Maria is a Campbelltown local, an academic, author, activist and ally in the intersections of cultural diversity, gender and sexual diversity, relationship and family diversity.

Maria joins us for a talk and Q & A on the theme The Writer as a Bridge and Border, Weaver and Tour Guide". Maria will share funny and sad stories about how being a writer means using words to take readers into emotions and experiences, social tensions and giving voice to the silenced, especially in relation to migration and racism, women and sexuality. She explores how writers create bridges, sit on the borders, weave threads, and take you on tours of unknown lives?

Her current book project is "Mobs and Wogs: First Peoples and Southern European migrants in Australia". An Honorary Fellow in the School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University, Maria is a founding ally member of the Australian LGBTIQ+ Multicultural Council in 2004, and founding member of Ascolta Italian Women Writers in 2020. Maria won the Victorian Globe Straight Ally Award in 2018, was honoured with a Writers' Fellowship in her name by the WA Centre for Stories in 2021, and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2022.

Her publications include over 14 books, several having achieved awards. These include Australia’s first AIDS biography, Someone You Know; and Tapestry, about 5 generations in her Italian family. Both those books were set in Campbelltown, Norwood and other parts of Adelaide. Her latest book was Living and Loving in Diversity: an Anthology of Australian Multicultural Queer Adventures. It was the first Australian book to have a Welcome to Book written by a Wurundjeri Elder to respect the First Nation on whose land the book was prepared.

Light refreshments will be provided.

By attending this event you consent for you, and any persons you are responsible for, being photographed and/or filmed and agree that the City of Campbelltown may use the resulting photographs and film for promotional purposes, including by publishing them in print and other media. Please see one of our event staff if you do not wish to be photographed or filmed.