The human condition was the theme of the 2026 Eumundi Writers Festival, held from September 4-6.
Authors, artists, scholars and public figures explored storytelling, journalism, father-son relationships, collective identity, artificial intelligence, species extinction and inter-species kinship.
While opening the festival, Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said storytelling had the power to make a difference: “When we share our stories we not only create a legacy going forward, we have enormous potential to change the lives of those around us.”
One of the festival’s headline sessions featured former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd in conversation with Betoota Advocate co-founder Clancy Overell.
Mr Rudd said that despite a person’s voting preferences in Australia, most people were good.
“However people vote, underneath it, all most people are decent,” he said.
Mr Overell said Eumundi had likely changed significantly from the small farming town of Mr Rudd’s childhood 50-60 years ago, but it had not lost touch with its roots.
“I don’t know if it would have had as many craft beer options and sandalwood incense. I think it would have been a bit harsher,” he said.
“Just seeing all the dairy heritage of this area, you just know it would’ve been cold mornings, dirt floors, milk and cows.
“It is a bit different to what we see here nowadays. I mean, we have writers festivals here now.
“That’s what I love about places like this: even if it becomes a trendy arty town, it is still the kind of people that were there before.”
WORDS: Nekia Scott.
