Following his feature in Issue 23 of Swell, we caught up again with Dan Marshall for a bonus Q&A to find out what’s been happening since we went to print – from landing a global book deal with Penguin Random House (which was all a bit hush hush when we published his story) to presenting at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, and who’s on his dream dinner party lineup.
Sometimes the best beginnings come from the hardest seasons. Swell was born from a craving for purpose, creativity and connection – a way to bring more heart into our work. What started as a passion project has grown into something far greater than we imagined: a magazine that celebrates the strength, creativity and resilience of everyday local people. This is the story of how Swell began – and why, through every challenge, we’ve chosen to keep going.
Hidden deep within the Newcastle suburbs, Elizabeth Walton’s home is nestled amongst garden beds bursting with paper daisies and straw flowers. But it’s inside, with bunches of exquisitely dried flowers filling each room, where the magic of her business,
Amble and Twine, really comes alive.
The Newcastle Writers Festival is back, and it’s one of our favorite times of the year! With an incredible lineup of speakers and events, this highly anticipated festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. Don’t miss out on the exciting literary celebration coming to Newcastle from April 4 – 6 2025!
We Australians live for coffee. Meeting for a coffee has become deeply ingrained in our culture. A way of life. People who don’t like coffee are a rare breed, and quite frankly, often frowned upon. So how did our love of lattes become so strong, and is it ever a bad thing? Hannah shares with us how her own love of coffee began and how she believes it’s shaped her world for the better.
“Wouldn’t it be cool if we made a magazine…” It was during a coffee break that sisters Kristy Coady and Rebecca Geraghty realised they shared a dream of one day creating a magazine. Even though they had built a successful design agency, Design Bug, the thought of launching a new business was daunting. But they were confident in their ability to design a magazine that would look good on coffee tables, so they took a chance by deciding there and then to make their dream a reality.
What exactly is weaving, I hear you ask? It’s a form of textile production and fibre art where a loom (usually wooden) is used to weave yarn together at right angles to create a fabric or cloth. After doing some research, and sitting down with Rainie Owen aka The Unusual Pear, I am now officially obsessed, and I’m sorry (not sorry) to say, you will be too.
Get ready to paint the town rainbow as Newcastle’s annual pride festival rolls around again this October. Swell gets the lowdown on the truly fabulous events you can expect this year.
There is a good chance Michaela Werner was in fact a mermaid in a previous life. The New Lambton professional freediver and mum of three, recently added Guinness World Record holder to her list of impressive breath-holding accomplishments but for Michaela, freediving isn’t just about reaching greater depths in the water, it’s about deep diving into life’s endless potential.
The Awabakal Wildflower Walk only happens once a year, and it takes you deep into the secret world of plants.
