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Writing with a tender love for her Yugambeh language, Maria van Neerven’s debut poetry collection Two Tongues reflects on the legacy of colonisation and racism, and the aftermath of intergenerational harm. Reclaiming the stories of her ancestors and giving a voice to those who weren’t allowed one, Two Tongues regathers what has been stolen to reassemble a life of compassion and – above all – love for family and Blak pride.When two powerhouse poets come from the same family, you simply can’t miss the opportunity to see them share a stage. While many children follow in their parents’ footsteps, it was after Ellen van Neerven had established themself as one of the country’s great poets that their mother began publishing to similar acclaim. In this intimate session between mother and child, discover the importance of family and culture, and celebrate the strength and resilience of Indigenous women and their kin.
*The Baroque Room is an over-18s venue, and children are strictly not permitted.
KEY INFO
Date: Sunday 1 November 2026
Time: 2:00-3:00pm
Venue: The Baroque Room, The Carrington Hotel
Tickets & More Info: https://www.bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au/events/poetry-parenthood
Maria van Neerven is a Mununjali poet from the Yugambeh Nation living in Meanjin. Maria was the winner of the David Unaipon Award in 2023 and was a Next Chapter Fellow in 2024. Two Tongues is her first poetry collection.
Ellen van Neerven is a writer, editor and educator of Mununjali and Dutch heritage. Ellen's fiction debut Heat and Light was the recipient of the David Unaipon Award. Ellen's latest book, Ruby's Web, is a middle grade novel.
This event is part of the 2026 Blue Mountains Writers Festival, head to bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au for more information.
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Event venue
141 Cascade Street, Katoomba, NSW, Australia, New South Wales, 141 Cascade St, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia, Katoomba
Tickets
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