Tim Winton: Songs from the Firefront
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Actors name
Chars name
Tim Winton in Conversation
When
6pm - 7pm
Where
Union Theatre
Arts and Cultural Building
The University of Melbourne
15 Monash Road, Parkville VIC 3010
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For one night only in Melbourne, beloved literary legend Tim Winton heads to the Union Theatre to share the tender and true stories of Songs from the Firefront with journalist and author Virginia Trioli.
Tim Winton has been singing the lives and loves of ordinary people for nearly half a century. It’s hard to think of a contemporary voice more widely trusted, or a writer whose cultural reach extends so far from the conventional confines of the literary world.
In his latest collection of deeply personal reflections, Songs from the Firefront, Winton is still asking himself the big and urgent questions. How do we keep going in a burning world? Why are we so resistant to facing the hard facts of life? Do we have what it takes to meet the moment? What must we do to foster community? And how do we hold on to what is pure and precious?
Songs from the Firefront is a book about the sacred fragility of existence. Full of rage and laughter and mourning, it’s a celebration of friendship, a call for solidarity and a testament to the deep joys and sorrows of family life.
Tickets
This event is ticketed by Readings
Running Time
Approximately 60 minutes
Photography and Recording
Please be advised that the University of Melbourne and partners may use photographs, audio and video recorded during this event for publication in print and online, including on social media. Please alert the photographer at the event should you not wish to have your photograph taken.
Partners
Presented with Readings and Melbourne Writers Festival
Featuring
Tim Winton
Tim Winton grew up and still lives in Western Australia. Considered the pre-eminent Australian author of his generation, Tim is the author of thirty books which have been widely translated and adapted for film, television, stage, opera, and radio. He has won the Miles Franklin, Australia’s most prestigious award, four times and has twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, for The Riders and Dirt Music. Renowned for his role in the campaign to save Ningaloo Reef in 2000–2003, Tim’s most recent work in the environmental space is the award-winning series Ningaloo Nyinggulu (2023), which he wrote and narrated. Voted a National Living Treasure by the National Trust in 1997, he is also an honorary fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. In recognition of his contribution to literature and the environment, in 2023 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Virginia Trioli
Virginia Trioli is one of Australia’s most respected journalists, known for her sharp interviewing style, wit and versatility across television, radio and print. A multi-prize-winning reporter, she earned journalism’s highest honour – a Walkey Award – for her business reporting in 1995 and again in 2001 for her landmark interview with Peter Reith on the children overboard issue.
She has held senior positions at The Age newspaper and Bulletin magazine, and has hosted flagship programs for the ABC including7.30, Q&A, Lateline and News Breakfast, which she co-anchored for 11 years. On radio, she led ABC Melbourne’s Mornings during pivotal moments including the Black Summer fires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia now hosts ABC’s prime-time Creative Types with Virginia Trioli, the podcast You Don’t Know Me and writes the popular Weekend Reads column for ABC News.
In 1996, Virginia authored Generation F, her celebrated response to Helen Garner’s The First Stone. Her latest book is A Bit on the Side, described by Trent Dalton as ‘utterly delightful’.
Photo by Jason Ierace
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For one night only in Melbourne, beloved literary legend Tim Winton heads to the Union Theatre to share the tender and true stories of Songs from the Firefront with journalist and author Virginia Trioli.
Tim Winton has been singing the lives and loves of ordinary people for nearly half a century. It’s hard to think of a contemporary voice more widely trusted, or a writer whose cultural reach extends so far from the conventional confines of the literary world.
In his latest collection of deeply personal reflections, Songs from the Firefront, Winton is still asking himself the big and urgent questions. How do we keep going in a burning world? Why are we so resistant to facing the hard facts of life? Do we have what it takes to meet the moment? What must we do to foster community? And how do we hold on to what is pure and precious?
Songs from the Firefront is a book about the sacred fragility of existence. Full of rage and laughter and mourning, it’s a celebration of friendship, a call for solidarity and a testament to the deep joys and sorrows of family life.
Featuring
Tim Winton
Tim Winton grew up and still lives in Western Australia. Considered the pre-eminent Australian author of his generation, Tim is the author of thirty books which have been widely translated and adapted for film, television, stage, opera, and radio. He has won the Miles Franklin, Australia’s most prestigious award, four times and has twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, for The Riders and Dirt Music. Renowned for his role in the campaign to save Ningaloo Reef in 2000–2003, Tim’s most recent work in the environmental space is the award-winning series Ningaloo Nyinggulu (2023), which he wrote and narrated. Voted a National Living Treasure by the National Trust in 1997, he is also an honorary fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. In recognition of his contribution to literature and the environment, in 2023 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Virginia Trioli
Virginia Trioli is one of Australia’s most respected journalists, known for her sharp interviewing style, wit and versatility across television, radio and print. A multi-prize-winning reporter, she earned journalism’s highest honour – a Walkey Award – for her business reporting in 1995 and again in 2001 for her landmark interview with Peter Reith on the children overboard issue.
She has held senior positions at The Age newspaper and Bulletin magazine, and has hosted flagship programs for the ABC including7.30, Q&A, Lateline and News Breakfast, which she co-anchored for 11 years. On radio, she led ABC Melbourne’s Mornings during pivotal moments including the Black Summer fires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia now hosts ABC’s prime-time Creative Types with Virginia Trioli, the podcast You Don’t Know Me and writes the popular Weekend Reads column for ABC News.
In 1996, Virginia authored Generation F, her celebrated response to Helen Garner’s The First Stone. Her latest book is A Bit on the Side, described by Trent Dalton as ‘utterly delightful’.
Photo by Jason Ierace
What's on at UMAC
Liane Moriarty with Toni Jordan
To open Readings' A Day in Carlton 2026, world-famous author Liane Moriarty joins beloved Melbourne writer Toni Jordan to discuss her highly anticipated follow up to Big Little Lies.
Play in a Day: Volpone, Or, The Fox
Bell Shakespeare’s lively script reading series celebrating rarely read classics.
Wake in Fright
In a ferocious solo performance, Zahra Newman (STC's Dracula) returns to the twisted heart of Wake in Fright.
Liane Moriarty with Toni Jordan
To open Readings' A Day in Carlton 2026, world-famous author Liane Moriarty joins beloved Melbourne writer Toni Jordan to discuss her highly anticipated follow up to Big Little Lies.
See all upcoming events