Scotch College

‘Story matters’

‘Story matters’ …
The 3rd biennial Scotch Literature Festival – 18–22 July 2005

Draw your chair up close to the edge of the precipice and I’ll tell you a story – F. Scott Fitzgerald

In July, Scotch College Library staff and their committees in both Junior and Senior School, brought together a sensational program of authors and illustrators, script writers and journalists, commentators and comedians, performers and story tellers. Forty-three inspirational presenters took Scotch Collegians (Prep to year 12) to ‘the edge of the precipice’ in 112 sessions over 5 days . They shared their experiences, knowledge, wisdom and … their stories. ‘Story Matters’ to every one of us, and can take many forms. This year’s Festival included sessions every day on oral stories, visual stories and written stories To get things started in Senior School, the wildly glamorous author, Tara Moss, launched the Festival at a College assembly on Friday, 15 July. Tara’s unusual journey from super-model stardom to best selling crime novelist captivated her audience.

Each day the Senior School Festival kicked off with a stimulating keynote speech from on of our guest authors: Tara Moss (‘the most glamorous woman in crime writing’), Dr Karen Brooks, Scot Gardner and Li Cunxin.

Relaxing in the 'Green room'	Dr Donaldson, Suzette Boyd, Li Cunxin and Jan Goldsmith
Watching the performances	Tara Moss making an impression
On-stage participants	Jonathon Harley, Bill Darby and Bryan Lim
Class attendees at the Festival	Al Harkness and Will Sutherland (Year 7) as Harry Potter

Students then moved onto a range of interactive sessions with topics as diverse as ‘Writing with pictures’ (with the ever-popular Terry Denton), ‘Tell us how to write a joke’ (comedian Damien Callinan), ‘Improvise your socks off’ (actor James Pratt) and ‘Script writing’ (Randal Flynn). Valanga Khoza a spellbinding talent from the black townships of South Africa took everyone to ‘the edge of the precipice’, as he told stories of his experience of apartheid. Performances, such as Zeal Theatre’s confronting piece Stones, followed each afternoon.

The Festival provided a strong curriculum focus for VCE students. ‘The real power of the Media’ was explored in forums with Ken Nguyen (The Age) Jonathan Harley (ABC), Matthew Ricketson (RMIT) and Stephen Mayne (crikey.com). Master class electives on texts, design and technology, science and ethics, with experts like Professor Kate Burridge, engaged, provoked and stimulated students.

This year Scotch hosted students and teachers from four local schools: Melbourne Girls College, Hawthorn Secondary College, Strathcona and Parkmore Primary School. This feature was a successful inclusion and it is planned in future Festivals to increase the number of other schools invited to attend.

Alongside the formal program, each lunchtime came alive with entertainment and activities. There was a Harry Potter day, a Dymocks bookshop, a staff vs student debate, ‘Battle of the Bands’, poetry readings and author signings.

Junior School students, from prep to Year 6 also had a veritable feast of activities throughout the week – they met authors like Paul Collins and Sophie Laguna, illustrator Leigh Hobbs, and the Flying Bookworm Theatre Company. There were displays, competitions, dress-up days, prizes to be won and stories to be told! ‘Books, Blokes and Brekky’ provided an opportunity for dads, granddads, uncles and big brothers to spend time together hearing from authors about ‘stories that matter to me’, and talking about books over a delicious breakfast.

The Festival Dinner was a fitting finale to the week’s events. This year the guest speaker was Li Cunxin whose story is told in the best seller Mao’s Last Dancer. This event, along with’Books, Blokes and Brekky’ provides an opportunity for the parents and the wider community to celebrate the significance of story in all our lives.

Tim Jonson and Charles Kemp (Year 7)	Battle of the Bands being appreciated
Father and Sons enjoy 'Books, Blokes and Brekky'	Li Cunxin talking to Year 7 students

The organising committees had a ball putting together this thought-provoking and rewarding program of non-stop events. As usual, they pooled their formidable talents to ensure that everyone had a wonderful week of writing, listening, speaking and performing because … Story (Really) Matters!

For more detailed information about the Festival check out the website http://www.scotch.vic.edu.au/Library/litfest05/litfest05.htm

MS SUZETTE BOYD
Head of Library and Information Services and Co-coordinator of the Scotch College Literature Festival