JB Rowley reflects on the power of story

JB was selected to tell her story The Flowerdale Tattoo at the Sydney Festival 2011.

When we tell a story we release it to connect, inspire and touch others in ways that we often do not know about. The Flowerdale Tattoo is a story that has touched others deeply and I have been thrilled to receive feedback from listeners about the effect this story has had on them. Hedley Galt, who writes a regular column in the magazine, Nature & Health was one such listener. Hedley was part of the audience for the live Radio National broadcast in Sydney in January for the 'Hope 2011- stories that must be told’ event and was deeply affected by the story. She has used her experience of listening to The Flowerdale Tattoo to inspire others to ‘embrace the here and now’ in her column on page 12 of the spring edition of the magazine. Below is the online link to the magazine but you will need to pop into your newsagent for a hard copy to read Hedley’s column.

Nature and Health

Listen to JB tell the story of the Flowerdale Tattoo

Learn more about JB here

JB will be at The Hub@Docklands. Monday October 24 2011

Vic Storyteller, JB will be at The Hub@Docklands Monday October 24th

11.00am

... telling children's stories to celebrate Diwali (Hindu festival of lights).

Diwali or Deepawali, known as the festival of lights, is an important festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, celebrated for different reasons, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. Lakshi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is closely associated with Diwali. It is believed that at Diwali, Lakshmi wanders the streets after sunset spreading wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi is looking for light so people arrange lamps and candles around their homes and in windows to attract Lakshmi to bless their home with prosperity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India.Some people even leave their doors open on Diwali night, hoping Lakshmi will enter their home and spread wealth within.

The Hub&Docklands

80 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands (near the corner of Bourke Street and Harbour Esplanade - look for the giant rabbit sculpture)

Melway reference: 2E H7

Learn more about JB Rowley here

Danny Spooner and Anne E Stewart: The Boite 1 October 2011

The Boite World Music Cafe

1 Mark St. Nth Fitzroy
Saturday, 1 October 8.00pm

Danny Spooner and Anne E Stewart met over twenty years ago at Erskine House when Storytelling Guild Life member Nell Bell invited Danny to the Victorian Storytelling Guild's annual conference. Coincidently they both moved to Daylesford and have collaborated on many projects since. They return to one of their favourite topics, women in story.
Be captived as they share stories and songs of brave and bold women, extraordinary deeds, life at the crossroads and the shape shifting woman of legend. From Celtic, to Indigenous to World and Contemporary stories.

Bookings: 9417 1983

Cost: $18/$12

Learn more about:

The Boite Word Music Cafe

Danny Spooner

Anne E Stewart

Julie Perrin. Workshops and performances. Oct - Dec 2011

Limber up your story memory

Traditional tales are built for memory. Learn a story by gesture,

discover new ways of remembering short stories to tell.

Four Thursday evenings Oct 27 – Nov 17

at Northcote Town Hall 7 – 9 pm

189 High Street Northcote

$280, concession $240 Course will run

with max 12 people.

These workshops are great to attend with a friend – you can practise together!

inquiries Julie Perrin 0409 019 987 tellingwords (03) 9489 1139

julieperrin @tellingwords.com.au

Stories to bask in Fridays Nov 4 & Dec 2 Two evenings of soul food in poetry & story

Athol Gill Centre, 100 Hodgkinson St Clifton Hill (near Queens Parade)

7pm – muse in the flicker of candlelight, dream your way back into your own stories.

8 – 9pm draw/write/wonder

$30 storytelling & draw/write/ wonder $20 storytelling only

“Go home content and rested, with a new window into re-imagining your life.

Learn more about Julie here.

Rocket Clock Story Slam: “Almost Famous”

Rocket Clock Story Slam: “Almost Famous”

We’re looking for stories of close encounters with celebrity and brushes with the spotlight. Bumbled talent quests. Being a legend in your own lunchtime. Cracking the C-list. Those 15 minutes when you were almost someone.

Pre-register your intent to tell by emailing rocketclockss@gmail.com or register on the night. Everyone is welcome to come along and listen, laugh, drink, cheer & weep.

Wednesday September 14, 2011
Doors open 7.30pm; slam kicks off 8.30pm.

Tickets:
$5 pre-sale (+ $2 booking fee) or $8 on the door. Book tickets now via the Bella Union website: http://www.bellaunion.com.au/ticketing/show_367/.

Bella Union
Level 1, Trades Hall
Corner of Victoria & Lygon Streets
Carlton South

What is Rocket Clock?

Rocket Clock is a monthly story slam competition. Ten people each have five minutes to tell a story around a particular theme. Judges in the audience rate each story on both content and performance. Everyone has a great time.

More info:

rocketclock.com.au
Rocket Clock on Twitter
Rocket Clock on Facebook

Ballan Literacy Trail. National Literacy and Numeracy Day

The tiny town of Ballan is 80 ks west of Melbourne - a straight run on the M8. For several years now Ballan has celebrated National Literacy and Numeracy Day by creating a town of stories.

On both sides of the main street, in front of the shops and in the park, storytellers mix it up with local traders and others who are willing to don a costume, read a story or in the case of the Vic storytellers, spin a yarn like the oral storytellers of old.

Three Vic tellers were spotted on the Trail, Anne E Stewart, Graham Davey and Jackie Kerin but not all were caught on camera.

We did however capture Graham looking impressive in shimmering blue velvet.

At the end of the morning, mingling on the lawns in the smoke of the sausage sizzle, was a bizarre collection of characters. It was a bit like being caught in a fractured fairy tale!

The locals pitched in with their support. Amanda from Peaceful Retreat Nails and Beauty, had prepared a basket of books, looked stunning in pink tulle and read until she froze. With the support of the local Op Shop she was able to give away some beautiful picture books to the delight of the young story browsers.

Here she is standing next to Jackie's Kamishibai.

The Literacy Trail is funded by a State Government program called Best Start. Moorabool Shire is one of many Best Start partners.