Category Archives: social justice

“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 saddened but also a bit panickedContinue Reading

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, Maximo Bottaro, Hanna Nevarra, Henry Coleman andContinue Reading

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 welcome and told a beautiful version of ‘The Three Brothers’.Continue Reading

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, Death walker Zenith Virago, Ngara member Paul Josif, Pathways to Manhood facilitatorContinue Reading

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 strong motivation and direction. I felt like a butterflyContinue Reading

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 include well-known locals, traditional custodian and former screen actor, UncleContinue Reading

I entreat you. If you have never taken part in the One Billion Rising V Day flashmob dance in Byron Bay before, consider doing so this year. Then make a day of it and come to the rich and stimulating Vagina Conversations in the evening of the same day or the next. This is NOT aContinue Reading

As the power of story has been increasingly recognised, the quote ‘the best story wins’ (1) has enjoyed high circulation. Organisational storyteller, Annette Simmons used it in the title of a book and subsequent workshops. So let’s unpack for a bit, why stories are such a powerful way to communicate. We are hard-wired to process information in the formContinue Reading

Last weekend, the world saw the largest global rally on climate change in history. I was at the Byron gathering and had the great honour of telling the folktale of “Elephant and Hummingbird” to the 800 gathered. We live in interesting times. So I am focusing my story output on teaching environmental storytelling and using storyContinue Reading

Last week I wrote a blog in answer to the first of three questions Paul Bishop asked me about Green Storytelling. Before I got around to answering the rest of the questions, Paul came along to the workshop and filmed an interview me and I covered all the questions and more. (THANKS PAUL!!)    Continue Reading