New chairwoman starts

Gillian Tasker (left) and Mary-Ann Ewing toast the success of the Literary Festival.
PHOTO / Paul Brooks

Since 2014 Gillian Tasker has chaired the Literary Festival Trust through two festivals. Now she is stepping down and (former WHS teacher) Mary-Ann Ewing is taking her place for this year’s September / October event.

Gillian now works in Palmerston North as their council’s arts co-ordinator. She commutes each day.

“It doesn’t leave me much time, particularly for meetings, and also I realise that now I have more contact with the Palmerston North community than the Whanganui one these days,” she says. “And I think it’s refreshing that new people take a turn at leading.”

The trust was set up in 2006 with Joan Rosier-Jones as chairwoman. Joan stepped down in 2014.

“It was Joan’s baby,” says Gillian. “And we’ve got to keep it alive, healthy and happy and watch it grow.”

Joan is now patron of the Literary Festival Trust.

“We love the fact that she provides us with guidance, because she knows so much and her experience is huge.”

The Literary Festival is a biennial event in which invited authors talk about their work and writing in general. It’s an opportunity for readers to see their writers up close and engage them in conversation.

A special guest this year is Corey Mosen and his famous kea dog, Ajax.

“We’re very fortunate with the other groups that come on board to assist and volunteer, like Repertory Theatre which stages an associated play, and the Sarjeant which hosted a book launch, which was a happy coincidence,” says Gillian.

Gillian resigned in early November and Mary-Ann acknowledges the huge amount of work she contributed over the past two festivals.

“I’m consulting with Gillian a lot and I know I have big shoes to fill.

“I see the role as overseeing the committee, a really hard working team, and by the end we’re meeting every week with September 28 to October 6 in mind. It’s organising everything.”

She says previous festivals have opened her eyes to what a good team they have. “When the festival itself starts you’ve got this huge body of volunteers who all just pitch in. It’s very much a team effort,” says Gillian. “The chairperson is just one member of the team but is the face of it, so it’s important you are known in the community and can stand up and talk on behalf of the trust. During the festival you’re there to help the rest of the team and ensure the timetable is adhered to.”

The former chairwoman, although no longer on the trust, will still make herself available to help.

By Paul Brooks
Whanganui Midweek 16/1/19