Best wishes from Storytelling Australia Victoria

2016 has been a year of creativity: shows, podcasts, concerts, slams but most especially informal gatherings around fires, food and stories.

Many thanks to the team who gather every month via teleconference to grease the wheels and attend to the nuts and bolts that keep a not for profit organisation like ours afloat.

This year we managed to create two monthly events where you can tell stories, listen and most importantly practice the art of storytelling, whether your passion be for traditional folk and fairy tale, tall stories and yarns or true personal storytelling. Fabled Nights in Newport and Fabled Afternoons in The Raw Garden in East Brighton will resume in February 2017 and continue to November. We'll keep you posted.


In partnership with  Mariam Issa and the RAW Garden we celebrated some special days: World Storytelling Day, International Women's Day and Diwali.

Diwali in the RAW Garden

With the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club and Hobsons Bay Libraries supporting us, we have moved into the new Community HUB and now have a venue with a beautiful kitchen and (soon) some lights and little fancy technology! To be explored more fully in the New Year.

Thank you to the storytellers who list themselves on our website and promote their adventures via our blog and Facebook. The interest in the work of our members ranges from educational, shows and applied storytelling (therapeutic, story catching with the elderly).

And to the Groups who publicise themselves on our website - we are grateful as these show a breadth of interest and possibilities for folks checking in from the outside.

Thank you to Matt McArthur and Kate Lawrence who are recording storytellers at our events for future podcasting.

And thanks to Alex and Miles Kharnam who film and take photos for storytellers. Storytellers wishing to apply for festivals and conferences and who need pics in action for the websites, have all benefited from their contribution.

Alex and Miles: Fabled Nights in Newport

Hugs to Roslyn Quin who has hosted two events in the stunning Eltham Library, Susan Hall, our gal in Geelong and Teena Hartnett who organised our end of year boat trip up the Maribyrnong. And ALL of you who have rocked up to planning days, helped with the dishes, setting up and putting away.

Our trip up the Maribyrnong

Looking forward to seeing what we can come up with in 2017. If you have ideas and dreams for Storytelling Vic, become a member and join in the shenanigans. And if you have a little energy to spare, we are always all ears!!!

So on behalf of the committee: Kate Lawrence, Teena Hartnett, Louisa John Krol, Roslyn Quin, Katherine Phelps and Ronda Gault, wishing you all a safe festive season.

Time to crack open the champagne!

Jackie Kerin (blog, Facebook and president)

Niki na Meadhra: Fair and Furious: The Women of the Táin February 2017

Devised and performed by Niki na Meadhra, for all ages. 
Photo: Caveboy Studios

WHEN: Friday 24 February @ 8.00pm and 25 Saturday @ 3.00pm
WHERE: The Celtic Club, Brian Boru Room, 320 Queen Street Melbourne
COST: $30 (full price), $20.00 (concession), $15 school children

Some academics have declared The Táin misogynistic in its treatment of female characters, but having spent time with them, as a storyteller, I can't agree - unless my only measure of women is to characterise them as whores or virgins. To me, these women and goddesses are sexually bold, potent, complex and vivid.  Niki na Meadhra

Niki is a highly experienced performer. Her family connections tie her to Ireland and she loves its mythologies, and communicates its mythology and cosmology with infectious joy.

Learn more about Niki: HERE
Follow her on Facebook: HERE

2017 Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference: Call for Presentations

So Many Mattresses: Truth, Reality, Fiction on a European Bed

Would we recognise a real Australian fairy tale if it came to our doorstep, lacking the traditional fairy tale robes of 'once upon a time ...

The is the AFTS's 4th anual conference.

If you would like to submit a proposal (academic paper or performance) visit  the AFTS website and all the details are there. Deadline: 5.00pm January 27
 
WHEN: 24 June 2017
WHERE: Glen Eira Town Hall, Caulfield, Victoria
Australian Fairy Tale Society: HERE

Christmas Tales in the Eltham Library: 8 December 2016

TIME: 7.00 - 8.00 pm
DATE: December 8
WHERE: Eltham Library, Panther Place in Eltham HERE

Roslyn Quin, mover and shaker on the Storytelling Victoria committee, storyteller extraordinaire, and our woman on the ground at Eltham Library, is planning another evening of tales in this beautiful building.

She invites you to jog along to listen or share a story. This will be a family friendly, all ages event. Eltham Library is close to the train station and there is plenty to explore if you decide to go early.

