Emily Potter: Mildura Events > Hannie Rayson & Michael Cathcart (23 Nov) | Literary River Walk (24 Nov)

Emily Potter’s research project exploring the literary history of the Mallee region is gathering steam, with two upcoming events in Mildura. Bound to appeal to local readers, both events are free and open to the public.

1. Revisiting the Mallee: Hannie Rayson & Michael Cathcart in Conversation (23 Nov)

Hannie Rayson is one of Australia’s most celebrated playwrights. Her play Inheritance is a story about the Mallee. It resulted from a two-year project, which took Hannie from Sea Lake to Nyah West via Qambatook, Chinkapook, Manangatang and every place in between.

Inheritance premiered at the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Sydney Theatre Company, winning three Helpmann Awards – Best Play, Best New Australian Work, and Best Director.

Hannie will be interviewed about Inheritance and her Mallee research by her husband Michael Cathcart, presenter of ABC Radio National’s arts program The Hub – On Stage. Michael has also researched the Mallee region, investigating a secret paramilitary organisation called The White Army for his book Defending the National Tuckshop. In 1931, locals mobilised to protect the citizens of the region from a Bolshevik invasion. Residents with their own stories of these by-gone events are warmly invited to share them with the audience.

When: Friday 23 November, 7–8.30pm

Where: Benetook Room, Alfred Deakin Centre, 180–190 Deakin Avenue, Mildura. Free event, but registration is essential. RSVP here >

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2. Walking the Murray, Reading Mildura: A Literary River Walk (24 Nov)

Emily Potter and collaborator Brigid Magner (RMIT) invite local readers to join them for a literary river walk along the Murray in Mildura. This walk invites members of the public to encounter the rich and diverse literary history of the river through situated readings of poetry, prose and local history.

The literary stroll will begin at the Mildura Arts Centre and finish at Nowingi Place, a distance of 1.4 kilometres, concluding with coffee and conversation at the Vintage Catering Co.

This event is part of the Reading/Writing the Mallee research project, sponsored by the Mildura Rural City Council, Deakin University and RMIT University.

When: Saturday 24 November, 10.30–11.30am

Meet: Mildura Arts Centre, 199 Cureton Avenue. Free, but places limited. Register here >