On Thursday 5 March, ABC Friends were proud to be in attendance at Poets and Writers in the Gardens, a festival organised by the Independent Arts Foundation (IAF) at Treasury Adelaide.

Image 1:L to R -Daryl Regan ABC Friends Vice President SA/NT, Peter Goers ABC Friends SA/ NT Patron and IAF Board members Samela Harris and Peter Burdon 
Image 2: Author Walter Marsh and Daryl Regan Vice President ABC Friends SA/NT

ABC Friends SA/NT Vice President Daryl Regan represented the organisation at the event, connecting with IAF Board members Samela Harris and Peter Burdon, as well as author Walter Marsh, who presented his latest book The Butterfly Thief to an enthusiastic audience of 70 people. Adding a special touch of ABC magic to the evening, ABC Friends Patron Peter Goers served as facilitator bringing his trademark warmth and wit to the occasion.

The IAF is no stranger to recognition. In 2022, the organisation received a UNESCO achievement award for nurturing and supporting South Australian talent and promoting artistic excellence over three decades — a remarkable testament to the enduring importance of institutions that champion local voices.

It's a mission that resonates deeply with ABC Friends. The ABC has long played a vital role in discovering, developing and amplifying Australian creative talent — from the writers, poets and storytellers who find their first national audience through ABC Radio, to the filmmakers and performers whose work reaches Australian homes through ABC TV and iview. And for a generation of emerging Australian musicians, triple j Unearthed has been nothing short of transformative — a genuine launching pad that has helped artists from every corner of the country find their audience, develop their craft, and in many cases build careers that reach far beyond our shores. Without the ABC, many of these voices might never find the platform they deserve.

Events like Poets and Writers in the Gardens remind us why that platform matters. Australian stories — told by Australian voices, for Australian audiences — are not a luxury. They are the connective tissue of our culture, our identity, and our democracy.

ABC Friends is committed to ensuring the ABC remains properly funded and fiercely independent, so it can continue to do what it does best: bring our stories to life.

Phil Evans
Communications
ABC Friends