REFLECTIONS ON THE 2023 CONFERENCE

Imagine a settlement of storytellers. A world of tales gathered in one place, sharing stories from their homes, their nations, and their hearts. Changing the world story by story. Some bring perspectives on peace, some bring lessons from history, journeys and transitions, personal anecdotes, culture, faerie folk. Hearts lift, smiles radiate, skills build in every workshop. This incredible conference was so welcomed back to a heart of Sydney by the Australian Storytelling Guild, New South Wales.

Once again, the story quilt was hung, the weaving began, and moments were woven into one amazing event. Strangely, for a storyteller, I can barely find words to describe the heart, breadth, and depth of sharing and learning. Connections through Facebook and LinkedIn became real people, real story-friends, promises to meet again at other festivals. Covid times seemed so far away, barely a mask was seen, as old friends hugged in joy and settled in for concerts, workshops and story circles late into the night. What storyteller doesn’t want one more tale for the road? New friends found the enthusiasm and connections infectious.

The immersive nature of this story conference embraces the attendees like a warm winter cloak of many colours, from bird song-filled dawn to late into the night hosted at St Joseph's Conference Centre in Baulkham Hills. Each night we went to bed to digest the many metaphors and lessons of the day, along with the fine catering that gave us fuel to see the long days through.

Some came to see what storytelling was all about and left enamoured and excited. Some had been telling for over 50 years. All wanted to share. There never was a quiet moment. The rapt faces turned towards each teller, some with music, some with paper puppets, some with just enough English to bring their tales to the International audience – with so many great storytelling skills, the language was almost irrelevant – we got it. There were 18 nations here including UK, US, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Turkiye, Vietnam, Iran, Israel, China..a mini United Nations.

Steven came for his 70th birthday present from his daughter all the way from US, his daughter Lynsey became the official photographer and told her first tales, South Korea had the most amazing poster presentation on their incredible School of Storytelling, UK’s Talking Stories represented next to other podcasts in the poster room, alongside The Australian Fairytale Society, FEAST (Federation of Asian Storytellers) promoting their upcoming festival in Jakarta.

There is much to learn and share in a world full of stories and the need to feed the ancient human desire to understand their worlds, their lives through stories.

I came across from Aotearoa / New Zealand, where people still remember the Glistening Waters Festival of Wairarapa so many years ago now, to be part of this coming together of tellers and sharing of the craft. I appreciate the effort to maintain connection and cross-pollinate that the Australian storytelling scene has made and kept over the years. I was reminded I first attended in 2012.

My customs agent asked me as I left Australia “What was the conference?” “Storytelling.” I said. And then her face lit up – because we all love a good story.