Matt McArthur: The Laborastory (April)

Story Vic science storyteller Matt McArthur rocked it at The April Laborastory. Here Matt is telling the story of William Speirs Bruce, Scottish naturalist, polar scientist and oceanographer who organized and led the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (1902–04) to the South Orkney Islands and the Weddell Sea. 

 Matt is also a podcaster and decided to celebrated 42 episodes of his pod cast 'Ice Coffee' by baking dozens of chocolate cup cakes decorated with an image of Antarctica. (Cake has really found its place among us!)

Matt has been making good use of the Fabled Nights in Newport to craft his stories. It would be wonderful if more science communicators came along and used the evenings to shape and polish their ripping yarns.  If you are reading this and you are a science nerd, come along. We'd love to hear your stories. 

You can visit Diver Matt's website HERE
If you enjoy science stories, The Laborastory is a monthly event HERE

Workshop: Addressing Racism: Examining our racist stories

Racism exists, and not in neat tidy boxes with big clear labels. Sometimes racism is hateful, sometimes ignorant, sometimes racism is unintentional, sometimes it is from someone you love, sometimes it is internal, sometimes racism manifests in more ways than one - what we do know is that racism is everywhere. We were taught racism at school, read racism in books, watched it in old westerns, we sang along to racist songs before we understood what racism was. But racism exists still. 1 in 5 people experience racism at sports events, 1 in 3 people experience racism in the workplace, and 1 in 3 people take a stand against racism.

Be the 1 in 3 and interrogate how systemic racism can be found in the stories we see, hear and share as a society, and use StoryWork to find out how you can make sure the stories you tell aren’t just not racist, but they are stories that combat the old racist narratives. Storytelling can help expose the dominant racial forces that materialise through lived experiences.

Hosted by Sparking Change and Lana Woolf 
 
Who is this workshop aimed at?
YOU & EVERYONE - We all live in a racist world and are bombarded with racists stories, so this workshop is aimed at everyone who wants to positively work on their racism by analysing the racist stories we are taught to live by.

How much does it cost?
$75 unwaged
$125 waged
Option to pay 1/2 deposit and 1/2 on first night workshop
$37.50 unwaged x 2
$62.50 Waged x 2

The workshop is on three consecutive Fridays:
Friday 30th June 2017
Friday 7th July 2017
Friday 14th July 2017 



LOCATION:
Knowledge Market
Shop 8-10, 892 Bourke Street, Docklands, Victoria 3008
 
The times each week are the same:
start 6.30pm and finish 9.00pm 

 Bookings: HERE

What do I need to bring to the workshop?
Please bring any snacks you may need, a pen and notebook (no computers please).
Herbal teas, coffee and water will be available.
 
Workshop Outline:
This workshop is designed to help participants to understand the origins of racist attitudes, how racist attitudes are developed, and maintained and to establish personal goals for resisting racism.

The activities, exercises and concepts in this workshop have been arranged so that participants are able to explore racial attitudes and feelings in an open environment. Each component in the workshop has a specific identified purpose, clear instructions, and specific procedures for processing your reactions. We also cover the five primary awareness orientations, Condemnation, Discrimination, Tolerance, Acceptance, and Affirmation.

The primary goals in this workshop are; increasing awareness of racial issues, building a personal involvement with the problem of racism, developing personal flexibility in responding to racism, and making a commitment to change one small part of one’s own racism (internal or external).

The workshop content includes:

• Cultural diversity is a reality
• The language of racism is always changing
• Exploring myths and stereotypes
• The myths and realities of History
• Cultural hierarchy
• Looking at ones’ own racist attitudes and behaviours
• Connecting systemic racism and the individual
• Managing diversity and difference
• Creating cultural change and valuing ethnic diversity

Dee (Durgah Devi) Palanisamy

We are lucky that as our numbers grow, more of you are stepping into roles that enable us to offer events with experienced hosts. I'd like to thank Dee for stepping into the role of host for the RAW Garden Storytelling afternoons. These events are in partnership with RAW and Storytelling Vic. The Raw Garden is in Brighton East and the storytelling is the first Sunday of the month: February - November.

