BroadTalk

07/03/2025

It's that day again!
But this is no ordinary International Women's Day

Friends - I'm now on Substack.
A first tentative few steps ... more coming!
I would LOVE you to join me there.
https://virginiahaussegger.substack.com/p/misogyny-doesnt-die-out-with-dinosaurs

In time I'll be posting commentary, features, thoughts and most importantly - a newsletter with links to news views, reviews and some of the best commentary across Australia and the globe.

Today my op ed in the Canberra Times can also be found by clicking onto my substack - subscribe, its free and unfussy.

I would be absolutely delighted if you become a paid subscriber to help support my work .. now or in due course!
Either way - click on through 🙏
https://virginiahaussegger.substack.com/

20/09/2024

Growing up in Canberra with a mother's undiagnosed schizophrenia, the ghost of a dead sister and an unspoken family secret ...

Biff Ward's The Stella Prize longlisted book 'In My Mother's Hands' is a fascinating, disturbing & beautifully raw story - will be part of our deep dive 'In Conversation' TODAY, SATURDAY 11am ... along with 'The Third Chopstick', a powerful and utterly beautiful journey of discovery for the anti-Vietnam war, peace-protestor who seeks understanding through the stories of Vietnam war vets. Powerful reading. And - we will also be discussing Biff's most controversial book 'Father Daughter R**e'

It's ON! Today - Saturday 21 Sept - in Canberra? Come join us for a session or the day... great chat & charm!

JOIN US .. ANU Harry Hartogs bookstore - just turn up! FREE
or book here ... https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stella-day-out-canberra-in-conversation-with-biff-ward-tickets-980737090037
The Stella Prize Canberra Writers Festival NewSouth Publishing Allen & Unwin Books The Canberra Times HerCanberra ABC Canberra Australian Book Review Marion Writers National Library of Australia Vietnam Travelers Jan Cornall

14/09/2024

Friends... Writers and Readers... this one is for you!

The Stella Prize is holding its first One Day Literary Festival in Canberra next SATURDAY 21 Sept, 11am-3pm
Harry Hartog Bookshop, ANU Kambri Centre,

AND it's FREE!
You are warmly welcome to COME ALONG!

It's a great opportunity to gather in the lovely embrace of Harry Hartog's upstairs ... meet, ponder, pontificate and yak with friends and like minded literary lovers!

I'll be In Conversation with local author, legendary Biff Ward who featured in ABC doco Brazen Hussies ...
We'll be discussing Biff's writing life and the body of her work, including ‘In My Mother’s Hands’ – a profound and disturbing memoir– nominated for the Stella Prize back in 2015. As well as biff's most recent book, The Third Chopstick, along with her earlier explosive book ‘Father Daughter R**e.’

See you there - SATURDAY 21 Sept. 💃🏻

06/09/2024

How does a woman leader work alongside one of the most overtly misogynistic political bullies in the world???

Not to late to join me TONIGHT, FRIDAY 5.30pm ANU for a fascinating In Conversation with former Deputy President of the Philippines - Leni Robredo.
Hosted by the ANU Philippines Institute and Global Institute for Women's Leadership ANU. Come along and join us!
FREE event (register below)

ANU Women In LeadershipANU Women in Media

https://philippinesinstitute.anu.edu.au/event/lessons-pink-revolution-former-philippines-vice-president-leni-robredo-conversation-virginia

02/09/2024

'Memory to Manuscript' - JOIN Me at the NLA this WED 4 Sept - for a deep dive conversation exploring the minds & motivations of 3 exceptional writers who have chronicled family stories.

Or ... whose stories are they really? Where so these authors draw the line between memoirist and novelist? Fact or fiction?

I will be in conversation with .. Andre Dao to discuss his book 'Anam' - shortlisted for the Miles Franklin & the PM's Literary Award, and winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award for new writing. Along with Sam Vincent - local organic foodie, 'regenerative agriculturalist' and all round farmer extraordinaire! Sam's book 'My Father and Other Animals' is a fabulous read from a young Millennial who muscled up to become his Boomer father's 'farm boy' ... or something like that! It's fun, instructive and ... whimsical. And we'll also be joined by Tess Scholfield-Peters, winner of multiple research awards and author of Dear Mutzi ... described by AAnna Funderas follows:

"A heartfelt and beautifully written homage to Scholfield-Peters’ forebears, who were caught in the 20th century horrors of fascism and anti-semitism, and, in her loving portrait of her grandfather, to the survival of the human spirit."

I can't wait to dive in to what I already know will be a rich and rewarding discussion. Perhaps even a memorable one!
You're invited! Come along, its free. But grab a ticket while you can..

Join authors Tess Scholfield-Peters, André Dao and Sam Vincent, in conversation with broadcast journalist Virginia Haussegger, as they discuss their experiences of writing books that focus on telling the story of a family member.

