Literary Festival Gets Lit

By Taylah Fellows

THE Scone Literary Festival will be back better than ever next year thanks to a $10,000 donation from Council’s Tourism Budget.

The Festival will return for a sixth consecutive year on March 13 to 15, 2020, drawing in crowds from throughout Australia.

At this month’s Council meeting Councillors Sue Abbott, Kiwa Fisher and Joshua Brown spoke in support of the motion to fund the Festival.

“With literary festivals growing fast across the country, it’s good that this is coming from the tourism budget,” said Cr Brown.

The only councillor to oppose the funding was Ron Campbell who said, “not this year”.

Janie Jordan, president of the Scone Literary Festival, said the festival is putting Scone on the map.

“We’re thrilled to be included in the economic and tourism funding bucket with the other festivals,” said Ms Jordan.

“It is a huge leap forward for us,” she said.

“We are now up there with the other big festivals– Aberdeen Highland Games, Scone Horse Festival and King of the Ranges –with funding that aims to boost tourism and economic development,”  Janie Jordan said.

The Festival is already a booming success, making the Qantas 101 Holiday List, amoung well established festivals such as Floriade in Canberra and the MONA FOMA in Tasmania.

Janie Jordan said the date change from November to March will allow for larger attendance and “a more inclusive and diverse festival.”

“We have big plans that not only have synergy with the growth of Scone, but build on the literary heritage of the Upper Hunter,” said Ms Jordan.

“The festival has now proven itself, which requires it to have a very strategic business focus,” she said.

“Were determined to make Scone proud of us,” Janie Jordan said.

FESTIVAL HAPPENINGS:

1. The official Literary Festival Launch event on November 16 with Christos Tsiolkas delivering the Patrick White Oration.
2. Costa Georgiadis from the ABC will attend the first ever community festival dinner on Kindon Street.
3. The main event in March will include satellite events reaching Murrurundi and Merriwa.
4. Watch out for the ‘Friends of the Festival’ invitation at the end of September, an opportunity for the community to gain VIP info and event access. 

Related Stories:

• Slap on the Back for Festival – May 21, 2019;
• 1918: When Australian Soldiers Changed History – November 8, 2018;
• Rick Has Had A Gut full – October 9, 2018;
• Festival’s Reputation Takes Off – October 8, 2018;
• Students Invited to Hit the Keyboard – September 27, 2018;
• Power and Magic of Literature in Scone – July 3, 2018;
• Winning Young Writers – November 2, 2017;
• Connecting with Young Writers – August 17, 2017;
• Pens Ready – July 14, 2017;
• Line Up for Literary Long Weekend – September 6, 2016;