PHOTO BY WENDY MCDOUGALL
Ailsa Piper is a storyteller and walker. She has worked as a writer, director, actor, teacher, speaker and broadcaster.
One writing highlight was being named co-winner of the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award for her script Small Mercies in 2001. Another came in 2012 with the publication of her first book, Sinning Across Spain, the story of her 1300-kilometre walk along a less-travelled pilgrim trail. She also wrote and performed an episode of ABC Radio’s Poetica about the poetry that inspired her journey. In the same year, she co-adapted a version of Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi for Bell Shakespeare.
Ailsa has judged the NSW and Victorian Premiers’ Literary Awards seven times, and regularly contributes articles to magazines and newspapers. An accomplished interviewer and moderator, she also performs Wordwalks —solo performances celebrating poetry, walking and the spirit of place.
PHOTO BY WENDY MCDOUGALL
Monsignor Tony Doherty has worked as a priest and educator in Sydney for over fifty years. His most recent ministry was to the parishes of Rose Bay and Dover Heights for twelve years.
During five decades of pastoral work as a Catholic priest, he has been a hospital chaplain, adult educator and writer. He has designed strategies for renewing parishes, and contributed to radio and television, including the two TV series Echo of a Distant Drum (the story of the Irish in Australia) and the award-winning Brides of Christ.
In 1995 he coordinated the visit of Pope John Paul II to Sydney for the special recognition of Saint Mary MacKillop. While Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral he led a conservation team in finishing the original 1865 design, which saw the southern spires completed at last.
He is a frequent writer and commentator on religious and wider community issues, and in 2012 received an Order of Australia.