Marian Issa (co founder of RAW) and Dee

If you haven't met Dee (Durgah Devi) Palanisamy, she  is a passionate Storyteller and is fascinated by all kinds of stories across the world. She is an avid advocate of the Arts and enjoys Drama, Theatre and Storytelling. She is a Speech and Drama Educator with more than a decade of experience in the field. After graduating with a Masters of Education, specialising in Drama from NIE (Nanyang Technological University), Dee completed the graded Speech and Drama exams offered by Trinity College (London). She is constantly striving to create spaces and programs that encourage discovery, education and entertainment.

After migrating to Melbourne in 2016, Dee founded Deelightfultales, which is a Storytelling company that aims to renew the oral traditions of the spoken word. She maintains her networks in Singapore and visits  annually. Dee specialises in Storytelling for children, Asian Folktales, Stories from India and Tales from the Mahabharata. She also facilitates targeted Storytelling workshops for children and adults.

Being born and raised in Singapore, Dee is proficiently bilingual in English and Tamil. She also speaks conversational Mandarin, Malay and Singlish.  As a versatile performer, she connects with her audience and truly believes in the Power and Magic of Storytelling.  

Dee is available for:

Folktales and Fables

Storytelling performances for preschool and primary school children.

Interactive Stories for Children

Use of Puppets and Props

Thematic stories

Workshops on oral communication skills and drama techniques

Storytelling skills training

Storytelling Workshops (For Children and Adults)

Bookings: deelightfultales4u@gmail.com

+61 450091979

Here is Dee on a mid winter's night in the old Newport Scout Hall at the annual Newport Folk Festival 2016.

Posted by Jackie Kerin (president Storytelling Vic)

Jackie Kerin: Tales from the Flyway: April, May and October

Tales from the Flyway is a storytelling show I developed with violinist Sarah Depasquale. Sarah and I share a love of wetlands and birds, especially those found at our doorstep in Hobsons Bay in the south-east  corner of Australia.
Together we will take you on a journey following the path of migratory shore birds, from Australia to Siberia, along the East Asian Australasian Flyway. The show is playful and occasionally enlightening.

There are some significant celebratory days for the birds in the calendar and Sarah and I developed our show to highlight these.

April 12 - 16
We are heading of to NSW for the Stone the Crows Festival. As well as Flyway, we'll be kept busy with workshops and presentations, and in the evening, Bed Time Tales. You can follow the festival on Facebook.

May 10
Tom the red-necked stint (10 minute kamishibai story from the show).
As part of the World Migratory Bird Day celebrations.
TIME: 10.30 am (Children's Storytime).
PLACE: Altona Meadows Library, Central Square, 2 Newham Way Altona Meadows
FREE event

May 10
Tales from the Flyway
As part of the World Migratory Bird Day celebrations. 
TIME: 6.45
PLACE: Melton Library and Learning HUB
Balam Balam Lecture Theatre. 31 McKenzie Street Melton
FREE event but booking required HERE

May 13 
Tom the red-necked stint (10 minute kamishibai story from the show).
As part of the World Migratory Bird Day celebrations. 
TIME: 10.30
PLACE: Newport Community HUB 13/15 Mason Street Newport
FREE event

October 28 
Tales from the Flyway
As part of National Bird Week
PLACE: Melton Library and Learning HUB
Balam Balam Lecture Theatre. 31 McKenzie Street Melton
FREE event
Details to come HERE

 

 

World Storytelling Day

Many thanks to Storytelling Vic member Susan Hall who offered to organise and host an event to celebrate World Storytelling Day for 2017.

Susan Hall

With her connections in the Geelong Libraries, Susan booked us a space in the DOME Library and Heritage Centre. Many of us learned new stories to bring to this event and made good use of Fabled Nights in Newport to practice.

Alex and co

It was a mixed event - all kinds of stories and folks of all ages. Alex recruited the kids to help with the refrain of his story.

