The Hunter Writers Centre was established in 1995 and incorporated in 1998 as a resource centre for writers in Newcastle and the Hunter Region. We receive funding from a number of sources including ArtsNSW, Newcastle City Council and The University of Newcastle.
We support our membership via workshops, a regular newsletter, brokering mentorships and by providing a meeting space for writing groups.
In addition the HWC administers a number of community and cultural development projects throughout the year and coordinates the annual Newcastle Poetry Prize.
Our membership includes aspiring authors, experienced industry professionals and those who write simply for their own pleasure. We welcome anyone interested in writing, irrespective of genre, work method or spelling skills!
HWC BOARD
Greg Hall, Chair: During a twenty year career as a journalist Greg worked for News Corp and ABC Radio. He now runs his own film and TV production company and has just completed a privately-funded documentary about the Rothbury Riots called ‘Lockout‘ that was shown on the History Channel in mid-2007.
Alan Donaldson: Alan joined the board in 2009 and is the HWC’s member representative.
Reeze Dryden: Reeze is a multi-published author who writes for Harlequin Mills & Boon under the pen-name Michelle Douglas. She has a BA (Hons) and MPhil (Creative Writing) from the University of Newcastle. She is a member of several professional writing organisation including Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of Australia, the Varuna Alumni, and the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance. She has run writing workshops and appeared on numerous author panels.
Nuatalie Nealms: Nuatalie is a Newcastle City Councillor.
Jill McKeowen
STAFF
Katharine Gillett (née Aitken), Director: Originally from Edinburgh, Katharine moved to Australia in 1998. She has a PhD in creative writing from the University of Newcastle and a strong work history in community publishing. Katharine has taught creative writing at Monash University and the University of Newcastle and, while studying, assisted in the publication of a number of books and the organisation of writing festivals, including Critical Animals and the Art of the Real. In 2010, Katharine co-wrote ‘100 Women’, which will be published by the University of Newcastle in 2011.
Karen Crofts, Tutor: Karen Crofts is a writer and a qualified English teacher with more than 20 years experience. She has a MCA, Creative Writing (University of Newcastle), Dip Ed Secondary English/Drama (University of Sydney), B.A. English/Drama/History, (University of NSW) as well as journalism experience with Courier Group Newspapers in Sydney.
Gillian Lilley (née Scoble), Arts Administrator: Gillian worked for 10 years full-time as news editor and travel writer for Getaway magazine, South Africa and has also freelanced, with her writing and photographs published regularly in a variety of magazines, newspapers and two books. After migrating to Newcastle, she set up a writing and communications business with clients in the Hunter region and Australia-wide. She holds a Degree in Journalism & Media Studies as well as Industrial Psychology from Rhodes University, South Africa.
