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Adam Courtenay: My Father Bryce

Presented in partnership with The Wheeler Centre

2025-08-05 18:00:00 2025-08-05 19:00:00 Australia/Melbourne Adam Courtenay: My Father Bryce Adam Courtenay takes the stage to discuss 'My Father Bryce', his memoir detailing life as a son of one of Australia's most prolific writers. Geelong Library and Heritage Centre (The Dome) - Wurdi Youang

Tuesday, August 05
6:00pm - 7:00pm

Add to Calendar 2025-08-05 18:00:00 2025-08-05 19:00:00 Australia/Melbourne Adam Courtenay: My Father Bryce Adam Courtenay takes the stage to discuss 'My Father Bryce', his memoir detailing life as a son of one of Australia's most prolific writers. Geelong Library and Heritage Centre (The Dome) - Wurdi Youang

Adam Courtenay takes the stage to discuss 'My Father Bryce', his memoir detailing life as a son of one of Australia's most prolific writers.

Bryce Courtenay was one of Australia’s most cherished authors, known for unforgettable works like The Power of One and April Fool’s Day. But behind the public acclaim was a more elusive figure – a gifted, often unpredictable storyteller whose personal truths didn’t always align with his fiction. 

In My Father Bryce, journalist and author Adam Courtenay offers a powerful, unflinching portrait of life with his famous father. From a childhood shaped by Bryce’s rise to literary stardom in the 1960s and 70s, to the private struggles and silent griefs that accompanied his success, he explores the complex emotional terrain of their relationship. It is a story of reckoning, resilience, and coming to terms with the myths we build around those we love. 

Join Adam for an intimate discussion about family, legacy and the truth behind the legend, with Elizabeth McCarthy. 

About the author

Adam Courtenay is a Sydney-based writer and financial journalist. He has had a long career in the UK and Australia, writing for papers such as the Financial Times, the Sunday Times, the SMH/Age and for magazines including Forbes and Company Director. Adam has a love of Australian history and biography and has written six books, including The Ship That Never Was, The Ghost and the Bounty Hunter and Three Sheets to the Wind. He is the son of Australia's best-selling storyteller, Bryce Courtenay. He lives in Sydney with his wife Gina and dog Polly.

Tickets are $20 or $10 for concession/students. Exclusive to library members only (it's free to join the library!)

If you need any assistance in order to participate in this event, please contact events@grlc.vic.gov.au at least two weeks prior to the event date.

Book sales and signings will be offered at the conclusion of the event.

Presented in partnership with The Wheeler Centre.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Author Talks |

TAGS: | recommended |

Geelong Library and Heritage Centre (The Dome)

Phone: (03) 4201 0600

Hours

Geelong Library and Heritage Centre (The Dome)

Mon, Jul 21 9:00AM to 5:30PM
Tue, Jul 22 9:00AM to 5:30PM
Wed, Jul 23 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 24 9:00AM to 5:30PM
Fri, Jul 25 9:00AM to 5:30PM
Sat, Jul 26 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jul 27 10:00AM to 5:00PM

Tel: (03) 4201 0600

Upcoming events

Sat, Jul 26, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room Level 2
Have fun sketching unique still life compositions at the iconic Geelong Library & Heritage Centre!

Sun, Jul 27, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Jul 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Jul 28, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Mon, Jul 28, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art &... more
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art & craft. Activities vary each week. Come along & let your imaginations fly! Ages 5-18

Tue, Jul 29, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Tue, Jul 29, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to... more
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to life! Recommended age 8-12.
This event is full

Wed, Jul 30, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Wed, Jul 30, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Thu, Jul 31, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Thu, Jul 31, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Join other LEGO fans, explore your creativity and see where your imagination can take you. Ages 5+

Fri, Aug 01, 10:30am - 11:15am
The Reading Nest
Help your child discover the magic of stories and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Sun, Aug 03, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 04, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Mon, Aug 04, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art &... more
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art & craft. Activities vary each week. Come along & let your imaginations fly! Ages 5-18

Tue, Aug 05, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Tue, Aug 05, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to... more
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to life! Recommended age 8-12.
This event is full

Wed, Aug 06, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Wed, Aug 06, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Wed, Aug 06, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Ground Floor South (Blue Table)
Come along and get crafty! All skill levels welcome.

