everyone to head along to the Echuca Library to enjoy their presentations.”
‘Every Woman Has a Story’ will be held at the Echuca Library at 2.15pm. The opportunity to ask questions will be offered once both speakers have presented. Bookings are essential and can be made at
Under government guidelines, attendees must also be double vaccinated or otherwise, have a medical exemption.
