Humans of Umina: Angela Bennetts

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As part of my new series to highlight what an amazing group of people we have in Umina, here’s this week’s featured Human of Umina – Angela Bennetts.

Umina resident since: 2017
Occupation: Festival Director, Words on the Waves
Favourite reads: I categorically cannot narrow it down to my top five reads ever, so I thought I’d share my favourites from 2024 (so far) instead:
- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese – a big, sweeping multigenerational drama set in India
- James by Percival Everett – a retelling of Huckleberry Finn that explodes off the page
- The Honeyeater by Jessie Tu – an enigmatic literary exploration of parental bonds, translation and deception
- The Spy & the Traitor by Ben McIntyre – a fascinating non-fiction about a top level KGB spy working for the British government
- The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill – I am late to the Sulari party, but then I binged on all her smart cosy crimes.
Originally from: Glebe in Sydney

Tell us a little about what you did before moving to Umina?

I was working at the ABC on the TV show The Book Club. This show managed to make book coverage good fun, mainly thanks to its charming hosts Jennifer Byrne, Jason Steger and Marieke Hardy – and despite the late night Tuesday time slot, it was much-loved. Prior to that I spent a few years in Bali working at a writers’ festival … so really, I’ve been lucky enough to go from dream job to dream job to dream job!

Why do you love living in Umina?

I love this part of the world, and we had been visiting for decades before moving permanently, as my husband’s family has a home in Pearl Beach (where we also got married). I love the coastline, with its mix of soft, buttery sandstone and undeveloped bushland. I love the way Umina Beach sometimes looks like a vast, still lake. I also really love how supportive and receptive this community is. Our visiting authors often comment (with some amazement) on how good the turnout for Words on the Waves is, and how engaged and friendly everyone is.

What do you think would improve Umina?

I love Asian food, so maybe a ramen bar or Asian grocery (with my favourite sesame dressing and Japanese pickles, please).

Anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you to Umina Beach Book Nook for supporting Words on the Waves events – your efforts are noticed by not only us, but by the authors, the publishers, and the keen readers who come along. And personally, I am so grateful that my home suburb has an independent bookshop on its high street… not many Central Coast ’burbs can boast that much.