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Students enjoying a holiday workshop. Photo by Julie Collins.
Hi John
Since the momentous opening of our creative writing centre in Mount Druitt, we have loved welcoming young people into the new space. As we wrap up another fantastic term, we’re looking forward to a jam-packed schedule of winter holiday programs. Held at our Bidwill and Parramatta centres, as well as online, the workshops range from creating alien soundscapes, manors for evil villains, and unconventional heroes. Book a free spot in a holiday program and be sure to share the schedule with any young people who may be interested!
As we approach the end of the financial year, we are asking for your support to transform the lives of 11,000 more young people through creative writing and storytelling over the next 12 months. If you’re in a position to do so, please consider making a tax-deductible donation before June 30.
Onwards,
Story Factory
A package sent by young writers in the UK to Story Factory students in Western Sydney. Photo by Alexander Lee-Rekers.
FROM WESTERN SYDNEY TO BRIGHTON, UK: YOUNG PEN PALS GET CREATIVE
One of the highlights of Term 2 was a new program delivered in partnership with Little Green Pig in Brighton, UK, where students sent packages across the world to one another filled with writing challenges and personal letters.
When the first boxes from Brighton arrived, Story Factory students worked like detectives to learn about the people who had sent them interesting things from so far away. By the time they received the final package, with responses to the same writing challenges they had spent a term completing, students were thrilled to learn that this other group was, in fact, real. At the end of the final workshop, students took turns taking one treasured piece of writing or art from the Brighton club home with them to keep.
Mysterious Postcard Description
"The whales share their song here.” Gran holds my hand as a humpback whale splashes a few kids in a boat, and they laugh with joy. “How, Gran?” I watch as a blue whale tail flips up like she’s waving, and disappears. “At sunset, every night, a chosen few come to listen to the whales’ songs, communicate and swim with them.” The boat rocks and Gran looks like she remembers something. “And this boat we are in? During the day, it’s a boat on concrete.” I gasp, thinking to where it usually sat on the promenade. “Woah…” Gran smiles softly. “Whales are knowledge holders. We come here to listen.”
— River, Story Factory student, age 12
Student and Storyteller at the opening of Story Factory Bidwill. Photo by Natasha Capstick.
WE'RE HIRING A PHILANTHROPY MANAGER
This is a unique opportunity to drive the major gift fundraising strategy for high-net-worth individuals, companies, trust and foundations to ensure the growth, sustainability and impact of Story Factory.
In this part-time role, you will work with a high-performing fundraising team, and play a crucial role in supporting young people to develop their literacy. You will join at an exciting time of growth and investment, knowing your work is making a real difference in young people’s lives.
Year of Poetry students outside the Plant-A-Poem stall at the Sydney Writers’ Festival. Photo by Natasha Capstick.
INSIDE PLANT-A-POEM AT THE SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL
We were thrilled to be back at the Sydney Writers’ Festival this year, this time with a ‘Plant-A-Poem’ stall. It was staffed by young writers from our Year of Poetry program, armed with poems they had written in their weekly workshops. The young writers asked festival-goers about their hopes and dreams for the year ahead, and carefully paired them with a poem that best honoured these hopes. These were gifted to them in a glass jar, along with seeds they could plant at home. By the time the seeds bloom, so too, we hope, will their hopes and dreams.
A couple of the poems from Plant-A-Poem
Tonight I host the blackbirds
and gossip about the moon–
send whispers to the lighthouse
and wince at the tune – soon
I’ll have someone
— Kaarthik, Year of Poetry student
Growing, like an extended hand
towards the pale underbelly of
the squirming bug. Flipped over
coughing out bits of
cicada shell, not belonging
to old footsteps anymore.
— Vipula, Year of Poetry student
Story Factory students with their published book. Photo by Natasha Capstick.
LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL TO STORY FACTORY
“Story Factory continues to have a profound and direct impact on the lives of many, many young folk; but also on their families, their communities and the institutional systems that surround young lives. There is a multiplier effect of its activities and impacts. And I want that to continue. That is why I have made a bequest in my will to Story Factory.”
— Deb Fulwood
A gift in your will is a powerful way to ensure your legacy lives on, helping the next generation of young people from under‑resourced communities find and share their voices, imagine new worlds and write their own futures. Even a small gift can create a lasting impact.
Young people celebrating the launch of Story Factory Bidwill. Photo by Natasha Capstick.
IN THE MEDIA
We were thrilled to see the launch of our new creative writing centre, Story Factory Bidwill, featured in Blacktown News and Books+Publishing. The launch also received radio coverage: Julie Collins and Rebecca Cawthorne from our Community Engagement team were interviewed on Koori Radio’s Blackchat, and Cath Keenan, our Executive Director and Co-founder, appeared on Blacktown-based community radio station SWR 99.9 FM.
Students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School. Photo by Natasha Capstick.
Support more fantastic young people to find their voice and write their stories!
We at Story Factory acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge them as the cultural knowledge holders of stories and culture. We celebrate these stories and commit to continuing to support the voices of future storytellers and future generations.
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