For over thirty years, Heather Robinson has been drawn to Hepburn Shire—sometimes as a tourist, other times to see family and friends. Though she’s lived in Perth, Los Angeles, and the Adelaide Hills, all enriching experiences, as a Victorian, she could never shake the pull of home. When the time came to return, she and her husband John knew they wanted to be close to family, nature, and a creative community. Daylesford was the answer.

Now, a year into calling the town home, it has ticked every box—and then some. One of the highlights has been joining the Program Team for the 2025 Words in Winter Festival.

“As a writer, life can be isolating,” she says, “but this festival is run by a passionate group of people with arts backgrounds like mine. We all have ‘form’ in the game, as they say, and that keeps us focused on what truly matters to the community.”

This year, she’s especially thrilled to present her first book as part of the program, in conversation with Jade Lillie, co-editor of the book The Relationship is the Project and a fellow local writer and leading voice in Australian culture.

“We’ll explore why the cultural sector has drifted from its original purpose and how we can refocus on community needs,” Heather explains. “It’s about making art and culture mission-driven again—not just about metrics.”

Light in the Dark: Reclaiming Culture for Community
Date: Saturday 30 August,
Time: 5.30–7.00pm
Venue: Stony Creek Gallery, 10 Stoney Creek Rd, Daylesford
Cost: Full $20/ Concession $15- includes a glass of bubbles and nibbles.
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/light-in-the-dark-reclaiming-culture-for-community

Heather’s book, Beyond the Books: Culture, Value, and Why Libraries Matter, will be available for sale and signing on the night.

But Heather’s not the only new local sharing a powerful story at this year’s festival. Shele (pronounced Shell-ee), who recently relocated from the Northern Territory, has a journey rooted in reunion and rediscovery.

“Hello everyone! I’m Shele,” she writes. “My family and I moved to Dja Dja Wurrung country for many reasons, but the truth is, I came here to reconnect with my birth family after forty years of separation—we only just met!”

As an adopted person, Shele’s writing explores grief, belonging, and the healing power of truth. “When I started my memoir,” Shele says, “I wrote that I wanted to use the truth to bring light to the dark. That’s why I’m so excited to be part of Words in Winter.”

In her workshop, she’ll guide participants in engaging with difficult truths—how to uncover them, process them, and write about them with courage. Participants can expect to examine the relationship between fear, truth and hope and will sample the writing of authors who excel at this transformative endeavour. You will learn how to shift fear into hope through following a detailed writing process, interspersed with writing prompts and opportunities to share your work. “I’d love to meet the local writing community,” she adds. “Please, come join me!”

The Truth is Brave: A Workshop with Shele Parker Black
Date: Saturday 24 August
Time: 11:30am–1:00pm
Venue: Radius Art, 76 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs
Cost: Pay what you feel (suggested $5 – $10)
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/the-truth-is-brave-a-writing-workshop

Two new residents, two different journeys—both finding home, creativity, and connection in Hepburn Shire. Whether through reclaiming culture or reclaiming personal truth, their stories reflect the way this place draws people in and helps them share their voices.

Words in Winter Festival (22-24 August and 29-31 August) promises to be a celebration of both art and belonging—and these two writers are just the beginning.

Check out the full program at www.wordsinwinter.com

This article is based on a media release from Words in Winter.