Now considered one of Australia's leading writers and a social justice advocate ahead of her time, Kiama's own Charmian Clift is a worthy recipient of a NSW Blue Plaque 2023, announced by NSW Minister Hon. Penny Sharpe. This plaque will be unveiled later this year by the Minister.

Charmian Clift was born into a weatherboard worker’s cottage in Kiama in 1923, attended Kiama Primary school and later, Wollongong School in Wollongong.

She moved to Sydney in 1941 and began a career in journalism where she met and later married war journalist George Johnston. They initially moved to London and then to the Greek islands.

She was a talented lyrical writer well known for co-writing My Brother Jack with George Johnston. She also wrote Mermaid Singing and Peel me a Lotus, genre-setting memoir-cum-travel books during her family's bohemian time living in Hydra in Greece.

Charmian was a definite rule breaker in terms of 1950s women's fiction. She is most well known for her weekly column in the women's pages of the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Herald (over 240 essays) from 1964-1969. Her column allowed her a voice to express her thoughts, what she called her "sneaky little revolutions", on important socio-political issues including feminist and Aboriginal rights. 

Please come and join in the celebration of Charmian Clift at our Social Justice Dinner and hear our local special guest speakers on Saturday, 13th April, 2024 at Kiama Leagues Club:

Suzie Eggins, current President of the Kiama Historical Society, has researched and written extensively about Charmian Clift’s life.

Dr Graham Tucker, local academic, completed his PhD thesis on Charmian Clift.

Tickets to the Dinner can be purchased through the following link: https://nswlabor.org.au/event_13042024