Meet the author- Gina Chick

Listen to the recording Gina Chick in conversation with Kate Grarock on her memoir We Are the Stars, a misfit's story of love, connection and the glorious power of letting go on the Experience ANU SoundCloud channel.
Gina Chick will be in conversation with Kate Grarock on her memoir We Are the Stars, a misfit's story of love, connection and the glorious power of letting go.

Gina Chick, the inaugural winner of Alone Australia, tells the story of her extraordinary, indomitable life in one of the most powerful, moving memoirs you will ever read. From day one of her wildly unconventional childhood, Gina Chick blazed her own trail, which led her to dance through the hidden world of ’90s Sydney nightlife into the arms of a conman. She fled to the wilderness to find healing, began a wondrous love affair with the deepest lessons life – and death – can offer, and found that all the answers are written in the wisdom of the body and the whirling silence of stars.

If you’re ready to get lost in jungles, wander into wolf-dens, sing with storms, rescue orphaned animals, dive to the depths, dance ’til your knees wobble, fall in love, find yourself by losing it all, and most of all be real; this book is for you.

'We Are the Stars is a magic carpet ride through the exquisite mystery of the human heart. You’ve never read anything like it. A wild, creaturely memoir that shows us how to really live.’ Charlotte Wood,

'Her powerful poetic mixture of truth, humour, hard-fought wisdom and unblinking authenticity radiates from every page. I can’t wait to give this book to everyone I love.'  Hugh Jackman

'There’s nobody like Gina Chick and this book pulses with her intelligence, authenticity and vulnerability, but most of all, with her passionate love of life.’ Leigh Sales

Gina Chick is a rewilding facilitator, adventurer, writer and speaker. Writing is in Gina Chick's genes, her grandmother was author and essayist Charmian Clift. Gina was one of ten participants of the first series of Alone Australia, made by iTV and screened on SBS in 2023. After 67 days of unforgettable moments of searing vulnerability, Gina was the last person standing, and the second woman to win an Alone solo challenge. Her determination, passion, and love of the natural world endeared her to more than 5.5 million people around Australia. Gina's articles have been published in The Guardian, news.com.au, Mamamia and SBS online.

Ecologist, Dr Kate Grarock has a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Wollongong University and a PhD from the the Australian National University. Kate worked for 5 years on research and restoration of critically endangered grassy woodlands in the ACT, which involved developing a suite of education programs for the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary. This work resulted in her being a Eureka Prize finalist in 2018 and ACT Australian of the Year nominee in 2019. Kate is now senior project officer at Australia’s largest nature discovery program, Bush Blitz. Kate was also a part of SBS ground-breaking documentary series Alone. 

The vote of thanks will be given by Jeanne Ryckmans, Co-Director of Key People Literary Management and former Artistic Director of the Canberra Writers’ Festival.

Books will be available for purchase before and after the event in the Street Theatre foyer.

The As You like It Café bar will be open for drinks pre & post conversation. 
Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm, and available again after the event.

More information

ANU & The Canberra Times Present 
Meet The Author 
Gina Chick

Tickets: This is a free event but bookings are essential

This event is in association with the Harry Hartog Bookshop and The Street Theatre.