Rewriting the Nation: Minority women authors make history

Australian minority women writers have been inventively engaged in rewriting and revisioining the history and culture of the white nation to include perspectives that have been ignored or obscured. Meet authors Roanna Gonsalves, Paula Abood, and Maryam Azam in a conversation facilitated by historian and ABC journalist Kate Evans as they discuss the challenges they face and the courage they show in changing what counts as Australian history.

Roanna Gonsalves' current work in progress focuses on Governor Macquarie and his relationship with his Indian servant George Jarvis. This novel-in-progress reveals the rich diversity of Australia's history and the multicultural nature of the Australian colonies. Roanna is joined by Pakistani-Australian writer Maryam Azam and Arab-Australian writer Paula Abood, who negotiate the stories of subjects largely rendered invisible in canonical literature and other public forums. Paula Abood’s recent stories have explored the impact of the gulf war on Arab-muslim populations in Sydney. Her current work-in-progress is a fictionalised exploration of her grandmother’s life during the famine in Lebanon. Maryam Azam’s debut collection of poetry The Hijab Files focusses on the experience of Muslim millennials in Australia, exploring what the scarf means to young women. This collection investigates topics of dating and spirituality, drawing variously on humour and ritual

Presented by UNSWriting. Tickets // $10 Full Price // $5 Concession

The School of the Arts and Media acknowledges the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund for supporting this project.