BOOK lovers, lovers of words and those who just want to be entertained are gathering at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, in September, for the Whitsundays Writers Festival.
The Whitsundays Writers Festival (September 12, 2025) is dedicated to fostering creativity, dialogue and an appreciation for the written word.
On Friday, September 12, the festival presents events for both readers and writers.
There will be daytime memoir workshops with Dr Lindsay Simpson and the ‘Love Letter to Queensland’ evening event, at 6pm, all open to the public (tickets still available).
The festival will feature the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, providing recognition and financial rewards to talented writers for best unpublished manuscript, and a community writing competition (details at end of story).
“We are delighted to welcome internationally published award-winning author of 25 books Dr Anita Heiss as our ‘From the Heart’ keynote speaker for 2025,” festival president Karen Jacobsen said.
“Gold Walkley Award winning Hedley Thomas, Queensland Literary Award winner Steve MinOn, prize winning Australian novelist and journalist Matthew Condon OAM and Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP will join the festival’s ‘Love Letter to Queensland’ event.”
Prominent Queenslanders writing, reading and, in the case of The GPS Girl® Karen Jacobsen, singing their ‘Love Letter to Queensland’, will be joined by festival patron Mayor Ry Collins, who will read the winners’ entries in the writing competition, for three age groups.
Winners of the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards will be announced with cash prizes made possible by the Roderick Centre at James Cook University.
Also, the winners of the community writing competition will be announced with prizes from Daydream Island, Tropix Photography, Street Library Australia and Kitten Vintage Mackay.
“Literacy is a cornerstone of Australian society, and our focus to encourage Whitsundays locals and visitors to the region to take part in our events, as an attendee or as a writer, fosters the exchange of ideas,” Ms Jacobsen said.
“Access to influential voices shaping contemporary literature is an exciting benefit of the events we produce.”
COMMUNITY WRITING COMPETITION
The Whitsundays Writers Festival community writing competition offers the opportunity to reflect on the beautiful place we live in by writing a 300-word ‘Love Letter to Queensland’.
We are able to offer amazing prizes thanks to:
Daydream Island’s two-night ocean view room stay, valued at $1,000 for the Adult Section prize
Tropix Photography’s branding photography session valued at $550 for the Under 18 prize
Street Library Australia’s street library valued at $300 and Kitten Vintage’s library book starter pack for the Under 12 prize
Entries can be submitted at the Whitsundays Writers Festival website www.whitsundayswriters.com up until August 31, 2025.
For more information visit www.whitsundayswriters.com.
Thank you to our sponsors: Whitsunday Regional Council, Queensland Writers Centre, the Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing, IngramSpark, Hembury Books, Bendigo Bank, Wilmar Sugar, Tropix Photography, Daydream Island, Street Library Australia, Kitten Vintage and venue sponsor the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