Durgah Devi

Durgah Devi dazzled with two stories including treating us to a version of The Hare and the Tortoise in Tamil. Also we need to thank Dee for arriving with boxes of exquisite cup cakes.

So that's it till next year. Story Vic thrives on the support and energy of members and a hard working committee. World Storytelling Day events were energised several years ago and hosted by Teena Hartnett. We have her to thank for getting them off the ground and now WSD is the first event we post in our calendar every year. Thank you Teena for sowing the seeds.

Invitation to The Story House and Garden

Thanks for sharing with us Anne and best of luck for this wonderful new story adventure. (Ed.)

Sparks Workshops April / May 2017

Strategic StoryWork for Social Change 

  For Peer Workers - Self Advocates - Social Change Agents - Activists - Campaigners

A good story has the power to create change the world. Stories can tell us what is happening and how those happenings impact on people and the environment.  Stories can also show us what change we can create in the world, and if it is a really good story, it will tell us how to make that change happen. This workshop takes people through a process of using strategic StoryWork to lean how to tell the story of your ‘lived experience’ , the story of the of the social justice issue you are working on, and a story that will move people to action on your particular social justice issue. You will learn how to tell your story in ways that foster community, explore shared values, create hope and influence others on a path of social justice in action orientated ways.

When is the Strategic StoryWork for Social Change workshop?

The workshop will be held on Thursday 20th April and Friday 21st April. We will start at 9.30am and finish at 4.30pm.

How Much does it cost to attend these days?

The cost is $150 if you are unwaged, and $225 if you are waged. You can purchase your entry into the two day workshop through this link to trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/PGHR

Where is the workshop held?

The Knowledge Market 

Shop 8-10, 892 Bourke Street, Docklands

Adjacent Library at The Dock

The venue is wheelchair accessible.

What do I need to bring to the workshop?

Please bring your lunch, any snacks you may need, a pen and notebook (no computers please).

Herbal teas, coffee and water will be available.

 Story Play Day

You're invited to a story play day where we’ll play storytelling games, while we practice and share our storytelling skills. This play day is about stretching our skills and picking up new storytelling tips and tricks, and practice story skills we already know that help keep us on our toes.

When is the Play Day?

The Story Play Day is on Saturday May 13th 2017

What time does it start and finish?

The story plays day starts at 11am and finishes at 4.15 pm - it is an open and relaxed day so come when you can and leave when you must!

Is the Story Play Day family friendly?

Absolutely! If you are bringing small children, they are absolutely free to attend, but you are responsible for them.

How much does the day cost?

To participate in the day it costs $15 waged  and $10 if you are unwaged or if you are a Storytelling Australia Victoria (SAV) member and $5 for ‘big kids’ who are eagerly participating and playing in the games too. (small kids are free) Pay on the day!

$15 waged

$10 unwaged or a SAV member

$5 for young participants

Free for small children

I would love to volunteer to lead a story session

Sign up to lead a story game / activity or to lead a short story skills workshop and you get free entry to the Storytelling Play Day. Please email Lana if you would like to sign up to lead a session.

What shall I bring?

Bring your playfulness, enthusiasm, quick wit a plate to share for lunch - if it is lovely weather, we can eat outside in the park and have a picnic - otherwise we will go inside to the Knowledge Market for all our activities.

Herbal tea, coffee and water will be provided.

What does the day look like?

Time	Session	Facilitated by
11.00-11.30am	Registration	Lana
11.30am to 12.15pm	Opening Story Circle	Lana
12.15pm to 1.00pm	Shared Lunch
1.00pm to 1.45pm	Session 2
1.45pm to 2.00pm	Break
2.00om to 2.45pm	Session 3
2.45pm to 3.00pm	Break
3.00pm to 3.45pm	Session 4
3.45pm to 4.30pm	Closing Story Circle	Lana

 

Read more about Lana Woolf HERE

Lana Woolf is also and award- winning spoken word artist. Brave New Voices: Biomyth Poetry workshop details HERE

Thank you for sharing your news Lana (Ed)