THE sixth chapter of the Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival (SHWF) was written on Saturday.
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About 1000 people attended five conversations with some of Australia’s best writers and thinkers.
SHWF creative director Michaela Bolzan said she was thrilled with the overall attendance.
“It’s a wonderful result,” Ms Bolzan said.
"[The conversations have] been totally inspirational, entertaining and education.”
Speakers included ABC’s The Music Show host Andrew Ford, The Ethics Centre executive director Dr Simon Longstaff, ABC’s The Drum host Julia Baird, Martin Sharp – His Life and Times author Joyce Morgan and author Meg Keneally.
Robertson resident Andrew Ford spoke to Southern Highlands Symphony Orchestra conductor Allan Stiles about his new book The Memory of Music.
“It’s about music, the way we listen to it and the way we remember it,” Mr Ford said.
“It’s the way we make meaning of it in our memory.”
Ms Bolzan said the festival had become popular with not only Highlanders, but people from Sydney and Canberra.
“It’s become a destination event,” she said.
“It’s bringing a certain amount of revenue into the Highlands.”
About 110 people attended the sold-out literary dinner at the Gibraltar Hotel, with guest chef and cookbook author Stefano Manfredi.
“It’s always an honour to be a part of a writers’ festival,” Mr Manfredi said.
“Writing has been my second career.”
The majority of the ingredients used at the dinner came from the Highlands.