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!