Countdown is on to Fishy Stories - 2 days to go

CHILDREN young and old are set to descend on South Gippsland this weekend for the Fish Creek Children’s Festival of Stories.
Aptly called Fishy Stories, excitement has been building for several months now.
It all kicked off when more than 750 kids took part in the annual Writing Challenge. Then, organisers unveiled the three acts to perform on stage at the Fish Creek Memorial Hall.
This was followed by the bumper range of activities, from story time events to 2D and 3D works, and everything in between. And, lastly, the lengthy list of authors, illustrators and others who all share a knack for storytelling - and who will be spilling their secrets over two days.
And with all that, on November 18 and 19, Fish Creek will be transformed into something kids’ dreams are made of – Box Wars, writing and illustrating workshops, balloons, comedy and more.
And best of all - entry is completely free for everyone.
But the fun doesn’t stop there - with three special ticketed shows on each day of the festival, including Cirque Disarray, Dr Hubble and Luigi Zucchini.
Hurry - tickets are selling fast!

Shows on sale and selling fast:
There are two Cirque Dissarray shows - one on the Saturday at 12.30pm and one on Sunday at 2pm. The one-hour performance is a highly engaging interactive show where the children become the stars. It’s truly slapstick humour at its best, with lots of audience participation. Book online now at trybooking.com/CLRAM
While Dr Hubble will show you bubbles of all shapes and sizes – and you may even be lucky enough to be in a bubble yourself! Dr Hubble is performing at 2pm on the Saturday and at 12.30pm on the Sunday. Book online now at trybooking.com/CLRLR
And finally, Luigi Zucchini – an international man of magic comedy with goofy Italian antics that entertains adults and children alike, along with his live animal friends and a never-ending bag of tricks and jokes, is back. See the magician at 3.30pm on the Saturday and 10am on the Sunday. Book now at trybooking.com/CLROL
All children tickets are $12.50 each, families of four are $67.50 and adult tickets are $25.

Activities
There is lots to see and do for all ages, all day – both days.
See your child’s Writing Challenge submission in the ArtCubes - unique to the South Gippsland Shire.
Pop in and see My Story Tent – a dedicated space where the imagination is a wide-open world when we tell our own stories, and children create limitless unfiltered possibilities.
And stop by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation – engaging with festival goers on the educational disadvantages faced by Indigenous Australian children and young people by providing access to books and literacy program.
Hear Marg Haycroft and Wayne Cripps share some of their favourite stories collected over a lifetime of storytelling, head to the Fishy Fish Tales marquee.
Claudia Rubinstein offers an exhibition of 2D and 3D works, called ‘Claudia's Imaginarium’. Come along and lose yourself in a wondrous journey as you rediscover a child’s world of play for children of all ages. Claudia showcases some of her creative journeyings, storytelling, and bookmaking.
Better Place Australia and Gippsland Family Pathways Network offers live book readings including titles such as ‘Max’s Divorce Earthquake’ and other titles by Australian authors who focus on children’s wellbeing in the face of family-life’s hardships. All this will be available in the Better Place Australia and Gippsland Family Law Pathways Network marquee alongside referral information regarding not-for-profit family support services for separating families in Gippsland and greater Victoria.
Then at 10.30am and 12pm on both days, the Myli Libraries Fishy Stories program will feature silly songs and funny stories. You can even design and make a pinwheel, lots of hands on activity should also keep little hands busy.

Saturday afternoon finale
Due to popular demand Box Wars is back, be one of 300 children who will build a recyclable costume, be a pirate, unicorn and many more. Box Wars is on the Saturday from 4.30pm.

Author workshops
There will be free workshops all day from 10am – both days – at the two workshop Marquees, hosted by some of Australia’s most renowned authors and illustrators.
Explore South Gippsland landscapes through watercolour (Alison Lester), a workshop about books and writing, and a Chinese Dragon drawing workshop (Gabi Wang), how to create characters (Leigh Hobbs), finding an idea for a best-selling story (Shelly Ware and David Lawrence, poems (Meredith Costain) and much, much more.
You can plan your day online at fishystories.org

Key details
Information, assistance and safety: Please visit the tent located in the car park adjacent to the Tennis Courts to learn more, seek help or report concerns.
Food and beverages: Local cafes and restaurants Gibsons, Lt Oberon, Long John Pickles and the Fish Creek Hotel. At the event, there will be a sausage sizzle by the Fish Creek Scouts and a cake stall from the Fish Creek Primary School. Free water is available in the car park adjacent to the Tennis Courts. The festival will not be selling any alcohol.
Accessibility: A drop off zone will be established at the entrance to the car park opposite the hardware store in Falls Road.
Toilets: Public toilets are located on the Rail Trail adjacent to the Picnic hut.
First aid: The First Aid station is located at the CFA building on Falls Rd adjacent to the Tennis Courts.
Parking: Free public parking is found around the Footy Oval called the John Terrill Memorial Park on Falls Road as you pass through the Fish Creek shops.
Thank you

Fishy Stories is very fortunate to be supported by Partners, Sponsors and Supporters, in particular:
- A major partnership with Events Gippsland an initiative between Destination Gippsland
and South Gippsland Shire Council.
- A major donation from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal.
- A major sponsorship from the Bendigo Bank - Toora and Foster Community Bank.