The 2024 Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival marked a significant milestone with an impressive turnout of more than 7,000 students from the region, celebrating its 20th anniversary in grand style. The renowned festival brought together schools from across Mackay and the Whitsunday region, creating a vibrant platform for young minds to immerse themselves in the world of literature, music and creative expression.
This year’s 2024 Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival was a major success and provided a unique learning experience for various school students across the region. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
As regional schools united for the 2024 Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, students engaged with leading authors, illustrators and performers with a focus on fostering a deep appreciation for literature and creativity among students from diverse backgrounds.
School captain of Whitsunday Anglican School, Hayley Wilkins, highlighted the festival's role in uniting diverse schools under one literary umbrella.
"The Whitsunday Voices Festival has been going for 20 years now, offering a unique opportunity for regional schools to come together,” Ms Wilkins said.
“It’s a good opportunity for students to ask questions especially in literacy and for getting into careers of creative writing because they get to see how the publishing process works which is not really something you get to hear of in everyday life.”
School captain, Joshua Jarvis also emphasised how the festival transcends academic boundaries having attended both as a student and now as a volunteer.
“It’s been really great to interact with not only the authors but with the other students from other schools who have come here and it’s just really great to hang out, with music and food trucks all around, and just really absorb the whole festival in,” he shared.
Andrew Wheaton, Principal of Whitsunday Anglican School, said how the festival's significance is bridging the gap between rural and urban educational experiences.
“We’re incredibly fortunate and privileged to have some of Australia’s leading authors, illustrators and performers,” Mr Wheaton said.
“This event is very important because it reaches out to rural and regional students to give them the opportunity to attend a world class literature festival akin to what the city can experience, and that’s the real value of this.
“They can really enjoy the love of reading and all things literature and that is the real strength of what this festival is able to provide,” he explained.
Australian icon Kate Ceberano, who graced the festival with her presence, marvelled at its impact on Mackay and says, “The future is in the story tellers.”
“Something that I love to tell kids is, don’t get stuck on being someone who you were, it’s okay to use your imagination and outdream that box you’re in.
“If it’s not working for you, just change, know that you have the freedom to change and there isn’t anybody else like you on the planet so it’s up to your imagination to shape how you want to be seen,” she remarked
Nick Earls, a seasoned author with over three decades of literary contribution, reflected on the festival's evolution since its inception. Nick attended the first ever Whitsunday Voices Literature Festival two decades ago and says he still enjoys coming to the festival to engage with students and share his stories.
Festival Manager, Tracey Gurdler, emphasised the unique opportunity the festival provides for regional communities.
"Events like Whitsunday Voices are often associated with big cities but it’s really nice that our region gets to experience these authors and for the students to be inspired by them.”
The festival's 20th year was marked by lively performances, insightful author talks and interactive workshops, all designed to ignite passion for literature and creative arts among the region's students.
Over 7,000 students gathered at the 2024 Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, marking a significant milestone. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara and Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival (Facebook)
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