Back to All Events

ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE Thomas Mayo in conversation with Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

  • Grand Dining Room, The Carrington Hotel 15-47 Katoomba Street Katoomba, NSW, 2780 Australia (map)

In Always Was, Always Will Be, bestselling author Thomas Mayo investigates ‘what's next?’ for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the failed October 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum. 

Since the referendum, supporters and volunteers have been asking for guidance as to how to continue to support Indigenous recognition. Thomas, a leader of the Yes 23 campaign and co-author of the bestselling The Voice to Parliament Handbook, has penned a new book to answer that question. 

Essential for people who want to keep the positive momentum going, Thomas is joined in conversation by local illustrator and proud Bundjalung woman Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

Thomas Mayo is the Assistant National Secretary of the MUA, an award winning author, and a signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. He is on the board of Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. His next book is Always Was, Always Will Be: The Campaign for Justice and Recognition Continues

Charmaine Ledden-Lewis is a proud Bundjalung woman and award-winning illustrator living on Dharug and Gundungurra Country. Some of the books Charmaine has illustrated include Found by Bruce Pascoe, Born to Run by Cathy Freeman, 2023 CBCA notable Charlie’s Swim by Edith Wright, and most recently Ask Aunty; Seasons by Aunty Munya Andrews, shortlisted for the Wilderness Society’s 2024 Karajia Award. 

This venue is wheelchair accessible, but please visit our Accessibility page or email hello@bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au if you have any other accessibility requirements.

Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival will have Auslan interpreters available for the Festival and will schedule them into sessions on request. Please complete the Auslan request question at checkout. 


Festival Ticket Information

To take full advantage of all the events on offer, we recommend purchasing a weekend or day pass. Subject to availability, a strictly limited number of single tickets may become available, see below.

Previous
Previous
3 November

MICHELLE DE KRETSER in conversation with Felicity Plunkett

Next
Next
3 November

POETRY IS NOT A LUXURY Daniel Browning, Kate Fagan and Sara M Saleh in conversation with Jazz Money