The tree is up and the story chair is waiting!

If you would like to register to tell a story please book your spot with Roslyn rquin@yprl.vic.gov.au

The end of year Members and Friends Gathering

Well... the end of 2016 is fast approaching ...

The Storytelling Vic committee wanted to offer a special day to celebrate the year with a social outing and Teen Hartnett came up with the brilliant suggestion that we shout ourselves a trip on the 'Blackbird'. This tiny ferry is moored close to the Footscray Community Arts Centre near the Dynon Road Bridge.

 Skippered by Warwick and Peter, the cruise (with commentary by Peter) takes in a few kilometres of the lower reaches of the Maribyrnong River. Peter has been running his cruises for 36 years and he knows the story behind every building, park, pipe and bridge; this stretch of the water has been a hard working river, supporting many industries since the early 1800s.
 

This is only the second special members and friends event we have offered. Earlier in the year we visited the Islamic Museum of Melbourne. Well it seems that you have taken to the idea likes ducks to water!

Queen of Heavenly Peace

The 'Blackbird' was full to capacity - and what an adventure. The western suburbs of Melbourne are rich with stories and characters; its a place where cultures weave into a rich fabric, industry sits surrounded by parks and the Maribyrnong winds its way through it all and behind each bend is surprise.

Christine Carlton from our sister organisation in NSW joined us!

Not sure how we can top this as a social gathering. Maybe Teena has another idea tucked up her sleeve!

Kate Lawrence is podcasting.

"Story Wise Woodend" features personal stories told at the monthly events Kate holds at the Holgates Hotel, Woodend.

I recommend it.

Kate's love of people and their tales is as compelling as the stories themselves. An intro episode and two full episodes into the series and Kate's depth and breadth of knowledge about how stories work as a path between the teller and their audience is already well demonstrated.

Vibrant, passionate, real people sharing their insights, their triumphs and tragedies, their humour and their heartbreak.

A recording may never capture the visceral buzz I get from attending live story telling but it can showcase the talent and archive the tales such events bring together. I defy anyone to listen to Kate's output and not feel drawn to the nearest story telling evening.

A seed sown a year ago is germinating into something wonderful. Kate's onto a winner.

Subscribe via iTunes.
Listen online HERE

The words above come from storyteller Matt McArthur. Thanks Matt. We love it when members send in reviews, observations and updates on their adventures. And congratulations Kate on a superb series of storytelling nights that we can now all enjoy wherever, we are in the world. (Jackie K blog ed.)

Fabled Nights in Newport - 18 November 2016

  
* Regulars please note: there is a change of venue. We will be in the new Newport Community Hub, enter via the park. We will be in Room 2 next to the library with access to a wonderful kitchen! Maybe we can dream of more than cake!


This is our final Fabled Nights in Newport for 2016. Let's celebrate and pat ourselves on the back. We are a new storytelling gathering in Melbourne and we can only grow!

For newcomers: Fabled Nights in Newport is an open-hearted space for people who want to learn to craft true tales, traditional stories, tall tales and yarns; heart to heart and without notes. We welcome beginners and experienced folks. So come and strut your stuff, share what you know, try out a new story or tell a tale for the first time. Or, if you prefer, relax, enjoy the this growing storytelling community, and listen. We are a friendly bunch and take pride in our hospitable evenings.

There's room for around 10 storytellers and we ask that stories be no longer than about 10 minutes, give or take.

There will be tea/coffee and biccies.
There are food venues nearby in Mason Street. Or feel free to bring some food and wine and make yourselves comfortable.
The Hub is a short walk from the Newport Station.

We ask that kind hearts and common sense prevail - misogynist, racist and homophobic stories hurt people. Please don’t bring them to 'Fabled Nights in Newport'.


WHERE: Newport Community Hub 13 Mason Street Newport. MAP
WHEN 7.30 - 10.00
COST: $3.00 members $5.00 non members

This month's event banner shows some story enthusiasts huddled around the fire at the Newport Folk Festival in July. The soup was excellent!

The November Storytelling in the RAW Garden 2016

Storytelling Vic has been exploring the idea of partnerships this year.

Our first partnership is with the RAW Garden. This beautiful initiative by Mariam Issa involves her and her family opening up their garden for public engagement. The garden is based in permaculture principles and there is a fabulous outdoor kitchen area where people gather and share ideas around food and culture.

