Blog ~ The Story Tree | Jenni Cargill-Strong

May Stories in the Club: Courage

Apr 22, 2019 | Australian stories, Folk Tales, Local stories, Storytelling

On Sunday, May 12, please join us for Welcome from Athol Compton who joins us most months, plus stories on the theme of Courage from a mostly male line up of tellers: Joseph Raya, Martin Killips...

February Stories in the Club: What Do You Stand For?

Jan 28, 2019 | environmental storytelling, Green Storytelling, Local stories, Public Performances, social justice, Storytelling

Our first community storytelling gathering for 2019 is coming up on Sunday, February 10. We have a new format too which feels exciting. For me, coming together in community and sharing stories rekindles my...

The Fairy at the Top of the Christmas Tree

Dec 24, 2018 | Christmas story, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Stories of the feminine, Storytelling

Each year I repost this sweet Christmas tale, which has no mention of Santa, but a focus on trees and forests, connection to earth. You can also listen to my retelling via Soundcloud. I hope you retell to the young ones in your life, perhaps under your Christmas tree...

October Stories in the Club: Getting Here: Migration

Sep 18, 2018 | Storytelling

Tellers: Jan Olley, Bobbi Allan, John Imbrogno, Alicia Vella, Luis Santos and Jenni Cargill-Strong Jan Olley is the coordinator of Byron Bird Buddies and sits on the Regional Advisory Committee for National Parks. She grew up in the Northern Rivers and trained as an...

Celebrating a year of community storytelling

Aug 22, 2018 | Australian stories, Byron Bay, Stories of the feminine, Storytelling

‘Stories in the Club’ did already turn one in August, but as we were at the Byron Theatre, we didn't eat birthday cake. However, on September 9, this will be rectified as we celebrate a year of community storytelling at our beloved home venue of the Mullumbimby...

LIVE STORYTELLING: STORIES OF PLACE, Byron Bay Writer’s Festival

Jul 26, 2018 | Aboriginal stories, Australian stories, Byron Bay, environmental storytelling, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Local stories, Public Performances, Storytelling

In August, 'Stories in the Club' celebrates our first birthday. Excitingly, on Saturday, August 4, we are a Feature Event of The Byron Bay Writer's Festival as 'Live Storytelling: Stories of Place'. (NB: NOT the second Sunday and NOT at the Club!) Please join us!!...

July ‘Stories in the Club: Back to the Garden’

Jun 26, 2018 | Storytelling

Our July theme for 'Stories in the Club: Drawn from Life' is 'Back to the Garden', and was partly inspired by Joni Mitchell's classic song 'Woodstock', which has become a bit of a theme song for 'Stories in the Club', as...

Winter Solstice and the rekindling of the light

Jun 24, 2018 | social justice, Storytelling

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” As we passed through the darkest night of the Winter Solstice, there was some pretty dark political news gathering on the horizon overseas and here in Oz. I found myself...

JUNE ‘Stories in the Club’ Earth Love

May 28, 2018 | Aboriginal stories, Australian stories, Byron Bay, environmental storytelling, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Local stories, Public Performances, social justice, Storytelling

Northern Rivers story lovers are invited to gather on Sunday, June 10 for ‘Stories in the Club: Drawn from Life’ on a theme of ‘Earth Love’, as it falls a week after World Environment Day. Ten minute oral stories will be shared by Athol Compton, Dr Eshana Bragg,...

May Stories in the Club Adult Fairytales

May 23, 2018 | Storytelling

On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13 our 'Stories in the Club' theme was 'Adult Fairytales'. There were slightly less people than usual, but still we had 80 storylovers. Tellers were Teeya Blatt, Ollie Heathwood, John Imbrogno, Sarah Temporal and Jenni Cargill-Strong....

