The open mic night was for English extension 2 students from high schools around the district, giving them the opportunity to present a segment of their major work to an audience of friends and supporters, and receive some valuable feedback. Among the audience were teachers and University of New England students and lecturers from the School of Education.

Organised by the Peel Valley English Teachers Association and UNE, the night featured segments from stories, scenes from plays, selections of short poems and key parts of critical studies.

Christopher Keenan, from Peel High and part of the English Teachers Association committee, addressed the audience before the presentation and emphasised the importance of the oral performances.

He said it allowed students a different perspective on their works, suggesting editorial ideas and possibilities for the final product that they may not have seen previously. For the audience, Mr Keenan said, it was a chance to hear new ideas from Australia’s young writers.