News

Seymour to be blown Away With Words in special event

By Billie Davern

Jun 4, 2025

Anne Thompson, Carol Smith and Loris Wilmont of Seymour’s University of the Third Age are inviting community members to attend a special event with a bestselling author. Photo by Billie Davern

Bestselling author Toni Jordan will soon bring the experience garnered from her extensive resume to Seymour for Away With Words.

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The event, which is part of the University of the Third Age’s 20th birthday celebrations, will allow attendees to take a peek into Toni’s insightful, bookish mind.

Toni will also guide conversations around writing, encouraging those new to the art to get involved because “everyone has a story”.

“I think everyone should be writing a book, quite frankly,” Toni said.

“My advice is that there is no right or wrong way to do it.

“The reason I’m so much a fan of writing is that it’s the most democratic of all the arts; all you need is a pen and paper, you can get started anywhere.”

Toni’s link to Seymour sprouted from a Melbourne book club, where she met a co-founding member of the Seymour U3A, Anne Thompson.

“Everybody has to meet Toni Jordan, everybody has to experience her wonderful personality and intellect,” Anne said.

Carol Smith, who is on the U3A committee in charge of organising the event, said Away With Words was open to every community member.

“We all use words every day, whether it’s reading, writing, speaking or listening,” Carol said.

“This event should interest everybody.”

Toni will bring her extensive and varied lived experience to the event, drawing on her background as a scientist, a writers’ festival panellist, winner of RMIT Sessional Teacher of the Year, and even her role as a door-to-door aluminium sliding door salesperson.

Away With Words is a free event to be held on Saturday, June 14 at the Seymour Recovery Hub on Guild St.

From 10am to 2.30pm, Toni will take attendees through her thoughts on reading and writing, offering a unique perspective.

Lunch and morning tea will be provided, and those wanting to attend should register at seymu3a@gmail.com for catering purposes.

“No matter how interesting your life, it’s still one life, right? You only have one life,” Toni said.

“But, it’s through fiction and through reading other people’s memoirs that you get to experience other lives; you actually get to find out what it’s like to live a life absolutely different from yours.

“It’s such a wonderful, broadening experience.”