Uncle Shane Clarke conducts the welcome/smoking ceremony for the Phillip Island Festival of Stories. Photo: Geoff Ellis By Samiro Douglas
WORDS such as fantastic, amazing and DEADLY filled the space as the doors opened after each session. Wide smiles and a vibe of delight and creativity was everywhere. It was exactly what all of us on the committee had hoped for.
The presenters told stories of hardship, inspiration, and dreams. Sailing the wild seas, of creating new characters out of past life moments, the history of the harsh practices used in the Parramatta women’s prison still repeating itself in our present day treatment of asylum seekers.
WORDS such as fantastic, amazing and DEADLY filled the space as the doors opened after each session. Wide smiles and a vibe of delight and creativity was everywhere. It was exactly what all of us on the committee had hoped for.
The presenters told stories of hardship, inspiration, and dreams. Sailing the wild seas, of creating new characters out of past life moments, the history of the harsh practices used in the Parramatta women’s prison still repeating itself in our present day treatment of asylum seekers.
We were wooed by the cheeky spirit of a living legend, Uncle Jack Charles and the truth he shared about his early life at the treatment of government policies, and finding his brother and sisters. He delighted of sharing his early role in the film The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith with the author Tom Keneally sitting in the audience. What a great moment for both of them.
The room was full to capacity for Conversations on Sovereignty and Treaty. The panel led with such respect by Kutcha Edwards and before we knew it the panel had expanded to include other indigenous audience members, each with their own perspective and story leaving the audience thinking anew about this issue of national importance.
Kevin Kropinyeri had us all laughing both on and off the stage and Denise Scott wrapped it up as the audience roared.
Topping it all off two days later we found out we had the 2019 Miles Franklin Award winner in our presence, Melissa Lucashenko.
It’s an honor to be part of the strong and committed group. The bar is high but we will be ready to have another go for next year. Thank to everyone!
Samiro Douglas is a member of the Island Story Gatherers Committee, which organizes the festival.
The room was full to capacity for Conversations on Sovereignty and Treaty. The panel led with such respect by Kutcha Edwards and before we knew it the panel had expanded to include other indigenous audience members, each with their own perspective and story leaving the audience thinking anew about this issue of national importance.
Kevin Kropinyeri had us all laughing both on and off the stage and Denise Scott wrapped it up as the audience roared.
Topping it all off two days later we found out we had the 2019 Miles Franklin Award winner in our presence, Melissa Lucashenko.
It’s an honor to be part of the strong and committed group. The bar is high but we will be ready to have another go for next year. Thank to everyone!
Samiro Douglas is a member of the Island Story Gatherers Committee, which organizes the festival.
The Post invited readers to nominate their favourite sessions from last weekend’s Festival of Stories. Most found it hard to stick to one!
 Beau Vernon Bob Davie: I enjoyed every presentation I was able to attend in different ways. I laughed tears of joy and sadness at Beau Vernon's amazing presentation and I laughed till I cried at Denise Scott as I have a warped sense of humour! Then to hold the only Nobel Peace Prize presented to an Australian anti-nuclear group and hear the story was a sobering reaction. Tom & Meg Keneally’s amazing dialogue, memory and humour. Uncle Jack Charles and Kutcha … I loved the banter and heartfelt sad journey they have both experienced, unfortunately in my lifetime. Bob Davie  Uncle Jack Charles John Adams: I related to the stories of Uncle Jack Charles … to the ups and downs of his life, but especially his contribution to Aboriginal Theatre with his friend Torres Strait Islander Bob Maza. It was Bob who, back in the 1960s, taught me so much about Indigenous Culture. Both of us loved the weekend.  Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng Jan Fleming: I really enjoyed Jeff Hansen (Sea Shepherd) for his clarity, his single mindedness, and for the passion and endurance with which the Sea Shepherd team have tackled huge environmental issues. A passion I share. Also Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng, I loved the story of her life in Canberra dealing with politicians, it was very funny. Her courage in the face of adversity was inspiring. An exceptional person.  Jeff Hansen Julie Statkus: When she was nine my granddaughter heard a tragic story on the news and wanted some reassurance from me. I told her I was optimistic for the future as many people are doing great things to help the world but we don’t always hear about it. Jeff Hansen from Sea Shepherd provided me with the same reassurance in his address at the Festival of Stories. He cited the analogy of the earth as a spaceship with the option of us becoming crew or remaining passengers. I will take it back to my granddaughter. I enjoyed all the sessions I attended but this was a standout for me. Congratulations and thank you to all involved. |  Michael Veitch Judy Lawrence: Michael Veitch’s story of the dreaded Hell ship Ticonderoga, which has a direct link to his great grandfather, was riveting. I thoroughly enjoyed Pam Rothfield’s history on the first residents of the Phillip Island Cemetery and the incredible detail and information she obtained through her in-depth research. But probably my favourite was listening to Beau Vernon’s amazing journey from his dreadful accident playing footy to his inspiring, dynamic and rewarding life he now leads. What a story! And then we had an hour of laughter with Denise Scott to wrap up the proceedings. A truly wonderful festival with something for everyone. I look forward to next year. Jennifer Coate and Helga Kernke: Thank you so much to all who contributed to the wonderful Festival of Stories last weekend. We found the whole festival so engaging and uplifting. We moved from sessions where we felt challenged intellectually by stories presenters generously and expertly shared, to those in which we could be entertained by those with a gift for humour and the quirks of the human condition. Congratulations to the festival committee who have added an important dimension to Phillip Island.  Tom Keneally and Adama Cope Adam Cope: The Festival of Stories was a great weekend. I met other writers including Tom Keneally. I listened to their stories. They listened to mine.  Sue Maslin Catherine Watson: So much good stuff. I was enthralled by Kucha Edward's chat with Uncle Jack Charles. What a performer! But the session that has reverberated in my mind is Sue Maslin’s talk on truth telling in film. I was fascinated to hear the veteran filmmaker explain the nuts and bolts of her craft. She talked about whose stories get told and whose are ignored. She made the point that no matter how wild the premise of a story, it will still resonate with audiences if it holds underlying truths. |