JB Rowley: the story of Sheherezade

Once upon a time there were two brothers who ruled Arabia and Persia. King Shahryar had his palace in Baghdad and his brother King Zaman had his palace in Samarkand. The two brothers ruled their kingdoms and lived contented lives until one day disillusionment and unhappiness entered both their lives.

Calamity first came to King Zaman when he set out on a journey to visit his brother. However, he had not gone far when he had to return to his palace for a precious gift he had forgotten to take with him. When he returned he discovered, to his horror, his wife asleep in the arms of a giant slave. Shortly after, King Shahryar discovered that, when he was away, his wife was in the habit of organising and enjoying erotic orgies with the handsome young slaves at the palace in Baghdad. Of course the faithless wives were executed and Zaman and Sharyar came to the conclusion that women were not to be trusted. Sharyar set about killing the beautiful young virgins of Baghdad and there might have been no limit to his madness had it not been for his chief minister’s daughter, the beautiful, wise and intelligent Sheherezade who became a legendary oral storyteller.

The story of Sheherezade is often in JB Rowley’s storytelling programs. High school students are enthralled by the story and, in 2009, JB told Sheherezade’s story to very receptive audiences as part of the dinner program while on a storytelling tour of the bushfire affected areas of Murrindindi shire. Out of that tour evolved the story of The Flowerdale Tattoo which won the Hope 2011 story competition at ABC POOL. Now, as a way of contributing to POOL, JB is working on a project to honour Sheherezade and her stories, starting with, of course, Sheherezade’s story.

http://pool.abc.net.au/media/sheherezade

Healing the Mind through the Power of Story: the Promise of the Narrative Paradigm

Dr Lewis Mehl-Madrona, University of Vermont

Date | 22 March 2011

Time | 1.00 – 2.00 pm

Venue | Melbourne School of Population Health,

Room 515, Level 5, 207 Bouverie St, Carlton

ABSTRACT: A movement in psychology and medicine is arising that sees lives as stories and people as storytellers. This movement has allowed European-based psychology to connect to the world's indigenous cultures, since these cultures think in a similar vein - that lives are stories enacted in the world. In this talk, Dr. Mehl-Madrona will consider the relevance of this approach for mental health and discuss his use of this narrative paradigm with aboriginal people in Canada and the United States, comparing this approach to that of traditional elders in those cultures.

BIO: Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, is a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine (US). He completed both of his residencies in family medicine and in psychiatry at the University of Vermont, where he currently resides in Brattleboro and serves as a core faculty to the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program at the Union Institute & University as well as practicing family medicine, geriatrics, and psychiatry. From his own Native American background, he has also studied extensively with traditional healers and combines knowledge from both worlds. He is the author of the Coyote trilogy (Coyote Medicine, Coyote Healing, Coyote Wisdom) about the wisdom that indigenous North American culture has to offer modern medicine, as well as Narrative Medicine and his most recent book, Healing the Mind through the Power of Story: the Promise of Narrative Psychiatry.

All Welcome - NO RSVP REQUIRED

Contact Erminia Colucci for more information: ecolucci@unimelb.edu.au

Anne E Stewart asks, 'So who was the first Gay in the Village?'

So who was the first Gay in the Village?

A History of colourful Daylesford

Award winning local storyteller, social historian and writer Anne E Stewart has put her research skills into gear to uncover little known facts, legendary characters and the origins of the Chillout Festival. The show explores why and when our little village became so GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) friendly.

Highlights include photos, documents and oral histories that tell the story of our town. Anne will also feature photos and discussion behind her last contribution to Chillout, the 2010 ‘St Dorothy of Daylesford’ float featuring the fabulous Miss Mille Minogue.

Where: The Convent Gallery Chapel

When: Saturday 12 March

Time: 3.30pm Altar Bar, Drinks available

Show: Starts 4pm

Tickets: $20

Contact: The Convent on 5348 321

pics: Dr Gwenyth Wiswould (Trentham Doctor)

Captain Moonlite (The Gay Bushranger)

Robert Lindsay (brother of Norman )

Rocket Clock story slam: 2011 Trades Hall

Have you visited Rocket Clock yet?

Rocket Clock is a 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.

Upcoming Slams

Wednesday February 9, 2011: “Good Intentions”
Wednesday March 9, 2011: “Small World”
Wednesday April 6, 2011: “Lesson Learnt” *Comedy Festival special*
Wednesday April 13, 2011: “Secrets” *Comedy Festival special*

Rocket Clock is not a Vic Guild event but our roving reporter has been along and reports that its loads of fun and very welcoming.

Chloe Boulton is the organaising force behind Rocket Clock. I asked Chloe to tell us the story behind this fabulous event.

