Federation Festival Director Gary Poidevin OAM, guest speaker and acclaimed author Rosalie Ham and Rotary Club of Corowa President Deborah Rowe at the Tim Fischer Oration Federation Dinner on Friday, January 21.
Residents of Corowa and surrounds were treated to a spectacular night last Friday with acclaimed author Rosalie Ham delivering a fascinating and heart-warming address at the seventh annual Tim Fischer Oration Federation Dinner.
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Held at the Corowa Civic Bowls Club, it was the perfect start to a big Federation Festival weekend with over 70 guests in attendance including Member for Albury Justin Clancy.
Born and raised in Jerilderie, Rosalie now calls Melbourne home. She published her first novel ‘The Dressmaker’ in 2000 which was so successful that it was made into a film starring Kate Winslet, Hugo Weaving, Liam Hemsworth and Judy Davis.
The novel female celebrates fashion and draws attention to the small-mindedness of small-town communities, the injustice of bullying, and the satisfaction of revenge.
The Dressmaker has also been an established presence on the VCE Literature List and the English Studies reading list.
While she is best known for her debut novel, Rosalie has also written four other best-selling novels including ‘The Year of the Farmer’ and ‘There Should Be More Dancing’.
Rosalie recounted her experience growing up in country NSW, her studies, travels, journey to becoming an author, and the success of The Dressmaker.
Friends Rosemary Ferguson and Robyn Rhodes thoroughly enjoyed the Federation Dinner with guest speaker Rosalie Ham.
The audience related to Rosalie’s experience growing up and a small town and shared a few laughs with the dynamic author.
“As a teenager I realised I was writing short stories as a form of therapy because I was killing off the main protagonist who would be one of my siblings or someone in the neighbourhood who had offended me,” she said.
“Coming from Jerilderie, that’s where the landscape of my imagination was formed. As far as I am concerned, that’s the only thing that’s relevant in my life.
Jutta Wheatley, Eileen Ide and Genya Bednarski all enjoying a glass of wine at the Federation Dinner hosted by the Rotary Club of Corowa.
“The ability to go back to where I came from, look at the landscape, the people in it and make sense of everything. All my stories come from there and all my stories feature strong women.”
Having sold over 300,000 copies of her novels in Australia and internationally, Rosalie’s story also touched on the power of overcoming rejection.
Rosalie’s speech was well-received by the audience with Master of Ceremonies Gary Poidevin proudly proclaiming, “now I know why you’re the favourite daughter of Jerilderie!”
“Thank you for inviting me to Corowa. It’s a joy and a pleasure to be here in the name of Tim Fischer AC who I never met but I thought was a lovely politician,” Rosalie replied.
Rotary Club of Corowa President Deborah Rowe thanked Rosalie for sharing her story before presenting her with a gift to remember Corowa by.
“Thank you for sharing with us tonight, it was absolutely wonderful,” Ms Rowe said to rousing applause.
Rotarian Neil Davis with family and friends Lexie Hollow, Lachlan Hollow, Ian Hollow, Kirsty Hollow, Wendy Davis and Frances Walsh.
