We wish Nell Bell, our oldest surviving
Life Member, a joyful 90th birthday on 29th July 2016. Nell is a founding
member and former president of our association under its original name, The
Storytelling Guild of Victoria, formed 1978.
Nell Bell began her contribution to
children’s literature and storytelling in 1942 when, as Assistant Matron of
Ashfield Foundlings Home in Sydney, she introduced story time. Raising her own
children, she became a kindergarten teacher in Eltham. Nell's interest in
stories led her to further training: in 1975, as a librarian at Preston East
Technical School, she taught Introduction to History of Literature and Books.
In the same year she toured schools and libraries in China as part of an
education program. Later she visited New Zealand and America. Attaining her
Secondary Teachers Certificate, Nell started a Children's Book Club and
published an article entitled The Importance of Oral Literature in the
Education Department magazine.
In the 1980s, Nell obtained a Post Graduate
Diploma in Children's Literature at the University of Melbourne, as well as a
Graduate Diploma in Children's Literature at Toorak Teachers' College /
Victoria College - Toorak campus. As Librarian in Charge at Templestowe
Technical School, Nell was part of a program that taught Understanding
Literature to senior students. Nell remembers that oral storytelling was in
Year 12 exams “for a few glorious years”.
As part of the 1988 Bicentenary, Nell
joined a delegation of Artists in Education sponsored by the Australian Federal
Government and JF Kennedy Cultural Centre in Washington sent to America as
representatives of Australia.
Back in Australia, Nell conducted seminars
in regional universities for mothers of new-born babies on the importance of
literature and stories. Nell was the first storyteller to perform at Dromkeen
and was Artist in Residence at several colleges. She has been a member of the
Victorian Branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia and the Victorian
Committee for UNICEF.
Nell was the first storyteller employed at
the first fairy shop in the world, Wonderwings in Richmond, where she mentored
storytellers from the late 1980’s into the 90’s.
In parallel during the 90’s, regular evenings were held entitled The Storytelling Cafe. There were many workshops, which included visits from overseas storytellers.
In 1995 Nell took a major role in
developing students' skills for performances at St Martins, South Melbourne as
part of Artists and Environment Designers in Schools (AEDIS). Nell's
storytelling skills won her an invitation to participate in the launch of
Children's Week at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Nell has always been quick to volunteer her
services as a storyteller for the free children's concerts at national
Australian storytelling conferences and has also volunteered as a storyteller
at Camp Quality and Children's Hospital in Melbourne and Radio of the Air
School in the Northern Territory. To quote The Harper (Autumn
1997), the Guild’s first newsletter that started in 1979: “Nell has a great
love of people and a strong belief that story can show that all aspects of life
are a continuing cycle to be celebrated and shared”.
Articles by Nell in JB Rowley’s journal
Swag of Yarns include “Here Be Dragons” (1998), “Crooked Mick” (2000), “Bilby
Saves Easter” (2001) and “Thanks for the Memories” (2005).
In 2005, Nell Bell was awarded the Leila St John
by the Children's Book Council of Australia, administered through the Children’s Book Council of Australia for
services to children's literature, acknowledging Nell’s generosity of spirit
and love for children. In 2011, Nell’s daughters Susan and Bronwyn and members
of the Storytelling Guild of Victoria accompanied Nell to be presented with
this medal.
Recently, Nell participated in Bridging The
Gap Through Art. A news report caption read: “Generation gaps don’t come much
bigger than the gulf between elderly citizens in primary care and primary
school students”.
Nell now resides at Westgarth Aged Care
Facility, Melbourne.
As Nell’s storytelling family, we give our
heartfelt gratitude for all the great years of mentorship, dedication and
inspiration. Thank you, dear Nell.
History of our harp/lyre logo, banner and badge: HERE
Report of our visit by Louisa John-Krol in
Victorian Fairy Tale Ring blog: HERE
“Seanachie,
keeper of the old lore”, is how Anne E. Stewart calls Nell: HERE
Nell is also mentioned here: Wikipedia
Thank you Louisa John-Krol for this article
and all the work you are doing, researching and collating the history of
Storytelling Australia Victoria (formerly The Storytelling Guild of Victoria).
