
ABOVE: Bronte
Leave behind your world-weariness and allow yourself to be enchanted at ‘Stories in the Club’, on Sunday, June 9, as members of Mullum Magic Toastmasters weave tales of life, transformation and wonder, from 4 pm at the Mullum Ex-Services Club. The tellers range in age and experience, but all are passionate to spin their tales and have been practicing avidly. You will hear short tales from Sam Johns, Shona Anderson, Lulu Starman, Bruce Long, Ashni Murdolo and Bronte Alexander.
Louise Harrison, President of Mullum Magic Toastmasters, as well as a beloved member of the Stories in the Club team, curated the tellers. Louise will MC, along with curator Jenni Cargill-Strong, and may tell a short story if there is time. Bronte Alexander is currently undertaking a PhD with a focus on forced migration and mobility. Her story ‘Little Lion’ reflects the pains and promises of dealing with anxiety in a life full of pressures. After Sam Johns sold his cocktail bar in Sydney’s northern beaches, he wondered what next? He then stumbled upon Agroforestry and now lives on a farm in Murwillumbah, learning how to farm the natural way and living his own ‘happy ever after’. Writer, performer and gardener Shona Anderson, who told a beautifully crafted story in 2017 at Stories in the Club, will tell ‘The woman who gave birth to rocks’. Lulu Starman loves living close to nature, surrounded by animals and she loves the way stories can reveal beautiful essential truths, which she hopes to convey in her tale, The Girl in the Tower. Bruce Long, will tell of his journey from being a conservative potato farmer in Gippsland, and moving to the Rainbow region to experience an alternative way of thinking and living. Longtime local and Italian teacher, Ashni Murdolo loves the wild nature here. Born in Melbourne to Italian parents, Ashni lived a dual life – an Australian out in the world, while living in a little Italy while at home. She will share the immigrant tale of love and destiny that her students so love to hear. Entry by suggested donation of $10. WHEN: Sunday, June 9, 4 pm – 5.30 pm WHERE: Mullum Ex-Services Club, Byron Shire, Australia COST: Suggested donation of $10. ABOVE: Louise, Sam, Shona, Lulu, Bruce

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...

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...
