Kamishibai story travelling the Flyway: Williamstown Literary Festival 2015

This is a kamishibai story about the migration of the Red Necked Stints from SE Australia to Siberia and back. 

Its been passed down the East Asian Australasian Flyway from the Yatsuhigata Tideland Observation Centre in Narashino City Japan, to Boondall Wetland in Brisbane in 2008, to me in Hobsons Bay (SE Australia) in 2015. 

I'm standing on the Strand in Newport. You can see Melbourne in the background. Directly behind me is Sandy Point, where I can observe the stints from September to March. A tiny piece of land 12 ks from the CBD. Thank you to the council, the rangers, the Friends of Greenwich Bay - how fragile it all is! I wonder what we could send back along the Flyway to the wetlands in the countries to the north?

So if I seem Kamishibai obsessed, I think you might understand why. A mode of storytelling that leaps language barriers ..

I'm working on a storytelling piece with friend and classical violinist, Sarah Depasquale for the WIlliamstown Literary Festival called 'Tales from the Flyway'. This will be one of the tales.

Bookings HERE

This is the video that sparked my interest.

JP JUNIOR EVERLASTING BOOKS, an off shoot of JP Books (Educational Books)

Holding the fort for my good friend Dharma who is the driver behind JP Junior Everlasting Books, an off shoot of JP Books Educational Bookseller.

Everlasting Books specialises in selected picture books and favourites from a bygone era.

Dharma and I met through the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club almost a decade ago and quickly formed a bond over the ukulele and and interest in telling stories to the very young. Its not for the faint-hearted! Dharma has more songs and rhymes in her head than anyone I know. As our lives have grown busier and more complex, we have fewer opportunities to tell stories together but we always take time to do a session for the Newport Folk Festival the weekend of July 4 -5.

Every Thursday at 11.00 am, she tells stories and sings to small children and their carers. In over six years, she has never missed a session until the opportunity to go to Bali for a holiday came along.

It was my pleasure to sit in her place - but let me tell they are a very big pair of boots to fill!

Everlasting Books in Yarraville HERE

Family Fun Day National Rhododendron Gardens. 2015

Telling stories with my new Kamishibai rig. These gardens are on Mt Dandenong just out of Melbourne. Home to the Lyrebird, which you can see painted on my dress. The new set up worked perfectly! The Kamishibai is tilted so the children could see easily without crowding around. Home tired and happy.

World Storytelling Day 2015

This year the theme for World Storytelling Day is 'wishes'. With the help of my friend Gerry Nelson, I recorded my very first Kamishibai story. Hmm perhaps I have stretched the concept of the wish a little, but hey! What the heck!

Enjoy ...

Making a Kamishibai rig for my bike.

So much as I love my wooden Kamishibai stage made by my friend Ted Smith, it is just too precious for the the rough and tumble gigs. So I decided to try and make a lighter one.

Turns out, we had some super thick cardboard in the shed - industrial strength.

I'll let the pictures tell the story. Suffice to say - I have been enjoying myself, I think it looks fabulous and it works!

House Concert for Storyteller Taffy Thomas

It was thrill to learn a few months back, that revered UK storyteller Taffy Thomas would be visiting Victoria. Storytelling Australia Victoria tried to get Taffy into some public venues but at such short notice - it was just not possible. The 'big houses' in town plan a year ahead.

So we opened up the doors to our home and hosted a 'Welcome Taffy Thomas House Concert'. Here are few pics from the day.

Taffy was the first Storytelling Laureate in the UK and held that position for two years. Some time ago, he acquired a Tale Coat". This coat is an exquisite piece of work crafted by one of Britain's finest textile artists.  We were lucky to see it up close.

 The House Concert was made possible by the support of Storytelling friends from Storytelling Australia Victoria, Jan Wositzky and Teena Hartnett. Other contributors included musicians Michael Stewart and Bruce Williams from the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club. It was documented by Gerry Nelson and Alex Kharnam and in time we hope to have some of it up on you tube so others can enjoy.

Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival 2015

A TASTE OF STORY

It was a last minute decision to put together a storytelling tent for the Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival.

Story mate, Kate Lawrence and I,  are convinced that stories have a place in amongst the stalls promoting solar energy and bio char! I mean ... what could be a more sustainable activity than oral storytelling? It has certainly endured the test of time.

It was exhausting, but our marquee looked brilliant and I would do it all again. We promoted our storytelling organisation, Storytelling Australia Victoria and local storytellers Peter Fernon and Suzanne Sandow made a splash.

Now we are dreaming about story tents!