R -L Mariam and Dee (credit: Jackie Kerin)

Mariam invited us to bring storytelling into the garden and many of our members and friends have helped draw this vision into focus with a storytelling event on the first Sunday of the month.

Heartfelt thanks to Cadu Cinelli (Brazil), Jackie Kerin, Suzanne Sandow, Kim Billington, Niki Na Meadhra, Roslyn Quin, Clare Coburn, Kate Lawrence, Teena Hartnett, Sue Charters (Canada), Astrid Mendez (Chile), Durgah Devi Palanisamy and David Demant who have contributed time and stories.

We enjoyed our final gathering for 2016 with storyteller Dee (Durgah Devi Palanisamy).

                                                                                Photo:Tatiana Scott

 Dee cooked up a great pot of curry, Mariam provided the rice and others were invited to bring a plate to share.

Photo:Tatiana Scott
As well as hearing the story behind the meaning of Diwali, we celebrated Dee's move to Australia with her family, twelve months ago.
 
Photo:Tatiana Scott
RAW Garden Storytelling is now well established and will continue throughout 2017 with Dee holding the space for people come and share tales or listen. Thank you Dee for joining Storytelling Australia Vic, embracing this event and nurturing the storytelling community in this part of Melbourne. Through you, our relationships with tellers throughout Asia is strengthened. And thank you to Mariam who came to us and suggested a partnership and for bringing us closer to Somalian storytelling traditions and culture. How blessed are we!

(By the way, these happy chooks live under a mulberry tree that is currently dripping with fruit.)

Photo: Jackie Kerin

Nell Bell 1926 - 2016

It is with sadness and respect we inform you that Nell Bell, founding member and former president of our association under its original name, The Storytelling Guild of Victoria, has died.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Nell's family and friends. We are grateful to Nell and to her legacy. Please take time to read about her rich life and contribution to storytelling in Australia in this article researched and written by Louisa John-Krol.

There will be a service to celebrate Nell's life on Wednesday the 16th November Between 2 and 4pm at the Northcote Town Hall.

'Tales from the Flyway': Sunday 27 November

Sarah and I will be performing some of our Tales from the Flyway during an exhibition curated by visual artist Kate Gorringe-Smith.  Kate shares the passion for migratory shore birds, their plight and the metaphor their epic journeys gives to our lives.
click on poster to enlarge
 
FROM A HOME TO A HOME: A STORY OF MIGRATION seeks to raise awareness of the migratory shorebirds that travel the  East Asian Australasian Flyway and their habitats and raises empathy for people who have migrated to these shores looking for sanctuary.

The exhibition includes works from seven of the twenty-three Flyway countries. Artist include: Kate Gorringe-Smith (Curating artist), Cui Xiao Hua, Kyoko Imazu, Nakarin Jaikla, Vicki Kinai, Andrej Kocis, Helen Kocis Edwards, Khue Nguyen, Minh Phan, Ema Shin, En En See, Pamela See, My Le Thi, Pimpisa Tinpalit, Haily Tran, Rebecca Young.

Maybe we will see you there,

Jackie Kerin

Exhibition details
FROM A HOME TO A HOME: A STORY OF MIGRATION
Friday 25 November – Thursday 8 December
Opening: Friday 25 November , 6.00–9.00pm
Brunswick Street Gallery, 322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Gallery hours: Tues–Fri 10am–8pm; Sat–Sun 10–6pm

Here's one of the Tales we may tell. Will be hard to choose, we love telling them all.

Australian Fairy Tale Society News

Pop the kettle on, and check your inboxes!

It is with great pleasure that we release the beast that is Issue No.2 of the AFTS Ezine to our members!

Congratulations to Gypsy Thornton, Louisa John-Krol and all the contributors for a wonderful issue.

If you haven't joined, the AFTS, now's your chance! $25 membership will give you access to this edition and other members' only resources on the website!

AFTS MEMBERSHIP: HERE

Diwali in the RAW Garden Sunday 6 November

Storyteller Durgah Devi Palanisamy (Dee) has much to celebrate. 

It is a year since Dee and her family made the move to Melbourne from Singapore and it is Diwali. Dee has been embraced by the Storytelling Australia Victoria Community and the RAW Garden; her presence has introduced new stories, new ideas and brought us closer to the storytelling communities across Asia. Come and share food and stories with Dee, her family and storytelling friends.

