Those who know me, know that I love festivals. I love the moosh of ideas, the opportunity to share work and to enjoy what others have been creating. In my neighbourhood, June is the best. First is the Williamstown Literary Festival , aka the Willy Lit Fest. On the west side of the Birrarung (Yarra River), it was, and I think still is, the largest literary event west of the city of Naarm (Melbourne).

The festival like all, has struggled to get back on its feet after Covid. But back it is - with more OOMPH! than ever. The program this year was packed - something for everyone. As well as bringing in events and authors from afar, locals always have a place.

The Home Grown Hobsons Bay table with author Alison Stuart

Sessions are rolled out in the many rooms inside the magnificent Williamstown Town Hall. The ball room is set up as a hub, filled with displays including the festival book shop Book and Paper. Several years ago the Hobsons Bay Library created a Facebook group to connect local writers. Home Grown Hobsons Bay is ever increasing and we always have a table in the hub.

Following the WLF is the Newport Folk Festival, hosted by the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club. Newport is where i live and I’m an enthusiastic folkie. I’ve participated in many of the groups that operate within the Club, learned to play the ukulele and hold a harmony but I found my home in the choir and I coordinate the Newport Storytellers. The Storytellers kicked off the Saturday with a Breakfast Show. Not an easy gig starting at 8.30 am!

My friend and collaborator Sarah Depasquale and me sharing a selkie tale at the Breakfast Show.

World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of oral storytelling marked on or around March 20. I’ve been involved in countless gatherings over the years and even during the worst years of Covid. But to be honest, the strain of being chirpy during the lockdowns and isolation took its toll.

However I’m surrounded by wonderful people who love the art of spoken story as much as I do, and fueled by their enthusiasm, we created an awesome event inviting storytellers and musicians from around the world into our patch.

We had two sessions - one for Children and following that - one for All Ages. We had access to technology so we dropped a big screen and enjoyed guests from India, NSW, Bangladesh and Canada. We had stories from Japan, Poland, Germany and Kazakhstan. The second session was recorded by one of our members, Adrian Newington - for others to enjoy and as a memory of a fabulous day.

This was a celebration from the grass roots - local community enjoying connection.

Having fun with Sarah Depasquale as we settle in to tell our story (photo: Gerry Nelson)

I’m part of community of people who gather under the name - Newport Storytellers. It’s a long story how it came to be but I’m the current coordinator of the regular monthly events. We’ve had a few adventures over the years and we’ve even made a podcast!

Well … this was VERY fun.

My co-creator of A Shorebird Flying Adventure (CSIRO), Milly Formby AKA Microlight Milly, was passing through my patch - Hobsons Bay, Victoria. Milly and I worked on the book in separate parts of the country, meeting face to face only once. Being able to hook up on-line made it all possible. So we were pretty excited to be able to get together, visit schools and just hang out.

Heading off with Microlight Milly on some school adventures.

It was mid October and Milly had been traveling for over four months. She made it to Hobsons Bay in 19 flight legs having covered over 4,000 kilometres and and after visiting 44 schools and she was only a third of the way.

The purpose of the grand adventure is to raise awareness for migratory shorebirds and one of the ways of doing this, is visiting schools and sharing our book.

It was a buzz to see how switched on and knowledgeable the students and teachers are when it comes to matters of the environment. With months of endless rain and grey skies dragging everyone down, Milly’s visits are a joy. As I write this, she is now at Merimbula on the east coast and today she was live-streaming the activities of some Bar-tailed godwits; it’s amazing what can be done with a ‘scope and a mobile phone.

If your reading this, and haven’t already registered for a visit from Milly, and you live north of Merimbula, hope onto her website and put your name down. WING THREADS. And you can order our book HERE