Catch these Magabala creators at the 2026 Headland Writers Festival

Ellen van Neerven

Evocation! A Poetry Soiree
Saturday October 24, 7:00PM-8:30PM
Tathra Hotel

Join four distinctive poetic voices for an evening of language, imagination and connection. Through work that evokes memory, place and emotion, these poets explore the deeper experiences that shape who we are and how we relate to one another.

Featuring Yuin Country-based poet Ed Southorn alongside Ellen van Neerven (Meanjin/Brisbane), Gamilaroi poet Luke Patterson and Adara Enthaler (Dharawal/Wollongong). Hosted by Gabrielle Journey Jones.

Stay after the soirée to meet the poets and have your books signed.

Queer Stories: Beyond Labels
Sunday October 25, 1:30PM-2:30PM
Headland Theatre

What literary spaces do we need to create for LGBTQIA+ readers? How important is visibility on the page, and in what ways are queer writers reshaping forms, genres and literary traditions?

Join Gary Lonesborough, Tommi Parrish and Ellen van Neerven hosted by Adara Enthaler, as they explore the rich and evolving landscape of queer storytelling in Australia. From fiction and non-fiction to graphic narratives and poetry, this conversation celebrates the diversity of queer literature and its future.

Luke Patterson

Evocation! A Poetry Soiree
Saturday October 24, 7:00PM-8:30PM
Tathra Hotel

Join four distinctive poetic voices for an evening of language, imagination and connection. Through work that evokes memory, place and emotion, these poets explore the deeper experiences that shape who we are and how we relate to one another.

Featuring Yuin Country-based poet Ed Southorn alongside Ellen van Neerven (Meanjin/Brisbane), Gamilaroi poet Luke Patterson and Adara Enthaler (Dharawal/Wollongong). Hosted by Gabrielle Journey Jones.

Stay after the soirée to meet the poets and have your books signed.

Dreaming Big: First nations voices from detention
Sunday October 25, 9:30AM-10:30AM
Headland Theatre

Around three in five young people aged 10–17 incarcerated in Australia are Aboriginal—a stark reflection of the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system on First Nations communities. Join Luke Patterson, Gary Lonesborough, Ralph Jackman and Michell Scott for a powerful discussion on the devastating impact on families and communities. Together, they reflect on the responsibility of bearing witness and ensuring these stories are heard and not forgotten.

Get your tickets at the button below!

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