Tree Tales Festival - The Book Farm
Event date: 15 Mar 2010 - 19 Mar 2010
Book Farm Closes with TreeLine Bang!
The Book Farm at Maleny, which has welcomed school groups for more than 20 years, has closed its doors with a bang, as part of the TreeLine Project 2010.
From 15-19th March more than 300 children participated in games, puzzles, a wildlife illustration workshop by Heather Gall, a discussion about narrative writing, and a viewing of Jill Morris’ TreeLine film entitled “Some of My Best Friends are Trees”, during which children sang the theme song (which they had practiced at school). All children were given a beautiful book from Jill’s collection of published works and teachers were encouraged to stock up their school libraries for free. The Galleries were given a set of gorgeous books for a kids corner near the DVD player that will screen Jill’s and other TreeLine films during the main exhibit period in galleries.
The Book Farm is the home and place of inspiration of award-winning author Jill Morris, who has inspired thousands of young visitors in writing and artistic expression since 1988, using her remnant rainforest, hexagonal studio home, ‘enchanted cabin’ and 50 acres of rolling hills on Obi Obi Creek.
‘Schools booked the festival out virtually overnight as soon as it was announced.’ Jill said, ‘but I am making a film of my life at the Book Farm which can be shared by all in the future’.
The Tree Tales Festival program included Jill’s 10-minute film, an art workshop with illustrator Heather Gall and an environmental science puzzle activity. Retired teacher librarians and teachers assisted at the festival, where participating children were invited to take home some of Jill’s ‘junk’, consisting of posters, cards and hundreds of free books.
Jill’s film, Some of My Best Friends are Trees, relates how the rainforest at Binna Burra in Lamington National Park was a comfort at the time of her father’s death in 1944. A book by fellow children’s author Michael Noonan (In the Land of the Talking Trees about a soldier in New Guinea) arrived for Jill’s tenth birthday, the year after her father contracted a terminal disease in New Guinea. Jill’s new film also shows school groups from Chevallum State School (Sunshine Coast) and Indooroopilly (Brisbane) in action at the Book Farm, watering baby trees and reciting their own poetry.
The film features original music by Sunshine Coast film-maker Leanne Farmiloe. Jill’s poem ‘If I Were a Tree’ is sung in the film by Meryl Frederick. Leanne’s daughter Rose Farmiloe plays Jill at the age of nine, writing her first poem at the age of nine beside a Binna Burra waterfall.
Some of My Best Friends are Trees will be available on DVD for teacher librarians and families, from Peace of Green, Maple Street Maleny.
Jill's film will be screened at the World Environment Day Festivities on June 6th at the University of the Sunshine Coast and in the Noosa and Caloundra Art Galleries in the TreeLine Exhibit Period. Phone 07 5494 3000 or watch this space for news of further screenings.
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