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By Brady Jones
Last month, The Society of Women Writers NSW celebrated 100 years of storytelling, literature promotion and social network development. This year the Society chose a Waratah flower as their icon, to symbolise their strength and unfolding power as a collective.
In September 1925, the first Society meetings were held by a small group of women writers at the Mary Elizabeth Tea Rooms in Sydney. The first of which was chaired by Mrs Fred Aronsen [Zara Aronsen] who was a feminist, journalist and charity worker. Prolific Australian journalist Dame Mary Gilmore and novelist Ethel Turner were in attendance of these meetings.
Libby Hathorn, the Society of Women Writers NSW’s longest member, shared fond memories as a guest speaker at the recent lunch at Parliament NSW with over 120 members in attendance. She explored the society’s values, whilst recalling the Society’s efforts to give Australian poet, Dorothea Mckellar a ‘real’ headstone that celebrated her life, with poetry etched onto Marble.
“If this society is about honouring women writers of the past, it’s also very much about finding, nurturing and encouraging women writers of all ages to find a voice and ways of sharing that voice – sometimes exciting new ways, given the explosion of technology.” said Libby Hathorn.
As a young writer myself, studying creative writing in a deteriorating publishing landscape, it’s important for Society’s such as this to be celebrated and empowered to make a difference. With this kind of support system available in Sydney, a passion for writing can be kept alive through fostering literature, friendship and togetherness. Paying homage to a long line of women who came before them, the Society advocates for a light to be shone on female-led literature.
Over the decades, much has changed as women used to be recognised by their husband’s names and struggled to have their writing recognised or published. Currently with 200 members, the society has only grown stronger, continuing to support women writers and their ventures in the Australian journalism and publishing scene.
During the celebration, Libby took attendees on a journey through the years:
“From the thirties and through a grinding Depression and a devastating World War right through to the seventies when I joined as a young writer (encouraged by a friend from the NSW Dept of Ed.), the Society flourished. It expanded, encouraging many a writer or emerging writer in a host of ways, to write and to share and to write some more”
The Society meets on the second Wednesday of every month (except January) at the State Library of NSW. The committee of volunteers hold a variety of writing workshops and literary events along with a number of writing competitions, awards and grants. In addition, they publish a monthly e-newsletter, Women’s Ink! Magazine and yearly anthologies with their latest Ink 4 launched on September 10 2025. It was launched at the Centenary Luncheon by Susan Steggall who edited over 60 stories, articles and poems by 52 women writers.
If you’re someone who has a quiet passion for writing or hasn’t practised in a while, the best way is to simply get involved… share your stories with others, grow your literary world and connect with like minded people. You can start right here in the Hawkesbury by reaching out to local venues such as Hawkesbury Library who offer two free book clubs and The Hawkesbury Writers/Editors Group who meet every Monday of each month over zoom.
The Society of Women Writers NSW is just one example of the collective power to motivate literary passions and keep the fire alive for female led groups.