Dee will be cooking up one of her special delicious curries but we invite you to bring along plate with something to share. And of course we will be sharing stories, so bring a story too!

BOOKINGS: you can book online or pay at the gate. 
CONCESSION: for Storytelling Vic members: $10.00 (at the gate)
TIME: 12.00 -2.00pm
RAW Garden: 325 South Road East Brighton
RAW website: HERE
 
This is the final storytelling session in the Garden for 2016. We will be in recess until February 2017.

Here is Dee sharing a traditional tale at 'Stories by Fire' during the Newport Folk Festival 2016. (Kindly recorded by Alex Kharnam for Storytelling Vic.)

The Waters Between: 19 November

A night of traditional Irish stories and Scots ballads from Niki Na Meadhra and Fiona Ross, with Michelle Burton on harp, celebrating the long history of cultural exchange between Scotland and Ireland.
Doors open 30 minutes before the show

WHERE: The Boite World Music Cafe
Mark Street Hall
1 Mark St, Nth Fitzroy
WHEN: Saturday, November 19, 8pm
BOOK: HERE
or 
TICKETS at the door: $22/$16/$10

CONTACT: 03 9417 1983 / admin@boite.com.au

Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky

The Go-Between: William Murrungurk Buckley

The story of the white man who went black and came back.
Written & performed by Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky

Directed by Paul Hampton

Photo: Vivienne Hamilton

Nowa Nowa - Saturday 22 October @ 7pm
Nowa Nowa Hall (10 ks from Orbost)

COST: $20 BOOK: HERE                                                                                                                   

This is part of a day called Stories on the Hill, which also features writer Graham Sheil and Bruce Pascoe talking about his book Dark Emu. Full details of whole day on Jan’s website.

Mallacoota - Sunday 23 October @ 3.00
The Muddie – Mudbrick Pavillion
Maurice St, Malllacoota
COST: $25  BOOK: Pickets Gift Shop, Mallacoota                                           

Candelo (NSW) - Saturday 29 October @ 7.30 for 8pm     
Candelo Town Hall (28 ks from Merimbula)
 Presented by Candelo Arts Society
COST: $25/ $20 concession BOOK: HERE                                                                                                      
Murrah - Sunday 30 October @ 2.30 for 3 pm
Murrah Hall                                                           
3141 Tathra -Bermagui Rd, Murrah                                               
COST: $20/$15 concession  BOOK: HERE

 Photo: Elise Dutra

Membership Time: Join or renew!

Membership of Storytelling Australia Victoria provides you with many opportunities.

• discounted entry to SAV events
• the right to stand for election
• regular email updates
• promotion of your shows via our social media platforms
• listing of your professional profile on our website which also means you will receive all inquiries from organisations interested in booking storytellers
• invitations to social gatherings for members and friends

We offer  Group memberships. If you facilitate a Storytelling Group why not join up and we will promote you on our website. Currently listed:

• Mahabharata Project
• Victorian Fairy Tale Ring
• AKA (Australian Kamishibai Association)
• Ballarat Storytellers
• Melbourne True Storytelling Meetup

We have members throughout the metro area and across regional Victoria. We also value our national  and international networks and take pride in our hospitality and open sharing of the story gifts brought to us by traveling storytellers.

Membership details HERE

Photos of events in 2016 (tip of the iceberg!) Top to bottom: Members outing to the The Islamic Museum of Australia, World Storytelling Day and International Women's Day (RAW Garden), Cadu Cinelli from Brazil - presentation and performance, Fabled Nights in Newport (open floor for beginners and experienced storytellers to learn the craft and develop repertoire).

'Fabled Nights in Newport' 21 October 2016

Fabled Nights in Newport is an open-hearted space for folks who want to learn to craft true tales, traditional stories, tall tales and yarns. We welcome beginners and experienced folks. So come and strut your stuff, share what you know, try out a new story or tell a tale for the first time.

There's room for around 10 storytellers and we ask that stories be no longer than about 10 minutes, give or take.
 
In September we were treated to Dave C who is working out how he can tell the stories of his ancestors in an engaging way. Did you know that once there were dairy farms in Braybrook? Mary nailed it with a perfectly crafted tale from her childhood, the sweet revenge of young school girls on a grumpy bus driver. Jackie demonstrated how she uses her kamishibai storytelling box to share a story about marriage equality. The queen of the traditional folk tale, Susan always weaves a spell. Alex and Miles, our father and son tandem tellers are building their repertoire of trad tales and David D unpacked the nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock. And there was more...