April Stories in the Club explores Sexuality

Mar 28, 2018 | Storytelling

April’s 'Stories in the Club' theme is Sexuality. Tales will be told by Mandy Nolan, Ron van Twuiver, Aditya Bellah Moon, Jude White, Spiral Orbit and Jenni Cargill-Strong. Mandy Nolan, best known in her role as comedian, comedy teacher and generous community...

Stories of Creativity at March ‘Stories in the Club’

Mar 19, 2018 | Aboriginal stories, Australian stories, Byron Bay, environmental storytelling, Folk Tales, Local stories, Public Performances, Storytelling

March’s theme was Creativity and tellers were Athol Compton, Simone O’Brien, Suvira McDonald, Oonagh omZUna, Charlie Starret and me, Jenni Cargill-Strong. Each teller got 10 mins. Thanks to our wonderful photographer, Eva. Lots more photo's on FB here. Athol Compton...

First ‘Stories in the Club: Drawn from Life’ for 2018 and a record crowd

Feb 12, 2018 | Aboriginal stories, Australian stories, Byron Bay, environmental storytelling, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Local stories, Public Performances, social justice, Stories of the feminine, Storytelling, Water stories

We attracted a capacity crowd last night with all 140 chairs taken! Forty people had to sit on the tables, the only thing left to sit on. There were 180-200 people all together. Athol Compton, traditional Minyunbul custodian of the First Light people (Bunjalung), gave...

OCTOBER Stories in the Club

Oct 18, 2017 | Australian stories, environmental storytelling, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Local stories, Public Performances, social justice, Storytelling

On a beautiful October afternoon in Mullumbimby, the hall adorned with John Allan’s spectacular, fragrant orchids evoking Spring, a crowd of 100 sat still and silent, as they were regaled with five powerful and diverse stories from Gabby le Brun of The Cassettes,...

Joyality with Jenni in Mullum

Oct 16, 2017 | environmental storytelling, Green Storytelling, Resources, social justice, Storytelling

Do you ever feel overwhelmed or disempowered by the state of the world? I have- intensely and often. Last year, this feeling collided with a personal challenge I was having with someone very close to me. I became quite depressed and unwell and lost my ordinarily...

September Stories in the Club

Sep 30, 2017 | Aboriginal stories, Australian stories, Byron Bay, environmental storytelling, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Local stories, Public Performances, Storytelling

Last month Frank Mills in conversation with Malcolm Price, charmed 100 storylovers at the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club with portraits of the changing roles of women in Byron from the 30’s to the 60’s. “When I looked at photo’s of past history,” began Frank, “ I could...

The Story Bird

Sep 11, 2017 | Storytelling

Just heard from the editor of 'The Northerly', The Byron Bay Writer's Festival magazine The Northerly, that he has published my poem in the current issue (p22). I was prompted to write this poem by the Volunteer Poetry competition, again organised by the dynamic...

‘Stories in the Club’ warmly embraced

Aug 26, 2017 | Storytelling

The inaugural ‘Stories in the Club' was very warmly embraced by the local community on Sunday, August 13 at the Muillumbimby Ex-Services Club, with six diverse tellers, including local custodian and former screen actor Athol Compton; activist and actor, Tony Barry;...

Stories in the Club coming very soon!

Jul 30, 2017 | Aboriginal stories, Australian stories, Byron Bay, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Local stories, Public Performances, social justice, Stories of the feminine, Storytelling, The value of oral storytelling

It is getting very exciting as the first 'Stories in the Club' Concert date draws closer, enthusiasm in the community is building and people are coming forward to offer wonderful tales of place and hope. August and September concerts are now full! August tellers will...

Stories in the Club: Tales of Place, Tales of Hope

Jun 29, 2017 | Aboriginal stories, Australian stories, Byron Bay, environmental storytelling, Folk Tales, Green Storytelling, Learning to tell stories, Local stories, Public Performances, Storytelling

I am excited to announce that I am launching a new community storytelling concert series, beginning the afternoon of Sunday, August 13, with the support from Ngara Institute and Creative Mullumbimby. Good stories can be road maps for a life well lived. In these times...