JELLY-ROLLING IN THE CASBAH - the Festival Dinner

There's no doubt about organiser, Jenny Stubbs and her band of helpers at this Festival. They’re such a creative bunch! 

The theme for the Festival dinner on Saturday night was Moroccan, in honour of Jeannie Baker's book, Mirror. The main Marquee took on the appearance of a candle lit casbah, lots of silk scarves, pots of roses, belly-dancing (jelly-rolling), low cushioned couches and Moroccan backdrops. The only thing missing was a live camel. 

Around 70 guests dressed in costume - some highly inventive, ate, drank, talked, jelly-rolled (ask our MC, author, Josie Montano if you're not sure what that means) the night away.  

Josie Montano and Jenny Stubbs (Festival organiser)

Songster, Nadia Sunda and guitarist, Michael Fix entertained with fabulous medleys. The talented sister act, The Sunde Sisters, dressed in traditional Croatian costumes and sang a hilarious duo, Never on Sunde.

Nadia and Angela Sunde

A great celebration for all! I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Mark Wilson and friends

Tanya Batt and friends

Pamela with John Heffernan and Narelle Oliver

Josie Montano, Deb Abela, Narelle Oliver, Aleesah Darlison

Michael Fix and Nadia Sunde

Sheryl Gwyther, Jeannie Baker, Angela Sunde

The authors and illustrators go to Ipswich

Tatty Rat, Paige Turner and I headed down to Ipswich today to see authors and illustrators in action. Brilliant blue skies, cool breezes and the lovely art precinct of Ipswich! 

Tatty Rat's favourite illustrators today were Greg  and Narelle.

Kids from local schools headed to the Ipswich Civic Centre, the Community Art Gallery, the CWA Hall and the Masonic Lodge Hall (all within a 2 minute walk of each other) where Festival authors and illustrators had settled in for the day - like Andy Griffiths, Tristan Bancks, Greg Holfeld, James Moloney, Chris Bongers, Narelle Oliver, John Heffernan, Leigh Hobbs.

Andy Griffiths

Narelle Oliver talking about the Barking Owl

 Paige Turner went to everyone's sessions and decided all of the presenters were her favourite authors and illustrators. (Editor: very diplomatic is our Paige!)

Final three Festival presenters...

And here are the final three presenters on our list. The Festival begins tomorrow at Woodlands at Marburg. We're looking forward to meeting all the kids who'll arrive in the morning. 

Tristan Bancks - author

Sheryl Gwyther - author, Festival blogger.With Narelle Oliver (left)

Narelle Oliver - author and illustrator 

The OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL ...

Kids of all ages, parents, teachers, organisers, librarians, musicians, artists, authors and an illustrator, bookseller, Buddhists, a Middle Eastern dancer and her drummer, a school Glee Club and a mayor. 

And so began the Festival and the One World Many Stories children's art exhibition with a fabulous afternoon of music, art and storytelling.

And the viewing of The Mirror Project at The Ipswich Community Gallery - the images of Jeannie Baker.

   

Filling a hall on a Saturday afternoon to listen and support local young singers and artists - priceless. 

Jenny Stubbs - Festival Organiser

Narelle Oliver reading her story Fox and Fine Feathers, with musical accompaniment by the Toowoomba Concert Orchestra. 

Two Festival authors - Narelle Oliver and Sheryl Gwyther (author, Pam Rushby also attended the afternoon's entertainment)