Burdekin Writers Share Their Words at Home Hill Library

Nine Burdekin writers read their stories and poems to a small but appreciative crowd at the Home Hill Library on Wednesday, 2 July 2025.

“To stand in front of an audience and share something you’ve created takes guts,” said writer Megan Hippler. “I’m proud of everyone who was brave enough to read.”

The event was a collaboration between the Burdekin Creative Writers, the Burdekin Night Writers, and Burdekin Libraries, celebrating the 2024 Burdekin Creative Writers Anthology. From heartfelt poetry and memoir excerpts to short stories and children’s fiction, the showcase highlighted the breadth of literary talent in the region.

This was the second showcase held in 2025, following a reading with a different combination of writers at the Ayr Library in April. Both the 2024 anthology and its predecessor — produced by George Venables — are available at local libraries, and discussions have already begun for a potential third edition.

Burdekin Creative Writers has held monthly daytime meetings for writers of all experience levels since 2017. Burdekin Night Writers, which began in Cherelle Murphy’s home in 2007, now meets fortnightly via group video calls.

“The two groups meeting at different times in different venues lets more people join the group that suits their schedules and goals,” Hippler explained. “And some people join both.”

Though light-hearted and welcoming, the groups have helped members develop new skills, win writing competitions, get published, and now take the stage for public readings.

“When I joined the Burdekin Creative Writers in 2017,” Hippler said in her introduction, “I didn’t think I could write a short story, and I didn’t think I could read aloud. Because of these groups, I hope I’m about to show you otherwise.”

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