Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 08 November
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Location
Additional Notes
Each ticket includes a signed first edition of My Dream Time, available for collection on the night.
Each ticket includes a signed first edition of My Dream Time, available for collection on the night.About
I’m only in my mid-twenties, and some might think that’s young to write a memoir. Who does that, right? But for me and my team it’s always been important to reflect on every part of the journey, especially the end. In that context, the timing is perfect to share my story, from the first time I picked up a racquet as a 5-year-old girl in Ipswich to the night I packed up my tennis bag at Melbourne Park after winning the 2022 Australian Open.
We are delighted to have Ash Barty talking about her extraordinary life and achievements for one night only, in conversation with acclaimed journalist and writer Konrad Marshall. Barty's new book, My Dream Time is about finding the path to being the best she could be, not just as an athlete but as a person, and to consider the way those identities overlap and compete. Now, the tennis champion will discuss her extraordinary life and achievements in a special event as part of Spring Fling, presented in partnership with Readings.
We all have a professional and a personal self. How do you conquer nerves and anxiety? How do you deal with defeat, or pain? What drives you to succeed – and what happens when you do? The answers tell so much, about bitter disappointments and also dreams realised – from injuries and obscurity and self-doubt to winning Wimbledon and ranking number 1 in the world.
This is your chance to hear one of Australia’s greatest stories.
Presented in partnership with Readings
About Spring Fling
Celebrating our return to the stage and the rejuvenation of the arts and culture communities, Spring Fling is a short series of big ideas offering a delectable picnic spread of events with leading thinkers, writers and creators from Australia and abroad.
Spring Fling is supported by the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, a Victorian Government and City of Melbourne partnership.
Featuring
Ash Barty
Australian Ashleigh Barty was a professional tennis player on the Women's Tennis Association tour from 2011 to 2022 (with a break from late 2014 to early 2016). Widely regarded as one of the sport's most naturally talented players, Ash's game style and ability to play a wide variety of shots set her apart from her opponents. Ash's off-court manner endeared her further to the tennis community and fans around the world. With her signature unassuming approach, confidence to forge her own path and commitment to being a good person before all else, she became a role model for many.
Ash announced her retirement from professional tennis in March 2022. Ranked WTA World No. 1 and the reigning ladies singles champion at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, she departed from the sport as one of the most accomplished players ever. Her tennis achievements include: 3 Grand Slam singles titles, 1 Grand Slam doubles title, 12 WTA singles titles, 11 WTA doubles titles and an Olympic bronze medal for mixed doubles. Ash held the WTA World No. 1 ranking for 114 consecutive weeks, the fourth-longest streak in tour history, behind Steffi Graf (186 weeks), Serena Williams (also 186) and Martina Navratilova (156). In all, Ash spent 121 weeks at World No. 1, the seventh most in WTA tour history, surpassed only by Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis and Monica Seles.
A proud First Nations woman, Ash is committed to creating sport and education opportunities for youth in communities around Australia. A passionate reader and advocate for children's literacy, Ash has published the best-selling Little Ash series for ages 5 and up. Ash is a huge believer in the long-term benefits of reading for children, and the Little Ash series engages young readers due to its popular themes of sport, family, friendship and school, plus its appealing illustrations and easy-to-read language. Ash's next chapter is yet to be written but will certainly involve a new set of goals and dreams, expanding her community work, spending time with her family and her dogs, and enjoying many sports as a fan.
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Konrad Marshall
Konrad Marshall is a senior writer for Good Weekend magazine. An acclaimed longform journalist specialising in sport, art and science, his work appears in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Konrad is also the author of Yellow & Black (2017), Stronger & Bolder (2019) and The Hard Way (2020) and has collaborated on written works with AFL stars Max Gawn and Dustin Martin. He has twice been named print journalist of the year by Sport Australia, and in 2019 won the Harry Gordon Australian Sports Journalist of the Year.
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