Thu, Aug 07, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Thu, Aug 07, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Join other LEGO fans, explore your creativity and see where your imagination can take you. Ages 5+

Fri, Aug 08, 10:30am - 11:15am
The Reading Nest
Help your child discover the magic of stories and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Sun, Aug 10, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 11, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 11, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Mon, Aug 11, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art &... more
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art & craft. Activities vary each week. Come along & let your imaginations fly! Ages 5-18

Tue, Aug 12, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Tue, Aug 12, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to... more
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to life! Recommended age 8-12.
This event is full

Wed, Aug 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Wed, Aug 13, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Wed, Aug 13, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Ground Floor (Central)
Come along to this workshop to learn basic crochet techniques!

Thu, Aug 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Thu, Aug 14, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Join other LEGO fans, explore your creativity and see where your imagination can take you. Ages 5+

Fri, Aug 15, 10:30am - 11:15am
The Reading Nest
Help your child discover the magic of stories and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Sat, Aug 16, 10:30am - 1:30pm
Ground Floor (Central)
Zines from Geelong and beyond will be available to buy or swap. We are also totally open for anyone in the zine... more
Zines from Geelong and beyond will be available to buy or swap. We are also totally open for anyone in the zine community to join us, hang out, and sell your own zines.

Sun, Aug 17, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 18, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Mon, Aug 18, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art &... more
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art & craft. Activities vary each week. Come along & let your imaginations fly! Ages 5-18

Tue, Aug 19, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Mezzanine (North)
Always wanted to learn how to sew on a sewing machine? Then come and take a beginner's class at Geelong Library and... more
Always wanted to learn how to sew on a sewing machine? Then come and take a beginner's class at Geelong Library and go home with your very own hand made beanie!

Tue, Aug 19, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Tue, Aug 19, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ground Floor (Central)
Come along and get crafty! All skill levels welcome.

Tue, Aug 19, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to... more
Build and construct Lego® Spike models, the innovative robotics and coding platform that brings STEM learning to life! Recommended age 8-12.
This event is full

Wed, Aug 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Wed, Aug 20, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Thu, Aug 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Thu, Aug 21, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Ground Floor South (Blue Table)
Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is the home for zines in Geelong! Come along to our regular workshops to learn... more
Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is the home for zines in Geelong! Come along to our regular workshops to learn how to construct your personalised zine.

Thu, Aug 21, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Join other LEGO fans, explore your creativity and see where your imagination can take you. Ages 5+

Fri, Aug 22, 10:30am - 11:15am
The Reading Nest
Help your child discover the magic of stories and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Sat, Aug 23, 11:00am - 11:20am
Join us to celebrate Children's Book Week with a performance of original songs inspired by books! Written and... more
Join us to celebrate Children's Book Week with a performance of original songs inspired by books! Written and composed by Juliana Kay in collaboration with choristers from Ensemble NORTH.

Sat, Aug 23, 1:30pm - 1:50pm
Join us to celebrate Children's Book Week with a performance of original songs inspired by books! Written and... more
Join us to celebrate Children's Book Week with a performance of original songs inspired by books! Written and composed by Juliana Kay in collaboration with choristers from Ensemble NORTH.

Sat, Aug 23, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room Level 2
Have fun sketching unique still life compositions at the iconic Geelong Library & Heritage Centre!

Sun, Aug 24, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 25, 10:30am - 11:00am
The Reading Nest
Dance, sing and read along with your child at our action-packed Toddler Time program.

Mon, Aug 25, 11:30am - 11:50am
The Reading Nest
Join us for a fun-filled interactive session of songs and rhymes for babies and carers.

Mon, Aug 25, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Activity Room
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art &... more
Calling all artists & creative legends. Get hands on with painting, origami, cut & pasting, & all things art & craft. Activities vary each week. Come along & let your imaginations fly! Ages 5-18