Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival 2016

How I ended up at the Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival is a long and convoluted story.
Suffice to say,  I got the job of coordinating the storytelling component.

The idea was to put storytelling into the heart of the Festival, not as an after-thought in a tent on the other side of the port-a-loos (as can happen at festivals).

The organisers gave us space in a tent well equipped with sound gear, a skilled and patient tech (Leith) and a bar at the back. We had prime spots in the program on Friday and Saturday nights for adult stories and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for family sessions.

Friday crowds were treated to The Grimm, rehearsed readings of favourite tales with the remarkable Dean Stephenson accompanied by Kelly Ottaway and Julius Schwing.

 Saturday, mother and son storytelling team Emily and Ben Conolan captured the hearts of their listeners. Ben, at only seven, is on top of his craft and they are an inspiration to others to have a go. If Ben was the youngest storyteller at the festival, Phil Rush would have been the oldest. Illustrating his tales with chalk drawings, his tales are captivating.

On Sunday Phil was back with Tara Smith. Tara has a warmth and a way with riddles and soon had the children on their toes.


The big event we had been working on, was the Inaugural Huon Valley Storyteller's Cup. This took place on the Saturday evening with seven, very talented storytellers vying for the gorgeous hand crafted Huon Pine Cup (sculptured by Brad Moss).


Competitions aren't for everyone but they can up the ante and create opportunities in unexpected ways. On Saturday night, storytellers sang, chanted, spoke and animated, funny, poignant and whimsical tales.

The undisputed winner was Georgia Lucy who turned in a spectacular performance. Pictured here (left) with one of the Judges Kirsha Kaeshele.

The festival is held around the Willie Smiths Apple Shed and paddocks. The orchards are wassailed, the Morris Dances are let lose and the cider flows. We have so many festivals in Australia but this would have to be one of the loveliest. Well wort a trip to Tassie in Mid Winter.

Many thanks to Martin Jefferd my UK storytelling friend who suggested that storytelling be given a boost at the festival and for his faith in me to put the plan into action!