Upcoming Events
The Story Alchemist: A Creativity Retreat for Writers in partnership with Writers at the Woolshed, Bundanoon
Sunday 12 April 2026 — Thursday 16 April 2026
Dates
3:00 PM at the Bundanoon Guesthouse
Time
Introduction to Writing Family History
In partnership with the Society of Australian Genealogy
Saturday 06 June 2026
Dates
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM — online via Zoom
Time
Introduction to Writing Family History
In partnership with the Society of Australian Genealogy
Dates
Friday 10 July 2026
9:30 AM — 4:00 PM in person at:
The Society of Australian Genealogy Research Centre & Library
(2/379 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000)
Time
Treasuring the Past:
An Introduction to Writing Your Family History
Tuesday 12 May 2026
Dates
10:00 AM — 11:30 PM online via Zoom
Time
Treasuring the Past:
An Introduction to Writing Your Family History
Monday 25 May 2026
Dates
10:00 AM — 11:30 PM online via Zoom
Time
Treasuring the Past:
An Introduction to Writing Your Family History
Dates
Wednesday 27 May 2026
Time
10:00 AM — 11:30 PM online via Zoom
The Bali Story Sanctuary Writing Retreat
Time
11:00 AM start in person, Bali
Villa check-in Tuesday 13 October 2026
Retreat begins Wednesday 14th
— Wednesday 21 October 2026
Dates
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Wednesday 21 October 2026 —Sunday 25 October 2026
Dates
Time
8:30 AM start in person, Bali
The Bali Story Sanctuary Writing Retreat
Time
11:00 AM start in person, Bali
Villa check-in Monday 1 February 2027
Retreat begins Tuesday 2 February
— Tuesday 9 February 2027
Dates
The In-Between: A Bali Retreat for Life's Transitions
A Nurturing Retreat for Designing your Next Chapter.
Your facilitators Betty O'Neill and Annie Stewart.
Time
In person, Bali. Details to follow soon.
Sunday 19 September — Monday 27 September 2027
Dates
Past Events and Recordings
ABC Radio Conversations with Sarah Kanowski
This interview was featured at #3 on the Apple Podcasts Top Listens.
Gleebooks Book Launch Highlights
August 12, 2020
A COVID-19 hybrid event - online plus maximum 20 people in person.
Thank you Felicity Davis Rafferty and Greg Davis for your generosity in hosting 20 of us.
Thank you to James Ross, Gleebooks; Jane Curry publisher Ventura Press; Helen Vatsikopoulos, Walkley Award winning journalist and UTS Lecturer in Journalism and Suzanne Leal, author and interviewer.
Would you like me to drop in to your book club?
If your book club has chosen to read The Other Side of Absence: Discovering my father's secrets I’d be delighted to attend your meeting in person if you are in Sydney or if not, by Zoom (whether your group is meeting online or gathering together in person) to answer any of your questions. To schedule a date, please email me here.
Event Recordings
Interviews
Past Events
The Bali Story SanctuaryWriting Retreat 2025
Dates now confirmed to align with the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.
Winter Writing Retreat with Writers at the Woolshed, The Hermitage, Mittagong
Winter Writing Retreat
Our first residential Winter Writing Retreat will be held from 13-18 July, 2025 at The Hermitage, Mittagong here in the beautiful Southern Highlands. The Retreat is fully catered and participants will be accommodated in the La Valla rooms providing single bedrooms with ensuite, desk and chair - perfect for your private writing time.
Masterclasses will be held Monday to Thursday mornings. You will work with the one author throughout the Retreat therefore enabling you to delve much deeper into your work. The number of participants in each masterclass is limited to eight plus the facilitator.
Afternoons are at leisure for private writing time, resting or exploring our local bookshops and other attractions. An activity is planned each evening.
Internationally recognised authors facilitating Masterclasses include:
Ashley Kalagian Blunt - Dark Mode, and Cold Truth
Dr Lee Koffman - The Writer Laid Bare, and Imperfect
Eleanor Limprecht - The Passengers, and The Coast
Dr Betty O’Neill - The Other Side of Absence
Plus a very talented Irish-Australian poet and co-editor of The Marrow - International Poetry Journal,
Audrey Molloy - The Important Things.
