Wingecarribee Women Writers
about
Wingecarribee Women Writers
Wingecarribee Women Writers is part of a global movement that celebrates women’s stories, voices and creativity. Our purpose is to empower women of the Wingecarribee & beyond, to ensure their stories and voices are heard in literature and the arts.
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Local volunteers design and manage our projects.
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Our projects are designed to:
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Shine a light on women who have been lost to obscurity in history.
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Unearth their stories and voices to inspire women to write today.
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connect & support local women writers
Encourage and empower emerging young artists to believe in the importance of their voices and stories.
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Wingecarribee Women Writers emerged from a writing retreat at Life at Springfield in the Southern Highlands in November 2021. The retreat, called ‘True Life Stories’, led by Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell, focused on their work writing Searching for Charlotte: The Fascinating Story of Australia’s First Children’s Author.
The Charlotte Project was the first initiative of
Wingecarribee Women Writers
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The Charlotte Project Appeal was
hosted by The Southern Highlands Foundation.
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The first initiative of the Wingecarribee Women Writers was The Charlotte Project to raise money to install a bronze life-sized statue of Charlotte in Berrima’s Market Place Park, near the Story Centre.
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Charlotte Waring Atkinson settled with her husband James Atkinson at Oldbury Farm in Sutton Forest in the 1820s. It is believed she wrote the first story ever set in Australia while living there. Her youngest daughter, Louisa Atkinson, was born at Oldbury and went on to become the first Australian-born woman writer, journalist and botanist.
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We are pleased to have achieved our goal and Charlotte was unveiled in Dec 2023. beyond this initiative, Wingecarribee Women Writers will continue to seek ways to support and amplify women's voices.
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committee members
Lynn Watson
Lynn is the 2026 Chair of Wingecarribee Women Writers.
Lynn has successfully run a local Bowral business and is a passionate advocate for women in our community. Living in Berrima, she holds a deep appreciation for its unique early history and the courageous pioneering women who helped shape our region. Lynn brings leadership, heart, and a strong commitment to celebrating women’s voices across the Southern Highlands.
Paula McLean
Paula McLean, Patron of The Charlotte Project, author, immediate past Deputy Chair of the Stella Prize for women’s writing, Board Member of the Country Education Foundation of Australia and a founding trustee of McLean Foundation.
Posie Graeme-Evans
Posie Graeme-Evans is an acclaimed Australian novelist, screenwriter and television producer, best known as creator of McLeod’s Daughters and co-creator of Hi-5. After leading drama at the Nine Network, she turned to historical fiction, publishing internationally and mentoring writers across Australia. Today she remains a respected creative leader and storyteller.
Gale Edwards
Gale Edwards is an internationally acclaimed Australian theatre and opera director. Former Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company, she has directed major productions across Australia, the UK and USA. Her work spans contemporary drama, Shakespeare and opera, earning recognition for bold, imaginative storytelling and artistic leadership.
Sonya Phillips
Sonya Phillips is a seasoned local government leader and community advocate, known for her long service on The Hills Shire Council and as a past Mayor. She champions women’s leadership, civic engagement and community wellbeing, bringing deep experience in local issues and grassroots involvement to her writing and public roles.
Jenni Coward
Jenni lives in Burrawang in the Southern Highlands where she and her partner are building a whisky distillery. She is currently writing her first novel.
Kerrie Douglass
Kerrie Douglass is a writer, communications professional, and former broadcast journalist who spent decades living and working in Sydney before making the move to the southern highlands village of Exeter.
Kinchem Hegedus
Kinchem Hegedus is a writer and the director at Life at Springfield in the Southern Highlands, a holistic retreat space specialising in nurturing creative wellbeing, and regenerative lifestyles.
Springfield hosts writing, health and 'HomeGrown' retreats.
Julie Haseler Reilly
Julie Haseler Reilly graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1983. She later pursued visual arts at the National Art School and has studied sculpture with renowned sculptors Alan Somerville, Tom Bass and Col Henry. She now has a studio at her home in Bowral and exhibits in the Southern Highlands. Julie produced the bronze monument of Charlotte Atkinson now in Berrima Marketplace Park.
Erin Reedie
Erin Reedie is a neurodivergent actor, writer and business owner.
She has successfully written, performed and produced theatre for children with her company Piccolo Ponies. Connecting with young people and educating them through the means of fantasy, imagination and play is at the core of what Erin is passionate about. She graduated from Actors Centre Australia in 2022 with a BA of Performing Arts in Stage and Screen.
Amanda Mackevicius
Amanda Mackevicius is a Southern Highlands–based author, journalist and family historian, and founder of My Genealogy. With 30 years’ experience, she researches and writes multi-generational histories, ghostwrites memoirs and produces publications from concept to print. Amanda also undertakes probate genealogy research and creates tailored ancestral travel experiences for clients.