Blak & Bright: Keynote and Through Our Lens

Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival runs from 14 March until 17 March, and opens with this double-bill event: Keynote: State of the Nations, a keynote speech presented by actor Leah Purcell AM, and Through our Lens, a panel discussion featuring six writers sharing 12 images that define their stories.

A proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman from Queensland, Leah Purcell AM is one of Australia’s leading actors, with award-winning roles in theatre, film, and television. Keynote: State of the Nation will be an insight into her career and journey from modest beginnings in Murgon, Queenland, where she grew up as the youngest of seven siblings.  

For Through Our Lens, join Daniel Browning, Gregg Dreise, Helen Milroy, Julie Janson, Kirli Saunders, Mariah Sweetman as they share 12 images that define their stories – images of family, Country, working lives, and the places and people that influence them.

This event will be AUSLAN interpreted.

About Leah Purcell

A proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman from Queensland, Leah Purcell AM is one of Australia’s leading actors, with award-winning roles in theatre, film, and television.

Leah headlines the upcoming Foxtel drama series High Country on which she also serves as Executive Producer and Cultural Advisor. The series is produced by Curio Pictures in association with Rage Media.

Leah stars alongside Sigourney Weaver in the Amazon Studios miniseries The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Other screen credits include: Shayda, Wentworth, Janet King, Redfern Now, The Proposition and Lantana.

Leah’s feature film directorial debut, The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson – for which she also starred in the lead role, wrote, and produced – received 13 AACTA Award nominations, with Leah winning the 2022 AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress, as well as an ADG Award for Best Debut Feature Film.

Throughout her career Leah has received 26 awards and 11 nominations for her work as an actor, writer, director, and producer as well as the 2021 Member of The Order of Australia (AM).

About the Through Our Lens writers

Julie Janson

Julie began writing plays in remote Yolngu community in NT. She is a Darug woman of Burruberongal clan. A playwright, poet and novelist. Her latest novel Madukka the River Serpent long listed for the Miles Franklin Award.

Daniel Browning

Daniel Browning (he/him) is a Bundjalung and Kullilli journalist, radio broadcaster, documentary maker, sound artist and writer. Currently, he is Editor Indigenous Radio with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and produces and presents The Art Show for ABC RN, the ABC’s specialist arts and journalism network. He also presented Awaye! for many years, an RN staple which surveys contemporary Indigenous cultural practice across the arts spectrum.

A leading Aboriginal journalist with a long career at the ABC, Daniel Browning has been quietly achieving in the arts and media world for almost three decades. He is celebrated as a pioneer for his fiercely perceptive commentary and values-driven practice, and across the breadth of his career, has sought to elevate public commentary and criticism on Aboriginal arts and culture for the last three decades. Central to his work has been his talent as a conversationalist.

Mariah Sweetman

Mariah is a proud descendant of Ugarapul people. She is a creative enneagram nine who loves to write and paint. She is passionate about local history and engaging young people in local stories.

Mariah is a teacher by trade and lives with her family and a golden retriever. In her free time, she enjoys running along the waterfront, attending church, and supporting the local coffee shop by indulging in numerous long black coffees.

Mariah’s perfect night would involve enjoying takeout on the couch with her husband, playing a round of cards, and ending the evening with a great book in bed.

Gregg Dreise

Gregg Dreise is a gifted artist, storyteller and musician; and he features the didgeridoo and guitar in his high energy performances. He uses music and laughter to take audiences on a story telling journey – that just might sneak in a lesson or two. Gregg is a touring Author/Musician/Entertainer who continually performs in schools, libraries, community events and even the Sydney Opera House with his didgeridoo and guitar. He always aims to educate an audience filled with smiles.

He is a guest presenter on ABC’s Play School and on Mugu Kids on NITV. He designed the Indigenous Jersey for the QLD Maroons 2019, plus the QLD Murris all Indigenous NRL team jersey. He created all of the Aboriginal Art in the Sets of the reality TV show I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Outta Here Australia. As a descendant of the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi people of south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales his storytelling addresses self-image, friendship, kindness, bullying and indigenous culture.

The latest books he wrote and illustrated include Common Wealth a Slam Poetry Persuasive about change and unity, plus Hello and Welcome a companion to My Culture and Me, and his Bird series Silly Birds, Kookoo Kookaburra, Mad Magpie, Cunning Crow and Awesome Emu. There are also two Board Books for young readers Today’s Sun and Where’s My Baby?

His latest book is in collaboration with NRL player Alex Johnston with A Footy Tail, and a collaboration with his niece Kristy Dreise with the book Firehawk.

Helen Milroy

Dr Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia, but was born and educated in Perth. Australia’s first Indigenous doctor, Helen studied medicine at the University of Western Australia and is currently Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UWA, Honorary Research Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute and Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi Proud Spirit Australia.

Helen is also a children’s author and illustrator and has been shortlisted for several book awards. Since 2019, Helen has had14 books published by Magabala Books and Fremantle Press with many more in the pipeline.

Kirli Saunders

Kirli Saunders (OAM) is a proud Gunai Woman who rarely stays in her lane. She’s an award winning multidisciplinary artist, writer, singer-songwriter and consultant. Kirli creates, to connect, to make change. She was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to the arts (2022).

Kirli has partnered with global organisations including Google, Fender, Sydney Opera House, Qantas and Spotify, Mecca and Aesop on visual art and writing projects. Her film collaboration, Cry of the Glossy (Grassland Films) has been screened around the world. Her books among others include Bindi, Our Dreaming and Returning (2023, Magabala). Her forthcoming titles include poetry collection, Eclipse (JOAN) and childrens picture books, The Land Recalls You (Scholastic) and Afloat (Hardie Grant).

Kirli is currently writing her anticipated novel, Yaraman, taking her play Going Home through a second development and recording her first album with Mark Harding, in their indie folk Band, Cooee.