The Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference: Truth , Reality. Fiction On A European Bed

The fourth annual AFTS Conference was held in the Glen Eira Town Hall as part of the Glen Eira Storytelling Festival.

The day was a mix of academic presentations,  practical advice (grant writing) and activities.
Delegates flew in from as far away as Western and South Australia and drove into town from Ballarat and Castlemaine.

Ideas were traded in words and images, in English, Tamil and Singalese.

Dee (Durgah Devi) Palanisamy set the theme with her keynote, emphasizing the subjective tension in the notion of 'Truth'.

Dee (Durgah Devi) Palanisamy

The question of what is an Australian Fairy Tale was given a strenuous workout and the unresolved relationship, many have to the colonial past was unpacked and referenced many times throughout the day.

Cakes were baked and consumed with gusto; although it felt like an act of vandalism chomping into them.

 The Society has created a perennial award to be presented every year in acknowledgment of the work contributed to the discussion and awareness of Fairy Tale. This year the recipient was Dr Belinda Calderone: former president of the AFTS and one of the founders of the now closed, Monash Fairy Tale Salon.

Activity designed by Jo Henwood, 'A Quilt for the Mattresses'

Presenters: Lorena Carrington, Debra Phillips, Roslyn Quin, Patsy Poppenbeek, Fiona Price, Erin McCuskey, Jo Henwood, Catherine Snell and Phillipa Adgemis.
MC: Jackie Kerin.

Congratulations to the AFTS on a successful and inspiring conference. The next one will be in NSW in 2018.
Keep and eye on the AFTS website for details, become a member, and participate in this national organisation.


Check out the rich offerings from the Glen Eira Storytelling Festival