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Palestinian-Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah’s event at the Sydney Writers’ Festival has already sold out – and we can’t say we’re surprised given the amount of free publicity she has had in recent months.
It was just weeks ago a decision by Adelaide Writers’ Week to sensationally dump Abdel-Fattah sent the organisation into a full-scale meltdown, leading to a boycott of the festival, the disbandment of its board, and, of course, the resignation of its chief executive Louise Adler.
Sydney Writers’ Festival has made it clear no such move will be made by the nation’s biggest writers’ festival, despite controversy over the academic’s previous social media posts and comments, including a claim that Zionists have “no claim or right to cultural safety”.
This masthead has previously reported that organisers informed key donors that they would not renege on the invitation. Abdel-Fattah is slated to appear at Carriageworks on May 23.
The only question now is whether those who missed out on tickets will get a second chance.
“In response to overwhelming audience demand, the festival is currently exploring opportunities to add additional sessions across the program,” the festival said in a statement on Monday.
The festival said that across its first three days, it has “sold more tickets than ever before”, outpacing its previous record by some 58 per cent.
Looking down the list of sold-out sessions, another name we weren’t surprised to see was that of former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Ardern became the talk of Sydney this month – or at least on the northern beaches – after news broke she and her husband, TV presenter Clarke Gayford, were house-hunting in Curl Curl and Freshwater.
So we can’t blame Sydneysiders for clamouring to get a look at the darling of progressive politics up close when she appears at Sydney Town Hall in conversation with Australian writer Holly Wainwright on the evening of May 22.
Bad news too for fans of Troy Bramston, Stephen Gapps, Sofi Oksanen, Rachel Perkins, Patrick Radden Keefe, Amy Remeikis, Tony Tulathimutte and Niall Williams. The full sign has gone up on sessions by each of them.
St Mary’s calls in Ben Fordham for fundraiser
The Archdiocese of Sydney appears to be throwing everything at its efforts to secure funding for restoration works to the 200-year-old St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.
In an invitation sent out this month, the archdiocese announced it would have none other than 2GB personality Ben Fordham to host a gala fundraising dinner as “master of ceremony” as part of its bid to get big money donors to tip in for major work on St Mary’s.
The event, which has the Commonwealth Bank as a “platinum” sponsor, is on May 9 at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney. But if ticket prices are anything to go by, not everyone is welcome.
A single guest ticket will set you back $1000, which of course includes “a partial tax-deductible gift” for the cathedral’s national trust. We’d expect nothing less. A table of 10 will set you back $9000, and a “gold table” will set you back a cool $15,000. All for a good cause, we suppose.
Guests can look forward to performances by the St Mary’s Cathedral Choir, along with actor and opera singer Silvia Colloca, and Diego Torre, Opera Australia’s leading tenor.
“Join with Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, in supporting the campaign for St Mary’s Cathedral and major restorations to advance the home of Catholic faith in Australia,” reads the invitation, which comes fit with its own sizzle reel on YouTube. Those who attend can look forward to live and silent auctions featuring “exclusive items and unique experiences”. There’s even a car raffle.
No word yet on the items that’ll be up for auction or what type of car will be up for grabs. The Archdiocese of Sydney didn’t respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
Luke Sayers’ spinners launch recruitment drive
A crisis doesn’t have to be bad for everyone. Just ask the good folks at FMRS, the spin shop advising Luke Sayers on his phallic photo scandal.
The firm was founded by four of former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’ key advisers in 2024. They include Andrews’ former chief of staff Lissie Ratcliff and her former deputy Jessie McCrone, along with Andrews’ former director of strategy and the former boss of Andrews’ media operation.
Now, the Andrews gang is expanding. Until late last week, the firm was recruiting for a communications specialist and a project manager to help the quartet with its consultancy work. Our efforts to learn more about the firm’s growing client list were unsuccessful, and the firm declined to comment.
At least we can rest assured that Sayers will get all the help he needs.
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John Buckley is a CBD columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.From our partners
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