Honour the profound musical and cultural legacy of Archie Roach – a Gunditjmara, Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung and Bundjalung man – and Ruby Hunter – a Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Pitjantjatjara woman, with stories, personal reflections, musical performances and poems by four powerful Indigenous voices.
With the support and blessing of Amos and Eban Roach, sons of Archie and Ruby, Fremantle Press have published Rivers Flow, an anthology that stands as a tribute to the strength, artistry and enduring spirit of two of Australia’s most cherished artists and cultural leaders.
Join Ali Cobby-Eckermann, Julie Janson, Graham Akhurst and Bebe Oliver as their share their contributions to the collection, and reflect on the creative impact of these two First Nations musical legends.
Ali Cobby Eckermann is an award-winning Yankunytjatjara poet. In 2013, she won the Kenneth Slessor Prize and Book Of The Year (NSW) for Ruby Moonlight. Her verse novel She is the Earth won the 2024 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Book of the Year and Indigenous Writers Prize and was shortlisted for the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the Stella Prize.
Julie Janson is a Burruberongal woman of Darug nation, born in Sydney, now living on Brinja Yuin Country. Her novels include the Miles Franklin Award shortlisted Compassion and Miles Franklin longlisted Madukka the River Serpent, as well as Benevolence, which was shortlisted for the ASA Barbara Jefferis Novel Award 2022 and nominated for the NIB and VOSS Literary Awards. Julie was runner up for the Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize 2025 and winner of the Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize 2016 and Judith Wright Poetry Prize 2019.
Graham Akhurst is an Aboriginal writer and academic hailing from the Kokomini of Northern Queensland. He is an Indigenous Australian Studies and Creative Writing Lecturer at UTS. Graham’s debut YA novel, Borderland, received multiple awards. He is also a Director on the Board of the Eleanor Dark Foundation.
Bebe Oliver is a Bardi Jawi wordsmith, award-winning poet, author and illustrator. His debut poetry collection more than these bones won praise for its raw beauty, and his second collection if this is the end was published in 2024 to similar acclaim. He is the Deputy Chair of Magabala Books and the Artistic Director and CEO of Blak & Bright.
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This event is part of the Main Program and included as part of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Saturday Bronze Passes.
Subject to availability, a limited number of single tickets may become available 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.