About - Hunter Writers Centre

Hunter Writers Centre Inc. is a not-for-profit, incorporated organisation
devoted to engaging, educating and employing aspiring and established writers of Australia

Our Board

There are 2 vacancies on our board. Email info@hunterwriterscentre.org for more information

Adrienne Lindsay

President

Adrienne studied art history and creative writing at McGill University and the University of Sydney, respectively. She is a published writer of academic essays and feature articles. She has worked as a Contributing Editor for a literary journal and her strong research and strategic planning skills have contributed to several of Australia’s largest philanthropic donations.

Dael Allison

Vice President

Dael has a Masters Degree in Creative Arts from UTS and is currently undertaking a Doctorate in Creative Writing at the University of Newcastle. Her research focus is on literature of the Newcastle region. Dael has three volumes of poetry published and works as an editor.

Julie Loveridge

Treasurer

Julie is an experienced leader in operations and logistics with strong project management and IT skills. She has a Bachelor of Mathematics/Computer Science, and a Masters of Business Administration. Julie is an avid reader and musician with a strong interest in all forms of creative arts.

Megan Buxton

Megan taught secondary English for thirty years in the Hunter and worked as a tutor in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle. She values the Hunter Writers Centre's strong contribution to the cultural life of the Hunter region.

Jennifer Sharp

Jennifer has a Master of Education and has worked as a literacy coach in Australia and New Zealand. She has worked as a proof reader and is the founder and CEO of Daisy Lane Publishing. She has authored two children’s picture books and a romance novelette. Jennifer has strong leadership and interpersonal skills, thriving on watching children and adults grow through mentoring.

Wendy Haynes

Wendy Haynes is a published author and has completed a Diploma in Creative Writing at Southern Cross University. Her writing focuses on middle-grade fantasy and contemporary stories for children, picture books, and YA.
She was a judge for the Port Writer’s In-house competition for the creative non-fiction category in 2018, for the fiction category in 2019, and one of the judges for the CYA Competition for 2019. She is the Reading and Literacy Researcher, and a Role Model for Books in Homes. Armed with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, she conducts writing workshops for adults and children.

Our Staff

Karen Crofts

Director

Karen holds a Masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Newcastle. She facilitates writing courses and offers 1:1 mentoring. She is passionate about connecting the Arts with important social issues of the Hunter: homelessness, disability, grief and loss.

Christine Bramble

History Festival Co-ordinator

Christine has been a teacher of History, a museum education officer and a cultural planner. Christine is our grants writer and History Festival Co-ordinator in partnership with Lake Macquarie Libraries.

Helen Blackney and Sue Polson

Volunteers

Helen (L) prepares our workshops, operates our bookshop and researches writerly articles for our members. Her background is in banking and customer service.
Sue (R) assists with administration at HWC. She holds an Associate Diploma of Business (Microcomputer Systems) with Distinction. She has worked in the banking and the TAFE system. Sue values the benefits that writing can bring and says writing is 'good for the soul'.

Justine Potter

Strategic Advisor

Justine has over twenty years experience in the arts and cultural sector in Australia and abroad and has contributed to the business development and advocacy initiatives of institutions such as Tate in London and the Art Gallery of NSW.