The First Stone

Helen Garner was born in 1942 in Geelong and educated at the University of Melbourne. She worked as a high school teacher until her first novel Monkey Grip was published in 1977. It was an instant success, winning a National Book Council award in 1978 and becoming a film in 1982. Since then she has written full-time, publishing novels, short stories, essays, journalism and long-form non-fiction. In 2006, Garner was awarded the Melbourne Prize for Literature, in 2016 the international Windham-Campbell Prize for Nonfiction, in 2019 the Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature and in 2020 the Lloyd O’Neil Award for Services to the Australian Book Industry at the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA). Most recently, Garner was awarded the 2023 ASA Medal by the Australian Society of Authors for her outstanding contribution to Australian culture.

Helen Garner was born in 1942 in Geelong and educated at the University of Melbourne. She worked as a high school teacher until her first novel Monkey Grip was published in 1977. It was an instant success, winning a National Book Council award in 1978 and becoming a film in 1982. Since then she has written full-time, publishing novels, short stories, essays, journalism and long-form non-fiction. In 2006 she received the inaugural Melbourne Prize for Literature and in 2016 the international Windham-Campbell Prize for her non-fiction work.

Leigh Sales is one of Australia’s most respected journalists. As the anchor of the ABC’s flagship current affairs program, 7.30, she has interviewed dozens of world leaders and celebrities, including Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, the Dalai Lama, Paul McCartney, Patti Smith, Harrison Ford, Leonardo DiCaprio and Julie Andrews. She has interviewed every living Australian prime minister and also anchors the ABC’s federal election coverage. Leigh is the winner of two Walkley Awards, Australia’s highest journalism honour; the author of the books Detainee 002 and On Doubt; and the co-host of a popular podcast called Chat 10, Looks 3 with Annabel Crabb.

Jennifer Vuletic is an Australian actress, singer and NIDA graduate from the class of 1984. She has enjoyed a varied career travelling all over Australia and the world, and has toured internationally with the hit show Mamma Mia!, playing the role of Tanya. She also performed in Menopause The Musical, The Women of Troy and Jerry Springer: The Opera. She has recorded audiobooks for over 24 years and has won numerous awards for her narrations, including the Trish Trinick Award for Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things.