In October 2009, I was lucky enough to be in Chicago for work (I run a children's film festival called Little Big Shots and was on my annual film finding mission) when I first saw a story slam. The experience blew me away and my most overwhelming thought was, "why isn't this happening in Melbourne?". When I got home, it was impossible to shake the idea and, though it took me almost a year to start up Rocket Clock, it was never far from my mind. I approached Bella Union about being the venue for the night, as I really like the relaxed feel of their bar and stage, and the Trades Hall building certainly has a strong tradition of storytelling and speeches. The fact that it was also close to the most delicious (hazelnut) gelati on Lygon St was purely a coincidence, I swear! My favourite thing about Rocket Clock is the variety of different people who have come along to tell stories, and the really diverse range of stories that they've told. We love funny people at Rocket Clock, but we're definitely looking for stories, not stand-up routines: something that has a consistent narrative, and a beginning, middle and end. The name Rocket Clock came to me after I was brainstorming different times and places in which people tell stories. I thought of how I loved the Rocket Clock stories on Play School when I was a kid, and liked how that name implied the element of time (as in, each storyteller only has five minutes) and also an element of movement and excitement (that you could never be too sure in which direction the stories were going to take off). It's been fantastic fun so far, and I hope it continues on for a long time.

Check EVENTS under Links on this blog for more details.

‘TALK STORY’ CAMP Kualoa Park Camp, O‘ahu July 15- 17, 2011

INVITING YOU TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL & TO COME

The Alliance for Culture & Arts, host for the 2009 Talk Story Conference in Waikiki, presents TALK STORY CAMP 2011 in association with The City & County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. Come soak up Hawaii’s stories, culture, ocean, and peoples at the private Park’s Department Kualoa Camp site.

KUALOA CAMP will be the setting for this unique story ‘get-away’, located RIGHT ON the beach of Kaneohe Bay, Windward O‘ahu. Kualoa Camp offers continual swimming, a spectacular views of the entire bay, the dramatic cliffs of the Ko‘olau Mountain Range behind, and 'Chinaman's Hat’, a small island just off the coast. Large army tents will shelter participants from the occasional rain squalls which wash these magnificent cliffs rising just behind the camp area. (http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/kualoa.html)

AUDIENCE: The Camp intends to collect local Oahu families and mainland storytelling enthusiasts, for story mixing, informing, teaching, and sharing with each other...’talking story’! Slippers, sun-hat, swimwear & shorts are the required dress code.

PROGRAM: The Talk Story Camp will feature three workshop strands: one by local tellers, one by national 'guests’ (workshops and performances), and a strand for tales and activities especially for kids. Workshops will run two hours in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. This allows both focused sessions and unstructured time to swim, walk, eat, talk, relax and share. This is a ‘camp’, not a ‘conference’- programming won’t fill every minute. Hula will definitely be involved.

Friday evening 7/15: settle in, opening & swaps. Saturday 7/16: Workshops (2 hrs.) morning, afternoon & evening, an evening ‘concert’ & late night ‘spooky’ swap session.

Sunday 7/17: Workshops (2 hrs.) in morning & afternoon, closing). Story Swaps through evening for those able to remain at Camp.

Oahu Tellers Committed: Drama Educator Dan Kelin II, slam poet Kealoha, and Children’s Librarian Brenda Freitas-Obregon and bubble artist Karen Force already for kids; Tongan Emil Wolfgramm will imu (traditional earth oven) the Saturday night dinner, and tell tales of the food prepared. DPR’s Drama Specialist & storyteller, Jeff Gere is producing and hosting the Camp.

Mainland Tellers Committed Lyn Ford (Ohio) gave her husband an airplane ticket to Hawaii to join this event.

WORKSHOP PROPOSALS are being accepted

Now through April 1, 2011 (see below).

BEDDING & MEALS: The camp's kitchen will provide 6 fixed menu meals (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch with an 'imu' (traditional hot stones/ground oven) cooking Saturday's dinner. Kualoa Camp has canoes, sailboats, and lifeguard. Some ‘Family Tents’ provided (to share), cots are being priced. Bring light bedding and a tent (you won't need much) if you can or ask for our help. Some ‘bunk bed dormitories’ (cheap) are in the area. Prepare for a 'camp', not a 'hotel'. Voice your concerns. There are B&B rentals in the for those who prefer such accommodations. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate special needs and to connect guests to car-pool and room-sharing.

HAWAII VACATION RENTALS

COSTS: TBA (should be very affordable compared to other Storytelling Conferences due to the low cost of the camp and a ‘not for-profit’ kitchen staff).

RELATED FIELD TRIPS/ ACTIVITIES:

Wednesday 7/13- arrive & get settled.

Thursday 7/14- Polynesian Culture Center, poi factory dinner nearby in Waihole,

Friday 7/15- Summer Fun Kids at Story Camp (a chance to tell stories to Oahu kids)

Alternative: hike (4.5 miles, fairly easy) to Sacred Falls

Saturday 7/16 & Sunday 7/17- Story Camp

Monday 7/18- AM: Reppun kalo/taro farm & afternoon tour of North Shore, Waimea Valley, & Spooky Waialua (Lopaka Kapanui).

Tuesday 7/19 Honolulu: Mission Houses, Iolani Palace, State Art Museum, Honolulu Ghosts (Lopaka Kapanui). Night in Waikiki.

Wednesday 7/20 Honolulu: Academy of Arts, Bishop Museum, Waterfall house swim.

