Brian Nankervis will be bringing stories, poetry and music to the Festival of Stories Saturday night session. With special guest Jane Clifton. By Catherine Watson
IT’S back! After a three-year break, the Phillip Island Festival of Stories returns on November 18 in Bass Coast’s new cultural home, Berninneit.
The first three festivals (2017-19) established their credentials for innovative and themed programming. This was far more than a marketplace for authors to spruik their books.
The 2019 festival was a triumph, featuring a Booker prize winner (Thomas Kenneally), a Nobel Peace Prize winner (Dave Sweeney) and a Miles Franklin Award winner Melissa Lucashenko, plus the legendary writer/actor/performer Uncle Jack Charles in conversation with local musician and storyteller Kutcha Edwards.
IT’S back! After a three-year break, the Phillip Island Festival of Stories returns on November 18 in Bass Coast’s new cultural home, Berninneit.
The first three festivals (2017-19) established their credentials for innovative and themed programming. This was far more than a marketplace for authors to spruik their books.
The 2019 festival was a triumph, featuring a Booker prize winner (Thomas Kenneally), a Nobel Peace Prize winner (Dave Sweeney) and a Miles Franklin Award winner Melissa Lucashenko, plus the legendary writer/actor/performer Uncle Jack Charles in conversation with local musician and storyteller Kutcha Edwards.
That set a very high standard but organisers must rebuild the momentum after the long break, due to Covid and the demolition of the old Cowes cultural centre. Uncertainty over the opening of the new cultural centre means this year’s festival is a one-day event as opposed to a weekend event.
Festival co-founder Kay Setches said the organising committee were delighted when they were offered November 18 in Berninneit. “It’s going to be lovely to be in the new space. We’ll all be feeling our way!”
She said they were keen to give festival goers good value for their money. “We know people are feeling the pinch.” Tickets are $65 for the day sessions on Saturday, $35 for the Saturday evening session and $95 for a festival pass, which includes a Sunday morning session at Corinella’s La Provincia Vineyard and Café.
Indigenous writers and other storytellers have been a consistent feature of the Festival of Stories and that’s the case again this year. The festival opens with a smoking ceremony and welcome in the forecourt, followed by a session on deep listening and truth-telling with a panel featuring Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir, Uncle Steve Ulula Parker and Daniel Church. The host is Dr Laura Brearley, intercultural and environmental arts specialist.
One of the marquee events is the appearance of Lorin Clarke , the creator of the award-winning Fitzroy Diaries, which was broadcast on Radio National. Her recent book, Would That Be Funny? is a family memoir about life with her father, Kiwi satirist John Clarke, her mother, art historian Helen McDonald, and her sister, Lucia.
Kay says the family’s long connection with the island was the drawcard for Lorin. “We hope she brings a lot of people in with her!”
Tickets are on sale at Trybooking. For more information on the festiuval, visit Phillip Island Festival of Stories.
Festival co-founder Kay Setches said the organising committee were delighted when they were offered November 18 in Berninneit. “It’s going to be lovely to be in the new space. We’ll all be feeling our way!”
She said they were keen to give festival goers good value for their money. “We know people are feeling the pinch.” Tickets are $65 for the day sessions on Saturday, $35 for the Saturday evening session and $95 for a festival pass, which includes a Sunday morning session at Corinella’s La Provincia Vineyard and Café.
Indigenous writers and other storytellers have been a consistent feature of the Festival of Stories and that’s the case again this year. The festival opens with a smoking ceremony and welcome in the forecourt, followed by a session on deep listening and truth-telling with a panel featuring Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir, Uncle Steve Ulula Parker and Daniel Church. The host is Dr Laura Brearley, intercultural and environmental arts specialist.
One of the marquee events is the appearance of Lorin Clarke , the creator of the award-winning Fitzroy Diaries, which was broadcast on Radio National. Her recent book, Would That Be Funny? is a family memoir about life with her father, Kiwi satirist John Clarke, her mother, art historian Helen McDonald, and her sister, Lucia.
Kay says the family’s long connection with the island was the drawcard for Lorin. “We hope she brings a lot of people in with her!”
Tickets are on sale at Trybooking. For more information on the festiuval, visit Phillip Island Festival of Stories.
Festival guests
 Uncle Steve Ulula Parker is a Traditional Custodian of Boonwurrung Country. He is an artist, musician, performer, cultural educator and a mentor of Indigenous youth. He is a strong believer in sharing his culture with non-Indigenous people so all can be proud of the culture we have in our Country.  Lorin Clarke’s recent book, Would That Be Funny? is a family memoir about life with her father, Kiwi satirist John Clarke, her mother, art historian Helen McDonald, and her sister, Lucia. The family have spent their holidays at Phillip Island since the 1980s. |  Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir has demonstrated strong leadership and community service for over 40 years in Victoria in the fields of health, Koori prisoner programs, language revival, cultural advocacy and education. She is a freshwater and saltwater woman, with Wamba Wamba heritage on her father’s side and Boon Wurrung heritage on her mother’s side.  Daniel Church was born on Darug Country in NSW and is currently pursuing his creative arts practice on Gunaikurnai Country in Gippsland, Victoria. His family of carved and painted wooden pelicans is on display at the National Gallery of Victoria. |
 Sam Drummond’s memoir Broke explores downward mobility, housing insecurity, regional disadvantage, intergenerational trauma and a system that ultimately lets down our most vulnerable people. While set in the 1990s, the lessons resonate with extra importance today.  |  Megan Rogers tells the story of how she went from being a work-from-home mum to getting her debut novel published. The Heart is a Star was bid on by five major Australian publishers and was in the end signed by HarperCollins Australia.  |
The winners of the 2021 and 2022 Bass Coast Prize for Non-Fiction, Rees Quilford and Lucinda Bain, explore approaches to writing creative non-fiction in a Q&A session. They will also launch the second Bass Coast Prize for Non-Fiction anthology of prize winning stories from 2021 and 2022.