I'm a Port Fairy Folk Festival regular - a festival located in the prettiest town and on one of the most beautiful stretches of coast.
This year I had the fun of taking 'Tales from the Flyway' to Port Fairy with Sarah Depasquale. As well as the show we contributed a Selkie tale to 'Celtic Connections', a session hosted by Jim Haynes with Noel Stallard. In the spaces between I managed a little music and a walk around Griffith Island.
Jim and Noel are well-known in festivals as comediennes, storytellers, reciters of comic and bush verse. Jim is also a prolific author, broadcaster, singer ... you'd be hard pushed to find more entertaining company!
Jim Haynes
Noel Stallard
When I'm at the Festival, I usually help Jim out with the Pat Glover Memorial Storytelling Award; this is one of the few storytelling awards in Australia. Over the years, I've seen the standard grow. People are thinking hard about their stories, crafting them and delivering them with heart. This year the stand out was Kath Stewart's story of rebuilding life after the 2009 bush fires. She told her story with strength and courage. It is and will remain one of the highlights for me of Port Fairy. Superb!
L-R Rob English. me, Kath, Jim