28/08/2024

A great honour to give the Vote of Thanks to the fabulous Catherine Fox AM in conversation about her new book with the master of the data Prof Michelle Ryan Global Institute for Women's Leadership ANU This is a book worth bellowing about... and I am! Read it. Rich in data, research and damn good sense! Keep an eye out for the podcast on ANU Meet the Author website. Women in Media

02/07/2024

Thank you!! Friends, colleagues and all those lovely souls who came along to the President's Lecture at Parliament House on Friday.

A very big thank you to the Hon Senator Sue Lines for inviting me to deliver the inaugural address. It was such an honour and privilege.

For those who missed the event - you can watch it here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW3zT7OP5lk

I've been overwhelmed by the strength and depth of feedback about my speech. I am deeply grateful and encouraged by your words. Many of you have asked for copies of the speech or details as to where it will be published. I will let you know as soon as possible.... 🙏

Elizabeth Reid Women in Media Meredith Edwards Tritia EvansBiff Ward Karen Viggers - Author Daryl Karp Carmel McGregor Julie West Global Institute for Women's Leadership Katy Gallagher Senator Sarah Hanson-Young Kate Ellis Tanya Plibersek Women's Agenda The Canberra Times

09/06/2024

Happy long weekend to all!

Sadly, three days 'off' is no holiday for the girls and women of Afghanistan right now. Their lives are permanently 'off'.

Since the fall of Afghanistan in 2021 and the brutal takeover by the hateful Taliban - the worst misogynists in the globe right now (and that's already a high bar!!)... Afghan girls and women are banned from going to school, university or work.

22 million girls and women across Afghanistan right now, are rotting at home.

Under Taliban law they cannot leave their house without a male accompanying them. They are effectively under house arrest.

Educated, ambitious, creative and desperate to live normal lives - the girls and women of Afghanistan have been reduced to domestic and sexual slavery.

It's now been more than 1,000 days since women have been 'sent home'. At first many assumed this wouldn't last - surely the international community wouldn't allow such blatant abuse of half the population's most basic human rights? But ... it did. We did.
We - have - turned - a - blind - eye.

So - what can you do?
Well, a lot actually!

A number of gutsy, determined Afghan women will not give up.
Women like the indefatigable Mahboba from Mahboba's Promise and here in Canberra - Dr Nilofar Ibrahimi who founded the ZamZam Foundation Australia

Friends please join us this Friday 14 June, 6.30pm at the NFSA - National Film and Sound Archive of Australia for the screening of a doco about Nilofar's life and work as a gynaecologist and elected member of the Afghan parliament.

Now a refugee in Australia, Nilofar set up the ZamZam Foundation Australia - to help educate a group of 25 girls in Afghanistan in secrecy. The project needs $1,400 p/m to function 'underground', and support online technology and provide resources for the girls to study what they want to study - maths, english, science, literature, history .... maybe even Medicine, just like their founder, Dr Nilofar Ibrahimi !!

It's not a huge amount of money - but ZamZam Foundation Australia totally relies on Australian donations. If you can help, even with just a very small amount, please visit the ZamZam Foundation Australia website.

And ... join us on Friday to learn more.
Book tix by clicking through to the event page below.

Hope to see you there!

https://events.humanitix.com/facing-the-dragon-film-conv

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Afghanistan Katy Gallagher Bilal Waheed Sally Pryor The Canberra Times ABC Canberra SBS News Anna Henderson, ABC News Karen Middleton Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House Australian War Memorial Country to Canberra Canberra Refugee Action Campaign HerCanberra The Riotact

ZamZam Face The Dragon: Film and Conversation

07/06/2024

What a great honour it is to be delivering the inaugural President's Lecture at Parliament House.

Please come along and join President Senator Sue Lines and I on JUNE 28th - its free and open to the public. And I'd love you to be there!!

As for my subject matter ... well folks, this one has been building for years ...
"30 Shades of Grey & Grievance: Women, Politics and the Gender Card"

02/06/2024

An appalling milestone - 1000 days of Taliban rule and nation wide imprisonment of all Afghanistan's women and girls.

But there is hope in women's resistance! We've seen it in the formidable and fabulous Mahboba from Mahboba's Promise
And we see it too in my dear friend Dr Niolar Ebrahimi
Please support them.

Canberra Friends - join me next FRIDAY 14 June 6.30pm
at the beautiful National Archives of Australia - for the screening of a doco I urge you to see.

Dr Niolar Ebrahimi and I will be In Conversation after the screening of this doco featuring her her awe-inspiring journey from successful doctor to one of the first female members of the Afghanistan parliament to refugee and women’s rights defender.

Post the fall of Afghanistan to the women hating Taliban in Aug 2021, Niolfar has been living with her family here in Canberra. She needs and deserves your support. And our love.