Blog
Story Magic at Ipswich Story Arts Festival
When my colleagues and I told stories at GOMA's Fairytales exhibit, we got another delightful invitation. Jenny Stubbs, the hard working organiser of the Story Arts Festival in nearby Ipswich, asked us to tell on Saturday, 17 August. Anne E Stewart, Sue Robin and I...
‘The Rebirth of the Sun’ by Starhawk, a winter solstice story for families
'The Rebirth of the Sun' was published 'CIRCLE ROUND' by Starhawk and Diane Baker and Anne Hill, copyright (C) 2000 by Miriam Simas, Anne Hill and Diane Baker. * I adapted Starhawk's story for the Winter Solstice celebration of Northey Street City Farm, Brisbane,...
Fairytales Storytelling at Gallery of Modern Art
Late last year and early this year, I had the great pleasure of performing at the Queensland Gallery Art Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Brisbane, along with several colleagues. It was Fairy Tale Heaven for me. I tend to prefer folk tales over fairytales generally,...
Three Tips for Choosing a Story Soulfully
How do you choose a story in a soulful way? Well, sometimes you just need a history story for Year 9 tomorrow or a story on kindness for Preschoolers next week, and you haven't got the luxury or space to spend time contemplating and that is 100% OK! But when you DO...
A Story Calls at the Bentley Blockade
ABOVE: Anandan McEwen up a pole at Bentley Blockade, Pic Gasfield-free Our upcoming Brisbane 'World Storytelling Day' Concert on March 20, has the global theme, 'Together We Can'. I will tell an Indian folktale that insistently called me to tell it at The Bentley...
World Storytelling Day, March 20, 2023 ~ Meanjin
Join us, for an evening of soul food for adults as six, experienced tellers share short, polished tales on the theme 'Together We Can'. Each year, World Storytelling Day is celebrated by tellers all over the world. I am excited to announce that my storytelling friend...
Forbidden Doors, GenreCon 2023
What a thrill it was to present as a member of the #Australian Fairytale Society yesterday, alongside my inspiring colleagues, @Bettina Nissen and @Kathryn Gossow at GenreCon 2023 in the beautiful Qld State Library. GenreCon is predominantly for those in the writing...
The Fairy at the Top of the Christmas Tree
A story is a gift that lasts a lifetime. The story your child will remember the most, will probably be the one you tell them. That is why, each year I repost this sweet Solstice tale and encourage story lovers to have a go at telling it themselves in their own way. It...
Meanjin calling- the BIG move
Ballina Tales November
Last Sunday, we had a really beautiful Ballina Tales. The weather was warm, but the air con kept us cool. We had two storytellers and three singers. I began by telling a story of harvest and my journey of learning gardening. I showed the literal harvest from my...
Storytelling Foundations ~ introductory video
Do you want to learn how to tell a story soulfully? In this 15 minute video introduction to my new Storytelling Foundations training, I explain ~ three benefits of oral storytelling ~ four essential elements of an oral story ~ how the myth of Indra's Net...
Personal Storytelling
I taught a Personal Storytelling workshop on Saturday in Nimbin, organised by Rene Nowrie. Rene plans to start a Moth-like personal story event there next year called Nimbin Storytellers. Read the article below. What a glorious spring day it was! On the way, I visited...
October Ballina Tales
‘Ballina Tales' is a new cosy community event, combining story, poetry, song and simple circle dances. Each month, host and professional storyteller, Jenni Cargill-Strong who moved to Ballina in 2019, gently shines a story-light on a local community group. “During...
Personal Stories Workshop
Australian Fairytale Society Conference 2022 Brisbane
ABOVE: Selkie seal and woman, Painting by Jessica Shirley On Monday I came back from a fantastical weekend in Brisbane, having attended the Australian Fairytale Conference in Brisbane, run by the Australian Fairytale Society. On Sunday, I delighted in presenting a...
The Woman Who Was Afraid of the Rain
This is an original story told in the form of a folk tale. Below the story I explain background to the folktale motifs and story structure I incorporated. It is written to be told orally because I am a storyteller. In the oral tradition, a tale is honed and enriched,...
The Lismore Lantern Parade: Healing Our Hearts
The second winter solstice event event I was fortunate to attend was The Lismore Lantern Parade. (The first was a private fire event described here.) The theme this year, after the devastating catastrophic floods was 'Healing our Hearts'. Even though I was only mildly...
The Winter Solstice and Sacred Fire
ABOVE: A bower fire by Aunty Pixie Byrnes. I was very fortunate to experience two extremely beautiful, healing events this Winter Solstice. The first gathering was at a private home. When I arrived, the firewood had already been laid and covered in plastic....
The Sea Sprite and the Kelp Gardens: Upwelling and Marine Permaculture
IMAGE CREDIT : Diver in Water ~ John Cahil Rom ~ Pexels This video, 'The Sea Sprite and the Kelp Gardens: Upwelling and Marine Permaculture' is my attempt to use story to explain the natural phenomenon of Upwelling, which is key to understanding how Marine...
Lily, Me and My Strawberries
Lately, as I go to my strawberry bed each morning and gather a little bowl of strawberries, I have been feeling like Lily, the protagonist of my story, 'Lily and the Fig Tree'. This is the first season in years that I’ve managed to grow plump, tasty strawberries. I...
