Word is out. Stories of Influence is back over the March long weekend and is a meeting place for storytellers, listeners and thinkers.
The Stories of Influence event will be held from March 6-8 at Lake Tyers Beach Hall, Oneonta and the Waterwheel Tavern.
Grattan Mullett shares his journey of learning and culture. Rachael Lucas, ABC journalist, not only brokers the stories, but speaks of her own.
New presenters making the trip to Lake Tyers Beach Hall include Aviva Reed and Chris Flynn.
Aviva is a gifted storyteller using gorgeous art and rhyming text accessible to all ages in her book Eon: the story of fossils (2017).
Chris Flynn’s Mammoth (2020) is told from ancient bones in conversation with each other. It is quirky, irreverent and insightful linking narratives and history. An insider story inviting everyone to think about themselves.
Local artists, Di Deppeler and Jenny Toyes, reflect on the impact of the Gippsland Women’s Network that united rural communities and put rural women on a world stage.
Published as an ebook, Artbeat of the Country (2020), the stories give insight into a regional response initiated by farmer, Mary Salce, to global market changes of the dairy industry leaving the European Common Market.
Johnny Mallagh, leader of the first Indigenous men’s cricket team to play in the United Kingdom in 1868, was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of fame in 2019. Women now play football and soccer on a national and international arena. This didn’t just happen.
Hear from creative writers Fiona Crawford and Lee McGowan talking about their book Never Say Die: the hundred year overnight success of women’s football (2019).
Listen to Todd Cook sing tracks from his album Silent Boat (2018) of how the indigenous cricketers had to steal away from the reserve in Harrow without food, money or recognition.
Thanks to sponsorship, Stories of Influence is delighted to welcome legendary singer/songwriter Neil Murray’s return to East Gippsland.
Many know Neil’s songs that weave words and music around issues close to our hearts. Lyrics that resonate as we navigate these uncertain times. Todd shares the stage with Neil on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Mallacoota’s Don Ashby hosts a musical exchange of stories, songs and their thoughts on life between Jan Wositzky and Neil Murray, both distinctive Australian musicians and storytellers.
Influential stories change people. Shane Rees and Leanne Flaherty reflect on initiatives towards reconciliation and healing since learning of Warrigal Creek Massacres in 2018.
Grace and Jack Whadcoat published Whisper Lake Tyers in 2017, with an invitation to move quietly in this landscape to listen and not destroy this sanctuary.
An invitation embraced by Friends of Oneonta (Place of Peace) is where Stories of Influence begins with a walk.
Stories of Influence continues thanks to passionate local people. This has been a difficult year and poet Andrew Spiker will pay tribute to Sue Fraser.
There will be others who are spoken of at the fireside gathering on Sunday night when you are invited to take instruments, stories and poems – to engage in quieter conversations.
An oral history workshop with Jan “Yarn” Wositzky’ will be held. As well as being on stage, Jan has been an oral historian, putting together books, radio programs and stage performances. He will talk about ethics of oral history and process of working with other people’s stories.
Stories of Influence is more than entertainment, it is about who we are as Australians and is recognised as a Regional Presenter by Melbourne City of Literature.
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Stories of Influence returns to Lake Tyers Beach over the March long weekend with singer/songwriter, Neil Murray, performing on the Saturday night. (PS)