A special congratulations to Matt who has been coming along to Fabled Nights and honing his skill. Matt took himself off to The Moth Fringe show and smashed it!!! So we just might crack a bottle of bubbly this month!
 
A feature of Fabled Nights in Newport is cake and in September, Lana Woolf (who couldn't be with us) sent along a carrot and walnut cake. Let's just say ... the cake bar has been raised. It was excellent!













COST: $3.00 members $5.00 non members
TIME: 7.30 - 10.00
WHERE: THE NEWPORT SCOUT HALL. Market Street Newport (opp The Substation and squeezed between the Newport RSL and Bowls Club).     
There will be tea/coffee and biccies.
There are food venues in nearby Mason Street. Or feel free to bring some food and wine and make yourselves comfortable.

We ask that kind hearts and common sense prevail - misogynist, racist and homophobic stories hurt people. Please don’t bring them to Fabled Nights in Newport. 

pics north to south: David C in action, Mary, Susan and Matt

Peter Fernon: This Jesus Story. 8 October Woodend

click on poster to enlarge

Niki na Meadhra at the Open Studio: 1 October 2016

WHERE: 204 High Street Northcote MAP

WHEN: October 1

TIME: 5.00 pm

COST: Tix @ door $10

Limited seating - get along early

Niki na Meadhra will transport you to the Otherworld, with stories from Ireland and around the globe. Niki ran "Enchanted Evening" a night of traditional stories and music for adults for two years at Abbotsford Convent. Last year, Niki toured in Ireland telling and collecting stories. Get some magic in your weekend. The craic will be very good!

National Celtic Festival, 2016 "Spellbinding!" 

Learn more about Niki HERE

Kate Lawrence: RAW Garden Storytelling: 2 October 2016

Time to get story personal. 

Time to remember your past, make sense, craft stories, and be heard.

 
Kate Lawrence has a deep and abiding faith in the power of human stories orally told.  She takes her craft seriously and regularly tells and teaches personal storytelling.  She loves to find, craft and tell stories from her experiences, to make sense of this one precious life. 

She will tell some stories and invite you to mine your life for meaningful moments to share as stories.

WHERE: RAW Garden 325 South Rd East Brighton
WHEN: 2 October 12.00pm - 2.00pm
COST: $15 at the door
More info about the RAW  Garden HERE

Fairy Tale Ring change of location.

Dear Storytellers,

Sunday's location for the Fairy Tale Ring has changed from 31 to 4 Templeton St, Castlemaine. (Even closer to the station!) Maurocco Bar, 2pm.

Reason being that Fig Cafe is closed Sunday but the lily pad across the road is open. They don't take bookings, Sundays are quiet, so Lorena (a local, meeting us there) recommends it.

I can pop over to Fig Cafe to ensure no fairies are waiting by the door. Or perhaps frogs?

Email Louisa for more info: arielsflight@optushome.com.au

Louisa John-Krol

Australian Fairy Tale Society

Storytelling Australia Victoria

Writers Victoria & The Monash Fairy Tale Salon

INVITATION from the Australian Fairy Tale Society: 11 September

Storytellers are welcome to join a fairy tale afternoon tea in Castlemaine this Sunday. It’s $5 for non-members of the Australian Fairy Tale Society, and free for AFTS members.

When: Sunday 11th September at 2pm

Where: Fig Cafe (formerly Apple Annie's), 31 Templeton St, Castlemaine

(a short walk from Castlemaine Station)

The Australian Fairy Tale Society has themes of discussion every two months. This time it’s The Frog King.

Member benefits include access to a Reading List (optional pre-reading/ post-reading) and Points to Ponder (a separate word doc from our Ring Maiden Jo Henwood), as well as free meetings, discounts to conferences, access to the new Members Only section of the website, and now a new exclusive-to-members expanded Ezine (approx 30-pages of articles & pics), of which I am co-editor. More about our improved Member Benefits here.

It’s only $25 to join the Australian Fairy Tale Society.

Informal Agenda for this Sunday:

Frog King chat - Points to Ponder in the pond

Related tales, e.g. Iron Henry/ Iron John (wildman), riffing on themes

Your news: exhibitions, concerts, releases * 

Plan an eve at the Athenaeum Library (non-members of the library & AFTS are also welcome)

Suggestions for our new AFTS ezine?

