From Taboo To Zeitgeist: Menopause Is Not A Use By Date

Bathurst Library and Central West Women’s Health Centre Present

A 2025 Women's Health Week Event

From Taboo To Zeitgeist

Menopause Is Not A Use By Date

Author Panel Conversation 3pm - 5pm, $5pp

Menopause, once a whispered topic, is now entering mainstream through comedy, musicals, and, increasingly, literature. This shift reflects evolving societal attitudes, but more importantly, it prompts us to examine how these extra decades are truly being lived.

It's time to discard the outdated notion that women are shelved once they move into older age. Contemporary novels are embracing life, love, and sexuality in later years, proving that aging isn't about fading away—it's about soaring.

Audience questions and comments are welcome to foster discussion and conversation.

Writing Workshop 5pm - 7pm, $5pp

In our increasingly isolated society, everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone has the confidence to share. That’s where Readers Are Writers workshops come in. Presented by all three authors, the workshop will refer back to the conversation from the panel, covering central themes and discussion points.

Light refreshments will be available between the sessions.

About The Presenters

Trish Bolton

Trish's debut novel Whenever You're Ready was published by Allen & Unwin last year. Her writing has been published in The Saturday Paper, The Age, Sunday Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Pearls and Irritations, The Canberra Times, Overland, New Matilda, The Big Issue and Visible Ink. She has been the recipient of an Australian Society of Authors mentorship and has twice been awarded fellowships at Varuna, the National Writers' House. She was joint-winner of a Fellowship of Australian Writers unpublished manuscript award and longlisted for the Virginia Prize for Fiction (UK) and the Mslexia Women's Novel Competition (UK).

Rachel Matthews

Rachel Matthews is an Australian author and writing lecturer, known for her tragicomic social commentary. Her debut, Vinyl Inside, earned high commendation for the Australian Vogel Award, and her PhD novel, Siren, addressed sexual violence in Australian football. Her latest tragicomedy, Never Look Desperate, was named among 2023's 'Best New Australian Fiction' by The Australian and The Guardian. Her work appears in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. A regular ABC radio contributor on writing, Rachel shares insights into storytelling, praised by Michael Pavlich for her vibrant communication. Matthews also leads Readers Are Writers workshops globally, including in Nepal. With extensive teaching experience at RMIT and ACU and secondary teaching and student welfare work, she's dedicated to fostering inclusive literary spaces.

Suzanne Leal

SUZANNE LEAL is the author of novels The Watchful Wife, The Teacher’s Secret and The Deceptions, winner of the Nib People’s Choice Prize.  Her debut novel for middle-grade readers, Running with Ivan, is on the Children’s Book Council of Australia Notables List for Younger Readers and was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s History Awards and the ARA Historical Novel Prize. An experienced facilitator and interviewer, Suzanne is the founder of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed book club connecting readers online. The Year We Escaped is her new novel for middle-grade readers.