Conversation Connection Community Forum

Name: Conversation Connection Community Forum
Start: 2026-10-03T10:30:00+10:00
End: 2026-10-03T10:30:00+10:00
Location: SuniTAFE Mildura Auditorium

About

We all have a valuable life story within us. But for it to do the most good, it must be shared. So we are putting on a day for everyone to learn about the value of connection through storytelling.

An array of gifted speakers will say much about conversation, connection and community. And you will have the opportunity to join in.
If you have a particular passion for older people and their happiness, we especially encourage you to attend. We will talk about how you can interview people to learn their story, and then how you can write it down and have that story published and shared. We will also talk about organising for many people to do this in your local area.

Our speakers and their topics include:

* Peter Kenyon OAM (Director, Bank of I.D.E.A.S.): Building caring and connected communities – the importance of storytelling and conversations

* Dr Sean MacDermott Director (John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research): Cad é an scéal? (What’s the story?) ‘Storytelling is absolutely central to ageing well’

* Phil Kettle (much-loved Australian children’s author): The art of writing, the joy of reading

There will also be two discussions:

* Stories connect us and add meaning to our lives (Led by Peter Kenyon OAM (Director, Bank of I.D.E.A.S.). Panel includes Phil Kettle (children’s author), Bertilla Campbell (Dementia Australia), Sean MacDermott (John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research)).

* The Mallee’s Living Histories - Sharing our project (Led by Win Scott (Editor, The Mallee’s Living Histories). Panel includes Book 8 participants; writers, storytellers and family).

The day will additionally include a light lunch, and addresses from Ali Cupper (Mayor of Mildura) and Vernon Knight AM (Founder of Mallee Family Care and The Mallee's Living Histories).