A new community storytelling event will take place at the Ballina CWA Hall on Sunday September 11.
Taking place between 3.30 and 5.30pm, Ballina Tales will feature community stories, gentle harmonies from the Threshold Choir and simple, participative circle dances, lead by an experienced teacher.
The host will be storyteller and new Ballina local, Jenni Cargill-Strong.
‘Each month, the story-light will shine gently on a local community group,’ Ms Cargill-Strong says.
In September that will be Tintenbar Up Front (TUF), which turns 10 years old in September.
‘I was inspired to start a community story event after telling a story at TUF in 2016.
‘Peter Lino still leads a committed crew of TUF volunteers who put on the popular monthly performance night which delights audiences and raises thousands every year for charity.
‘He will tell a story to answer Jenni’s three questions, “Why did you start this group? What keeps you going? Can you share your personal highlights?”.’
Byron Shire story lovers may fondly remember ‘Stories in the Club’, the monthly event Jenni curated in Mullumbimby from 2017 until 2019.
After two great years, Jenni moved from Mullumbimby to Ballina and is now a member of the Ballina Community Garden, the Ballina Threshold Choir and the Ballina Greens.
She teaches storytelling to Education students at Southern Cross University and tells locally when she can at Tintenbar Upfront, Rous Unplugged and Lismore Live Poets.
‘During the Covid lockdowns and the floods we rediscovered just how vital community is,’ she says.
‘Yet the isolation and trauma those events created, also frayed some of those connections. Join us as we gather to share stories and songs from the heart.’
Refreshments will be on sale. Entry $10. More information and future dates: www.storytree.com.au/
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