Stella Literary Evening 2025

The Stella Society warmly invites you to the 8th MGGS Stella Literary Evening. This year, we will be joined by author, Melanie Cheng, to discuss her latest book, The Burrow, which was shortlisted for the Stella Prize.

The Stella Society, in conjunction with students from MGS, will present their reflections on The Burrow before interviewing Melanie and engaging with the audience about her work.

Stella Literary Evening
Date: Wednesday 27 August
Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Location: Artemis Learning Commons
Level 2, Artemis Centre
62 Anderson Street, South Yarra 3141
Enter via gate D
Light refreshments provided

Please RSVP by Monday 18 August.

This event is free to attend, however donations towards the Stella Prize would be greatly appreciated. By donating to the Stella Prize, you are supporting the major voice for gender equity and cultural change in Australian Literature.

The Stella Society is hoping to break down barriers with our community engaging with literature. Should you wish to donate to this very worthwhile cause, we would be most grateful.

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
'The Burrow' will be available for purchase and signing by Melanie Cheng during the event. Other books from a selection of 2025 Stella Prize longlisted titles will also be available for purchase.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melanie Cheng is a writer and general practitioner. She was born in Adelaide, grew up in Hong Kong and now lives in Melbourne. Her debut collection of short stories, Australia Day, won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript in 2016 and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Fiction in 2018. Room for a Stranger, her highly acclaimed first novel, was published in 2019. Her latest novel, The Burrow, was shortlisted for the 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Fiction and shortlisted for the Stella Prize.

ABOUT THE BOOK
'The Burrow' is a novel that tells the story of a Melbourne family grappling with grief and loss in the wake of a tragic incident. Five years after the death of their infant daughter, Ruby, the family, consisting of Amy, Jin, Lucie, and Amy's mother Pauline, struggles to find a path forward. The arrival of a pet rabbit and Pauline's stay forces them to confront long-buried secrets and the emotional wounds that continue to fester. The novel explores themes of grief, healing, and the complexities of family relationships in the face of adversity. 

ABOUT THE STELLA PRIZE
The Stella Prize is a major literary award celebrating Australian women and non-binary writers, and is an organisation that champions cultural change. The Stella Schools Program aims to inspire change and to empower students – girls and boys alike – by encouraging them to critically engage with their own reading habits and imagine a future not limited by their gender. Click here for more information on The Stella Prize.

For enquiries and updating contact details, email community@mggs.vic.edu.au or call
(03) 9862 9200.