The full program and further details will be released on our website, FB and Instagram at the end of February. However, to receive details prior to posting to socials and website, please send an expression of interest to: writers@writersatthewoolshed.com.au.
Introduction to Writing Family History in partnership with the Society of Australian Genealogy, Online Workshop
Unlock the stories of your past in this inspiring one-day workshop designed to help you transform family history research into captivating narratives. Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking to refine your writing, this hands-on session will give you the tools to bring your ancestors’ lives to life on the page.
Guided by published author, well-known family historian and creative writing teacher Dr Betty O’Neill, you’ll learn how to craft compelling stories from genealogical research, oral histories, and family legends. Discover techniques to create vivid scenes, develop memorable characters, and weave historical context seamlessly into your writing. Through guided exercises you’ll leave with newfound confidence and a roadmap to continue your family history project.
Held in a welcoming, collaborative environment, this workshop is perfect for those who want to preserve family legacies, connect with loved ones through storytelling, or explore the richness of their heritage. You’ll also meet like-minded individuals, share ideas, and gain inspiration from their journeys.
No prior writing experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity, any family research and materials you'd like to reference, and a passion for preserving the past. Let us help you turn your family history into a lasting treasure for generations to come.
More information and to book your spot - https://www.sag.org.au/event-6048098
Writers at the Woolshed, Writing Family History with Dr Betty O’Neill
Additional Workshop Now Available
2025 is off to a great start with our first workshop booking out within a week! As a result, Dr. Betty O’Neill, historian, former Director of the Board of Society of Australian Genealogists and author of The Other Side of Absence - discovering my father’s secrets, will return on 6 March for an additional one-day workshop on Writing Family History. If you missed out on Betty’s February workshop, tickets are now available for 6 March. Don’t forget, if you have a genealogist in your family, please share details of this workshop with them.
Writing Family History will be held from 10am-4pm at Ngununggula, the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery in East Bowral. The workshop is suitable for all levels of writers and genealogists. (Note: Catering is not provided but lunch/coffee/snacks may be purchased from Hearth Cafe at Ngununggula.)
Tickets for this one-day workshop are $190 each and are available now by clicking Trybooking or via our website: www.writersatthewoolshed.com.au where you will also find a workshop outline and the bio of workshop facilitator, Dr Betty O’Neill.
Copyright (C) 2025 Writers at the Woolshed. All rights reserved.
Writing Family History Workshop in person for Writers at the Woolshed at Ngununggula, the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery, East Bowral
Further details at https://writersatthewoolshed.com.au/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/writers.at.the.woolshed
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/writersatthewoolshed
2024 Writing in Paradise Retreat, Bali
& stay on for the Ubud Writers and Readers Festive 24th – 28th October. See details here.
An online introduction to Writing Family History, in collaboration with the Australian Society of Genealogists (SAG)
Online Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
An in-person introduction to Writing Family History, in collaboration with the Australian Society of Genealogists (SAG)
In Person Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
An online introduction to Writing Family History, in collaboration with the Australian Society of Genealogists (SAG)
Online Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
An in-person introduction to Writing Family History, in collaboration with the Australian Society of Genealogists (SAG)
In-person Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
An in-person introduction to Writing Family History
In-person Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
Writing Family Histories in collaboration with the Society of Australian Genealogists
In-person Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
Writing Family Histories in collaboration with Writing NSW
in person at the NSW Writers Centre.
Writing Family Histories in collaboration with the Society of Australian Genealogists
Online Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
Writing Family Histories in collaboration with the Society of Australian Genealogists
In-person Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
Writing Family Histories in collaboration with the Society of Australian Genealogists
Online Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
Writing Family Histories in collaboration with the Society of Australian Genealogists
Online Writing Family History Workshop with Betty O'Neill.
Better than Fiction: Writing and Sharing our Family Histories (In-person)
Family History Down Under Conference.
Find out more here.
Writing and Publishing Family History (In-person)
Presented by Hunter Writers Centre, Newcastle.
Book tickets here.