“There has never been more pressure on women to be everything. At work, at home, on social media, in the mirror. And always, always in our own heads where the pressure feels at times unbearable.” Mia Freedman is one of Australia’s most successful women and a very public figure, yet somehow she found the time to write a book. In an honest conversation with Sharri Markson over wine, cheese and dessert, Mia will talk about the work–life balance, being a voice for modern-day women, and why she chose to write a book about her struggles rather than her successes.
This is a Professional Women's Forum event, for women only.
Calling all kids who love to CREATE, WRITE or ILLUSTRATE!
Drop off your kids (ages 5–10) for a fun morning of creativity brought to you by JCA and Live Love Learn. The kids will construct their own mini zines to take home as well as creating a mixed-medium collaborative artwork that will be featured in JCA’s Art Project. All art materials supplied. Includes morning tea.
Rachel Seiffert was just 28 when her confronting novel The Dark Room—based on her mother’s story—was nominated for the Booker Prize. Award-winning Australian film director Cate Shortland brought the novel—which she found “scary” and filled with “such beautiful humanism”—to life in her film Lore. Fascinated by the issue of what it means to be the child of the perpetrator, she was inspired to make the film by her husband’s grandmother’s story (she left Berlin in 1937). In this session, moderated by Caroline Baum, Cate and Rachel explore the issue of dealing with Germany's catastrophic history and the challenges and rewards of the reciprocal text-to-film process.
In his acclaimed Jewish Anzacs, Mark Dapin uncovers a lesser-known side of Australian Jewish history by discussing the involvement of Jews in the Australian military. More than 7,000 Jewish men and women have fought in Australia’s military conflicts—from Julius Neustadt, who observed Yom Kippur the day after he landed at Anzac Cove, to one of Australia’s most remarkable leaders, General Sir John Monash, to Private Greg Sher, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. In conversation with historian Dr Ruth Balint, Dapin discusses the fascinating and sometimes extraordinary personal stories of Jewish Australian servicemen and servicewomen.
American author Amy Gottlieb’s debut novel The Beautiful Possible spans seventy years and several continents. Written in an epic style, the book explores some challenging concepts and contexts—the impact of the Holocaust, life as a refugee, identity issues, and the struggle of a Jewish woman to find her own space in a conservative religious community. But mostly Gottlieb’s book is about love and friendship. Through the eyes of three different characters, each imbued with deep passion and grace, Gottlieb traces a rich trajectory that reminds us all of our own potential and the sustaining power of a dream.
Parents are invited to this informal session in which Jessica will talk about some of the raw truths of her experience with postnatal depression, examined in her book of essays Things That Helped. Child minding (bubs and toddlers) is available and parents will be able to ask questions and engage with Jessica in this casual space. Pram parking available.
John M. Green’s latest book, The Tao Deception, is described in an ABC review as ‘Australian thriller writing at its very best’. John was driven to write the book by ‘a deep worry about the kind of technology a rogue nation like North Korea already possesses—technology that could fry the electrics and electronics of any Western country, sending it back to the dark ages’. John will talk about real-world concerns in literature and the powerful messages fiction can send.
Israeli academic and political commentator Gadi Taub has written extensively about Israel and the dynamics between the various sectors of its society. In this discussion Gadi will share his insights into the divergence between religious and secular Zionism and what he sees as the paths for moving forward with the creation of a viable and strong Israeli society. Gadi and Debbie will also canvass prospects for peace both in Israel and in the region in general.
The notion of beginning a work of fiction—short story or novel—is daunting, and yet one can begin writing from curiosity, intuition, an ear for language, and a basic understanding of narrative. In this generative workshop we'll discuss the foundations of literary fiction, the writing process and how to read like a writer. We'll conclude with some inspiring prompts and a brief workshop. Suitable for beginning or seasoned writers.
Drinking shots with nationalists and gobbling falafel with radicals, John Safran was there the year the extreme became the mainstream. Meeting diverse Australians—ISIS supporters, anarchists, white nationalists and more—Safran has written a hilarious and disorienting adventure which is a startling and confronting portrait of contemporary Australia. We all think we know what’s going on in our own country, but this larger-than-life, timely and alarmingly insightful true story will make you think again ... . Join one of Australia’s most infamous writers and satirists in conversation with Scott Whitmont.
Hotdogs, popcorn and a movie—what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?
One parent can head upstairs to enjoy ‘Story Tasting’ with the Monday Morning Cooking Club while the rest of the family enjoy a movie and dinner. Get comfy on beanbags and enjoy popcorn at the flicks! For parents and kids of all ages (kids under 5 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian).
Since 1948, violence has inflicted immense suffering and loss on the people of Israel but the country’s necessarily permanent preparedness for war has ensured that the full weight of Israeli innovation has been thrown behind the country's military, turning it into the most formidable fighting force in the region. The Anti-Israel Agenda reveals how the institutions of greatest moral and political influence—including Western governments, the campus, the United Nations, and the Church—are being turned against Israel in an effort to isolate and cripple the state until it can no longer defend its interests or its people. This telling and timely exposé reveals how the conflict with Israel has shifted from the battlefield to the corridors of power, the media we consume, the campuses we attend, and every forum that touches our lives.
