A heartfelt message to younger generations, Elders Stories from Our Hearts, shares powerful tales of joy and hardship, with twenty personal narratives from Elders living on Dharug and Gundungurra land. Finding strength in shared experiences, the book features treasured yarns about resilience, country and family histories, and features stunning photography of the region, highlighting the deep connection between Aboriginal people and the land.
In this free lunchtime event, meet five of the Elders features in the book, as they share their own stories, connecting visitors to this place, and celebrating our local stories and community heroes.
Uncle Brian Bell is a Biripi man born in Guildford, NSW. His poetry has won the Henry Lawson Award, a Bronze Swagman Award, Will Ogilvie Prize and John O’Brien Prize, among other accolades. He is actively involved in Blue Mountains People for Reconciliation/BMANTaR, the local Aboriginal Culture and Research Centre (ACRC), and an ORIC group designed to help the descendants of Annie Butler, his father’s great-great-grandmother.
Aunty Marie Clegg is a proud Wiradjuri woman who has called the Blue Mountains home for over twenty years. She spent much of her life moving from place to place when her husband was working for the Navy, then started working for the NSW Aboriginal Lands Council in Parramatta in 1995. When she retired and moved to Leura, she became involved with the Blue Mountains Aboriginal and Culture Research Centre (ACRC).
Aunty Carol Cooper is a Dharug and Gundungurra woman who has lived her entire life in the Blue Mountains. Aunty Carol has played and coached basketball most of her life, been on the board for the Blue Mountains Aboriginal and Culture Research Centre (ACRC), and sat on many Aboriginal Advisory Boards, working in schools and sharing culture.
Uncle Colin Locke is a Dharug Elder with deep connections to the Upper Blue Mountains as his place of birth. His Bachelor of Health Science and roles as a mental health clinician and former Centrelink Officer enable a wealth of skills and knowledge in relation to social issues for First Peoples. He is passionate about writing children's books relating to Aboriginal Culture, and was awarded a Varuna First Nations Fellowship in 2024 for his manuscript, Who Does Grandfather Talk To?
Uncle Ed Walker is a Tharawal Elder who has lived in the Blue Mountains for over twenty years. He trained as a carpenter and ran a maintenance business for many years, then went on to make toys for children out of recycled building materials. He is passionate about sustainability and has three children.
Charmaine Ledden-Lewis is a proud Bundjalung woman and award-winning illustrator, residing on Dharug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains.
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Tickets for this event are free, however, registration is required to manage room capacity.
Registration will be available from 10am 9 September.
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This venue is wheelchair accessible. Please visit our Accessibility page or email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au if you have any other accessibility requirements.