Neighbor Island - ‘suggestions/ directives’ for story people/events will be provided.

WORKSHOP PROPOSAL:

send to Jeff Gere by April 1. Notice of coices by April 8

1. Contact Info (include for all presenters):Name, address, website, email.

2. Type of Session: what is it? Workshop, Storytelling, Story & Arts/crafts/ Game, Drama?

3. Length of Session: 1 hour or 2 hours?

4. Title of Session:

5. Target Audience: Kids (lower el, upper el, teens), Families, Storytellers (beginner, intermediate, &/or advanced)

6. Session description (upto 75 words, sell it!)

7. Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to...

8. Method (upto 400 words) How will you use the time? What will you do?

9. Technical needs? (Keep it simple. This is a Camp!)

To submit your Workshop Proposals (due April 1, notifications by April 8) please email proposals (and questions and concerns)to Camp Producer/Host/Storyteller Jeff Gere,

(808)737-1774, jeffgere@lava.net

Nell Bell is awarded the Leila St John by the Children's Book Council.

On February 20^th, 2011, Nell Bell was accompanied by daughters Susan and Bronwyn and members of the Storytelling Guild of Victoria when she was presented with the Leila St John Medal at Wattle Park Chalet in Surrey Hills.

Nell Bell, life member of the Storytelling Guild of Victoria, was awarded the Leila St John Award in 2005. The award, administered through Children’s Book Council, is awarded for services to children's literature in Victoria. On February 20 all past recipients, who received a paper award, were presented with a medal in keeping with the CBC’s new policy.

Those of us in the Victorian Storytelling Guild know Nell was a founding member of the Victorian Storytelling Guild and someone who is always willing to share her knowledge and help others. Her contribution to the Guild and its members has been recognized in a life membership of the Australian Storytelling Guild Victorian Branch. But, why is she a worthy recipient of the Leila St John Award?

Well, according to the reasons outlined on the nomination form, Nell Bell is defined by her generosity of spirit and her love for children, beginning her contribution to children's literature in the 1940s when, as Assistant Matron of Ashfield Foundlings Home in Sydney, she introduced the first story time for 3–5 year olds. This story time became a regular session run by Nell.

Nell's interest in stories led her to further training in that area and in 1975 while working as a librarian at Preston East Technical School she taught Introduction to History of Literature and Books. In the same year she toured schools and libraries in China as part of an education program. After qualifying for her Secondary Teachers Certificate the following year Nell went on to start a Children's Book Club and introduced students to literature via storytelling in the class room. She also published an article—The Importance of Oral Literature—in the Education Department magazine.

In the 1980s, Nell obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Children's Literature at Melbourne University as well as a Graduate Diploma in Children's Literature at Toorak Teachers' College. As Librarian in Charge at Templestowe Technical School Nell was part of a program that taught Understanding Literature to Year 11 & 12 students.

By now Nell had realized her passion for oral storytelling and was included in a group of Artists in Education sponsored by the Australian Federal Government and the JF Kennedy Cultural Centre in Washington sent to America in 1988 as representatives of Australia. Nell's focus was the use of oral literature in secondary schools and universities. Back in Australia, Nell conducted seminars in regional universities for mothers of new-born babies on the importance of literature and stories.

Nell was the first storyteller to perform at Dromkeen and has been Artist in Residence introducing students to literature via storytelling at Methodist Ladies College, Richmond Girls High School and Presbyterian Ladies College. She has been a member of the Victorian Branch of the Children's Book Council and the Victorian Committee for UNICEF.

In 1995 Nell took a major role in developing students' skills for performances at St Martins, South Melbourne as part of AEDIS (Artists and Environment designers in Schools). Later that year Nell's storytelling skills won her an invitation to participate in the launch of Children's Week at National Gallery of Victoria.

Nell has always been quick to volunteer her services as a storyteller for the free children's concerts at national Australian storytelling conferences and has also volunteered her services as a storyteller at Camp Quality and the Children's Hospital in Melbourne and the Radio of the Air School in the Northern Territory.

All of that and more is why Nell Bell is a worthy recipient of the Leila St John Award.

photo and post by JB Rowley: Nell far right

Matteo: Mornington Penninsula Regional Art Gallery. March - December

Young at art 2011

A program for 0-5 year olds with Matteo the storyteller

Tuesday 1 March	Splish splash
Tuesday 5 April	Little boxes
Tuesday 10 May	Tap tap tap
Tuesday 7 June	Sweet dreams
Tuesday 2 August	Big rocks
Tuesday 6 September	Going dotty
Tuesday 11 October	Vroom vroom
Tuesday 8 November	All a flutter
Tuesday 13 December	Sail away

Time: 10am-11am
$4 for children (adults free)

Join Marvellous Matteo for a half hour session of hand clapping, feet stomping storytelling, music and art. Let your imagination run wild! Afterwards, venture through the Gallery with Elisa.

Bookings essential: 5975 4395

web: Mornginton Peninsula Art Gallery

email: mprg@mornpen.vic.gov.au

Learn more about: Matteo