A chat with Lynda Dean

We sit down with long-term local, arts philanthropist and Byron Writers Festival board member Lynda Dean for a chat about her colourful history in the region and the annual festival.

You’re a long-term local of this region, what do you think is most compelling and special about the Northern Rivers?

There are two equally compelling reasons why living in this region is great; the breathtaking natural beauty of beaches and forests, the wildlife and clean air, water and food. The other is the network of communities and connection between villages – there is a niche here for every interest group. For me, it’s dance classes, book clubs, the Northern Rivers Community Foundation and above all, Byron Writers Festival, which I had the privilege of co-founding with the original board of crazy optimists led by Chris Hanley.

When did you move to the Northern Rivers and what attracted you to this area?

I moved to Bungawalbin Creek in 1979 with my husband and baby to see if we could create a life making and selling tea tree oil – my husband fell in love with the area after attending the Aquarius Festival in 1973. I had grown up in innercity Sydney and was terrified of everything in the bush, especially with no phone, no electricity, and no water supply, but raised three children in a tractor shed.

How did you first get involved with Byron Writers Festival?

We desperately missed cultural nourishment, so when I heard through a friend that a group was forming to start the Northern Rivers Writers Centre I rushed to join the board. In 1997, we held our first writers festival to bring intellectual fun to the region and stimulate the economy in what used to be a very slow and quiet time of year. Twentysix years later it’s still a great idea.

What’s your favourite memory of the festival?

I’ll never forget the haunting videolink session with Behrouz Boochani when he was still on Manus Island, but maybe my biggest highlight was being in the tent any time Jesse Blackadder chaired a session. I was always deeply moved by her magic ability to draw the best out of the others on the stage.

Why do you think Byron Writers Festival is important?

Byron Writers Festival is the highlight of the cultural calendar in the region. Many innovative ideas we introduced have been taken up by festivals around the country – we were the first regional festival and we proved it

What role can philanthropy play for the arts? Why is it important to give to arts organisations?

Ideally everyone would be happy to pay enough taxes to provide for a thriving arts industry, but somehow that doesn’t happen. Australia is rather immature in philanthropy compared to the USA and Europe, but we need to grow up. The pandemic lockdowns showed how crucial films, books and music were to our emotional and mental health. If you have the capacity to give, the arts is a rewarding endeavour.

You give generously to many across our region. What do you think is important when considering where to donate?

I want to live in a compassionate, interesting and connected community so we support organisations that serve to create that. I feel emotionally connected to the causes we donate to – it’s up to us to make the world we want to live in.

Byron Writers Festival will be launching a new philanthropic giving program in May, with a special evening event with Lynda Dean. If you are interested in finding out more, please email partnerships@byronwritersfestival.com