Fantasy writing: chance to read brief samples aloud & seek constructive advice

Fey regards,

Louisa John-Krol

Vice President of the Australian Fairy Tale Society

Leader of the Victorian Fairy Tale Ring

Co-editor of the new AFTS Ezine

Public Officer of Storytelling Australia Victoria

Member of Writers Victoria, the Athenaeum Library & Monash Fairy Tale Salon

Kate Lawrence: Introduction to Personal Storytelling Workshop

10.30am – 2.30pm

Monday 10 October 2016, or

Monday 14 November 2016

Footscray Community Arts Centre

45 Moreland Street

Footscray, VIC, 3011Australia

Cost:  $85 full/ $55 concession

A crafted, well told story is part gift, part message. In this workshop led by storyteller Kate Lawrence, participants will learn how to find, craft and tell stories from their life experience. You will learn story structure, how to look for story worthy memories and the crafting process that turns the clay of life into story. Participants will develop a list of possible story memories, choose one to develop, work in small groups to practice, and then tell and receive feedback from the group. And of course you will hear lots of great stories.  Numbers for this workshop are limited to six.

About tutor Kate Lawrence

Kate Lawrence is a storyteller with a passion and purpose for personal storytelling. She is an experienced and trained facilitator, teacher and storytelling coach, with sense of fun. She has a deep and abiding faith in human stories and never tires of hearing them. She takes her craft seriously and as well as telling and teaching, she regularly reads, reflects and writes about storytelling. Kate is particularly good at creating safe and respectful spaces for people to explore their stories.  Kate has delivered storytelling workshops at the Williamstown Literary Festival and the NSW International Storytelling Conference.

Email Kate to preregister. kate@storywise.com.au

www.storywise.com.au

Invitation to all members of Storytelling Australia Victoria : 25 September

Dreaming and Planning  for 2017

Come and get involved in storytelling in Victoria and have a say in what we do.

As we are spread far and wide across the state, the Storytelling Vic committee meets monthly by teleconference. A couple of times a year we meet face to face and attend to the vitality and integrity of the organisation.  

As our numbers have swollen we felt the need to offer more ways for people to participate and have a say in the direction and activities of the organisation.

What kinds of events, activities and relationships would you like to be involved with in the calendar for 2017?

• Workshops
• Partnerships
• Open mics
• Fundraisers
• Mini Festival
• Retreat
• ....

What skills, time and energy do you have to contribute to our events? The more skills we have in the pot, the bigger we can dream.

• Mcing
• Photography
• Recording
• Graphic design
• Front of house
• Website design
• ....

How can Storytelling Vic better support:

• individual dreams
• community strengthening
• building the network across Victoria
• …..

WHERE: North Melbourne Maternal and Child Health Centre 505 Abbotsford Street North Melbourne, VIC, 3051 Australia MAP

WHEN: Sunday September 25

TIME: 10.00am – 3.00pm

RSVP: 18 SEPTEMBER:

Jackie Kerin by text: 0412 210 098 

OR

Storytelling Australia Victoria: storytellingvic@live.com.au

Lunch provided. Any special dietary requirements please let us know when you RSVP.

*If you are a member but unable to join us and wish to contribute your ideas and capacity please email your thoughts to us by September 18 and we will make sure that your ideas are recorded and discussed.

*If your membership has lapsed, you can sign upon the day.

Story Wise Women: True, Personal Storytelling Nights in Melbourne

Women's experiences are different, how we see the world, how we are treated in the world and how we make sense of the world are distinctive, and diverse.

Women's stories are not heard as loudly, as often, as seriously or amusingly as they could be.  

Women need space and time to tell, to be heard, to listen and connect through sharing experiences, through our crafted stories.  We need to make sense of our lives in a way that brings peace and hope to the events that have shaped us, as we then in turn shape them into a story. We then give this as part gift part message to our audience and know ourselves in a deeper way.  

Inaugural Story Wise Women

7.30pm - 10pm

23 September 2016  (and continuing on the fourth Friday of the month)

North Melbourne Maternal & Child Health Centre

505 Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne

(Also set up as a Meet Up group and you can access the Meet Up here.)

