MARY POMFRET

Mary Pomfret is an award-nominated author. Inspired by the legacies of generations of women writers such as Virginia Woolf, Alice Munro and Elizabeth Jolley, creative writing is a way of life for Mary. 

For me, writing makes sense of the world. Writing allows the practice of dwelling for a while in the liminal, of sifting through the detritus of experience to re-imagine, transform and create a story: a point of departure from actuality. Storytelling creates another reality which allows the truth to be told without the hindrance of bothersome or misleading facts.'

Widely published, Mary's creative work appears in literary journals and anthologies in Australia and internationally. Mary also writes and publishes poetry. She describes herself as a ‘sometimes’ poet and is in awe of the poetry Sylvia Plath for its unconventional confessional style and emotional intensity.

Ten years living and working in the Australian outback have provided rich inspiration for Mary’s debut novel The Hard Seed, published in 2018 by Ginninderra Press. In 2023, Mary co-authored Sing Dream Belong, a history of the Bendigo Youth Choir.

DAVID GAGLIARDI

David Gagliardi is based in Bendigo, a regional city of Victoria, Australia, on the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Peoples.

As an independent creator, David produces his own multi-discipline, large-scale live works for national and international audiences.

Since his first commission in 2002 for BBC television, David, a multi-instrumentalist, has composed for multiple forms and genres with achievements including over 30 placements on USA television. David is also a well respected songwriter and recording artist most recognised for the internationally successful post-rock band LAURA.

KELLY HARTLAND

With what may be described as a blatant disregard for the well travelled path, I create freely as a multi expressive artist in such ways as; exploring my philosophical/cynical side while authoring Aphorisms, outworking my OCD by way of Visual Merchandising, dressing as a melancholic Air Hostess while experimenting with sound and time while drumming in a punk rock band (Vanta Black), sanctioning my vision and hope by founding and producing collaborative projects such as the cARTel journals, acknowledging my rogue nature through street art, exploring inward motion/stagnation with: pastel, charcoal, oil or collage. My paid work is in the performing arts with CreateA.

MEGAN CHAMPION

Megan is a creative manifestor and ideas machine. A vibrant and communicative leader in visual esthetics and storytelling, Megan has cultivated a career as a performing artist, creative producer, director, writer, stylist and educator. A mother of three, Megan is inspired by maternal and child development and influenced by the impact of Art on health, culture and society. As the founder of We Are Untold (coming soon) Megan strives to challenge the perception of gender bias roles and the parallel between the lack of female stories documented in history and the value of women in society.

CAROLINE MEATHREL-MACK

As an illustrator, Caroline brings a unique style and approach to her work that sets her apart from others. Coming from a graphic design background means she has a strong attention to detail, and is able to translate ideas into visually striking and meaningful pieces.

She often starts with hand drawn lines and colour digitally in Photoshop or Procreate, ensuring that she adapts her style to fit the needs of clients.

As a child Caroline was inspired to become an illustrator by the huge stacks of books and magazines that were ever-present in her home.

The second thing that inspires her work is Japanese culture and aesthetics. She left Australia for Japan in 2008 and it completely changed her worldview. Caroline loves Japanese print design, traditional architecture and fashion.

JUSTIN BALMAIN

Justin Balmain’s research-led approach draws from visual art and narrative storytelling to create artworks indebted to the disciplines of historical and contemporary image making. He has a targeted interest in the intersection of technology and its interactions on our relationships and mediation with the world, observing our subservience to technology and the resultant objects that impose their functionality. His practice explores the strategies and function of objects at the interstice of virtual and actual space, and within the collective imagination. 

Balmain’s practice has been exhibited widely in Australia, Europe, the USA and New Zealand, and received support through the Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, the National Association for Visual Arts, Ian Potter Foundation, Creative Victoria, Regional Arts Victoria, The Wassaic Project (New York), and he has engaged in local and international artistic partnerships and exchanges with Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne, Parramatta Artists Studios, Enough Room for Space, Brussels, The Endangered Languages Archive, London and The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, Marseille, France. Balmain commenced his Masters at the Otago School of Art Dunedin, New Zealand, and completing at the University of New South Wales within the School of Media Arts.

Justin Balmain’s project was also assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Justin Balmain’s project is also proudly supported by Regional Arts Victoria

LUKE MORRIS

After decades of producing content for blogs, newsletters, and printed publications, Luke began performing comedy on stage in 2017. Since then, he has written and performed shows, both in real life and VR, at comedy clubs, the Adelaide Fringe, and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Luke is also one of the founders of the Bendigo Comedy Festival, and producers the Movember Comedy Fundraiser and the Women of Wit series of stand-up comedy nights. He is currently developing the not-for-profit Comedy Victoria as a way to support comedy production throughout Victoria.