Sydney Writers' Festival: Play Like a Girl - Forster

As part of MidCoast Festival of Stories, one of Australia’s most loved forums for literature, ideas and storytelling, Sydney Writers’ Festival will live-stream its headline events from Sydney to MidCoast Council Libraries on Thursday 23, Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May.

Prepare to be invigorated and engaged by conversations, debates and discussions featuring some ofthe world’s finest writers and thinkers. Audiences can also participate in live Q&A sessions at each event, sending questions straight to the Sydney stage. Join us for Live & Local 2024, streamed live by Sydney Writers’ Festival and delivered locally.

About the event...

PLAY LIKE A GIRL - CHLOE DALTON, ANNA MEARES AND JANA PITTMAN

Cheer on the athletes kicking goals for women’s sport. Olympic rugby gold medalist Chloe Dalton (Girls Don’t Play Sport), Australia’s most decorated cycling Olympian Anna Meares, and world champion pro-athlete Jana Pittman (Enough) chat with host Tracey Holmes.

About the authors...

Chloe Dalton

Chloe Dalton is one of Australia’s few triple sport elite athletes–initially playin gbasketball in the WNBL with the Sydney Flames, before transitioning to rugby 7s. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Chloe won gold with the Australian 7s team. She then crossed codes again to Aussie rules, debuting for Carlton in 2019. During a 2020 lockdown, Chloe created The Female Athlete Project to address gender inequalities within the sports media space. Chloe is currently playing AFLW with GWS.

Anna Meares

Anna Meares is Australia’s most successful track cyclist after having won 11 World Championships and six Olympic Medals including two gold over a 14-year illustrious cycling career. She is the only Australian to win individual medals at four consecutive Olympic Games. Anna made her debut at Athens in 2004 where she won gold in the 500m Time Trial and bronze in the sprint. Four years later she won silver in the sprint at Beijing 2008, followed by sprint gold in London in 2012, where she also won bronze in the team sprint before finishing her storied career with bronze in the Keirin in Rio 2016. With extensive Olympic success Anna has been appointed the Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team.

Jana Pittman

Two-time World Champion and four-time Commonwealth Champion, Jana Pittman was the first woman to represent Australia in both a summer (2000, 2004) and winter (2014) Olympic Games. Off the track, Jana completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Western Sydney University in 2019 (First Class Honours/university medal) and is now a junior doctor in women's health. She completed a Masters of Reproductive Medicine at The University of NSW Sydney in 2020 and has initiated her PhD in Obstetrics focusing on aspects of uterus transplantation. This busy woman is also a proud mum to six children. In her book, Enough, Jana writes just as she speaks, making her path to self-acceptance relatable for all.

Bookings essential.