Here are the guidelines for storytellers:

1. Stories must be true, personal stories i.e. they happened to you the teller.
2. Stories must be told without notes and no longer than 8 minutes.
3. Let kind hearts and common sense prevail - sexist, racist, misogynist and homophobic stories hurt people. Stories should also not be used to put anyone down, to take revenge or to embarrass anyone else.
4. Stories are recorded as audio with the aim of publishing them on a podcast, but this is only done with a tellers permission, which will be given or not, on the evening.
5. Photos will also be taken, to help promote the next event, but will only be used if there is no objection from audience or tellers.

Stories on the hill @ Nowa Nowa Hall: 22nd October, 2016

 

Welcome to country: Wayne Thorpe followed by

 Bruce Pascoe and Graham Sheil ($10.00)

7.00 p.m. Jan Wositzky – The-go-between ($20.00)

Supper and Q and A – connecting stories come to one or both events.

Meal at Mingling Waters 5155 7247

info@ruralcommunities.com.au   5155 7218

Tickets at ‘Just books’ or on line at www.ruralcommunities.com.au

Centre for Rural Communities with EG Network of Neighbourhood House

Fabled Nights in Newport: September 16

INVITATION

Fabled Nights in Newport happens monthly. It is an open hearted space for all storytellers and story lovers. There is room for ten people to tell their story of around 7 minutes (give or take) and we enjoy all genres of story.

We welcome beginners and encourage experienced tellers to use the space to build repertoire and share knowledge.

So here is how we looked at the August Fabled Nights in Newport. Only you can't see Kate because, she was taking the photo.

In August we enjoyed Australian Tall Stories, a Ganesha story, a camp fire story (American folk), a pirate story (to be continued), personal tales of friendship, fear, and awakening. We heard wisdom tales, an Indigenous story, a shark story, and even learned of the pitfalls when busking in New Zealand.

We even had soup! Cooked up and served by Dave. Now that has really spoiled us. All the money taken at the door in August, as well as donations, went to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We raised $50.00.

Fabled Nights in Newport is an adult evening but we have a few young ones who come along who are keen to learn how to craft and tell oral tales.

COST: $3.00 members $5.00 non members
TIME: 7.30 - 10.00
WHERE: THE NEWPORT SCOUT HALL. Market Street Newport (opp The Substation and squeezed between the Newport RSL and Bowls Club).     
There will be tea/coffee and biccies.
There are food venues in nearby Mason Street. Or feel free to bring some food and wine and make yourselves comfortable.

We ask that kind hearts and common sense prevail - misogynist, racist and homophobic stories hurt people. Please don’t bring them to Fabled Nights in Newport. 

***

 And if you missed out on Fabled Nights in Eltham here is a photo. This event took place on the 25 August in the beautiful Eltham Library. Hosted by Roslyn Quin, wearing two hats, her Storytelling Vic hat and her Eltham Library hat, Roslyn made us welcome around the fire. Eltham Library is a gorgeous venue for storytelling, cozy, a terrific acoustic and very hospitable. I have no doubt there will be another evening of Tales. We'll keep you posted.

Kim Billington and Astrid Mendez: RAW Garden, 4 September 2016

Kim Billington loves folktales from all cultures! 

She began telling stories as a teacher and then it became part of her counseling work with adults and children. This has included presenting workshops at conferences and also training counselors since 2012.
Kim’s Master of Narrative Therapy research thesis at The University of Melbourne was about how folktales might open doors to new possibilities in making sense of our lives and moving forwards. Kim finds folktales can recruit the imagination - expanding our horizons and depths, helping us capture unexpected solution possibilities for our own story.
Kim chooses stories which include themes such as: isolation, rejection, powerlessness, daunting hierarchies, following one’s interest, side-stepping the problem, sensing hope, seeing achievements and the unexpected coming together of events leading to identity renewal.
 
Astrid Mendez is a Chilean artist/puppeteer based in Melbourne. 

 Her performance is called The Pilgrim [El Peregrino] and tells the story of a being that travels the world collecting experiences manifested in objects, memories, and words that nurture him… This way his body and soul are grown.
It's a 6 minute one-on-one roving puppet show. All crafted with recycled materials.

Join Kim and Astrid in the RAW Garden. Bring a story to share.

WHERE: RAW Garden 325 South Rd East Brighton
WHEN: 4 September 12.00am - 2.00pm
COST: $15 at the door
More info about the RAW  Garden HERE