Brendan Cullen with Paul Mitchell: The Desert Swimmer

Dive into the remarkable true story behind The Desert Swimmer as Brendan Cullen and Paul Mitchell share the inspiration, challenges and human spirit at the heart of their book. From endurance and resilience to the power of storytelling, this conversation explores how an extraordinary journey was brought to life on the page—captivating, moving and impossible to forget.

Event #07 – RACV Torquay Resort
11:15am-12:00pm
Cost: $35

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Brendan Cullen

Brendan is the manager of Kars Station, a vast 10,000-head sheep property located 65 kilometers outside of Broken Hill, New South Wales. In 2022, he achieved the extraordinary feat of swimming the English Channel, despite living in a semi-arid desert where the nearest coastline is more than 600 kilometers away. To prepare for one of the world’s most grueling open-water challenges, Brendan dedicated himself to grueling training sessions before dawn, swimming in the murky Menindee Lake system and the icy local waters of the outback.

For Brendan, taking up swimming was more than an athletic pursuit; it was a lifeline during his recovery from severe depression. After years of struggling with the weight of the illness – coping through overwork, emotional withdrawal, and unhealthy habits – he found the pivotal strength to walk through the doors of Broken Hill Hospital and ask for help.

His journey, chronicled in The Desert Swimmer (2026), serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is a story of vulnerability, the courage to seek support, and the transformative power of facing life’s greatest challenges head-on.

Take a look at our other sessions

This year’s line-up also includes bestselling and award-winning authors including Sarah Bailey and J.P. Pomare, who will take to the stage for a special live recording of their podcast, “He Read, She Read”, alongside acclaimed writers Alli Sinclair, Antoun Issa, Melissa Manning, Mark Smith, Tanya Scott, Brendan Cullen and Paul Mitchell, Emma Hardy, Kate Halfpenny and many more.