Blog
The Fairy at the Top of the Christmas Tree
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...
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October Stories in the Club: Getting Here: Migration
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...
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Celebrating a year of community 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...
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LIVE STORYTELLING: STORIES OF PLACE, Byron Bay Writer’s Festival
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!!...
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July ‘Stories in the Club: Back to the Garden’
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...
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Winter Solstice and the rekindling of the light
“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...
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JUNE ‘Stories in the Club’ Earth Love
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,...
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May Stories in the Club Adult Fairytales
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....
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April Stories in the Club explores Sexuality
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...
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Stories of Creativity at March ‘Stories in the Club’
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...
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First ‘Stories in the Club: Drawn from Life’ for 2018 and a record crowd
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...
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OCTOBER Stories in the Club
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,...
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Joyality with Jenni in Mullum
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...
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September Stories in the Club
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...
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The Story Bird
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...
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‘Stories in the Club’ warmly embraced
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;...
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Stories in the Club coming very soon!
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...
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Stories in the Club: Tales of Place, Tales of Hope
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...
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Golden Tales
We held the last 'Golden Tales' concert a year ago on Sunday, June 12, 2016 the Brunswick Community Centre was fantastic. AFFORDABLE FOOD: Catered by Brunswick Liberation Larder for $5 a bowl of food or $5 for hot drink and cake WHERE: Brunswick Heads...
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Joyality
This is a guest post by my friends and colleagues Eshana Bragg and Rachel Taylor who co-created the wonderful course that is Joyality. Late last year I did the course as a participant and was so inspired, I decided to train as a facilitator. I will be co-facilitating...
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