The Story Bank

Discover the magic of Mary Poppins in the birthplace of her author, P.L. Travers. Once upon a time… a baby girl was born in the upstairs bedroom at the Australian Joint Stock Bank on the corner of Kent and Richmond Streets in Maryborough, Queensland. Her name was Helen Lyndon Goff, but she became known to the world as P.L. Travers, author of the of Mary Poppins stories. Visit her heritage-listed birthplace which has been transformed into The Story Bank – a bank that trades in stories. Discover Maryborough’s unique connection with P.L. Travers – the story of her life, her family, the influences on her writings and the retelling of her stories. Interact with the characters and settings from her popular Mary Poppins stories, including our newest resident, The Park Keeper, who is now keeping watch over Mary's Garden.

Amanda Kratzmann

Be inspired to find your own story. Sprinkled with a generous amount of whimsical playfulness, The Story Bank takes you on a delightful journey through the storytelling process. The retail cottage is currently hosting a pop-up shop from The Bond Store, featuring all of the regional delights, tasty ports and liqueurs you would usually find there.

Cnr Kent and Richmond Streets, Maryborough storybank@frasercoast.qld.gov.au 4123 7221 Admission fees apply. Discounts for locals. Monday to Friday 9:30am to 3:30pm Weekends & Public Holidays 9:30am to 2pm 49

With my animations, I wanted to take just a little bit of that Mary Poppins magic, and bring it into reality,

–Thomas O’Dowd

A PLACE WHERE IMAGINATION FINDS ITS HOME

STORIES FROM THE STORY BANK

In the corner of the room where Mary Poppins author PL Travers was born is a doll’s house that can transport you to a magical place where, as Mary Poppins once said, “anything can happen if you let it”. Mary Poppins characters are brought to life through animations by Thomas O’Dowd as they wondrously move throughout the miniature timber house crafted by Frank Van Brunschot. With a background in cabinetmaking and visual arts, Frank’s unusual combination of skills were well suited to the intricate creation of the fanciful timber house. “My background is in cabinetmaking, starting my apprenticeship at fourteen, working on custom-made pieces and restoring antique furniture. In my mid-twenties I started to re-explore painting and drawing and in 2000 I commences a visual arts degree (painting workshop) at the Australian National University, Canberra,” Frank said. “Growing up, stories of times gone by always sparked my imagination, which was then expressed through visual arts and craft,” Frank Van Brunschot. Animator Thomas O’Dowd speaks of his inspiration behind the animations in the house. “My central aim with The Story Bank animations was to bring the magic of the stories to life. With the doll’s house, the effect I wanted to create was a snapshot of the Mary Poppins world, where people can see the everyday comings-and-goings of the Banks household. Our goal was to make the story to leap out of the words into a tangible and visual world.”

View the doll’s house for yourself at The Story Bank. Open weekdays from 9.30am-3.30pm or weekends and public holidays from 9.30am-2pm. Book online at www.maryboroughstorybank.com.au.

Frank Van Brunschot and Thomas O'Dowd, 17 Cherry Tree Lane 2019, mixed materials and digital projection. © The artists. Kelli Sauer. 51

AUSTRALIA DAY CULTURAL WINNERS

Do you know of a person who uses imagination, talent and skill to create works or practice arts or initiate cultural activities that make a difference in our community?

DESIREE McGANN

FRASER COAST AUSTRALIA DAY CULTURAL AWARD OF THE YEAR

From the youngest president of a Zonta Club in the world, to a fundraising powerhouse – the recipients of the Fraser Coast 2022 Australia Day Awards all have something in common. They have all made the Fraser Coast a better place to be, and Cultural Award of the Year recipient Desiree McGann is no different. Desiree noticed a missing link between local studio dance styles and QCAA Dance Curriculum taught in schools. In 2007 she founded La Danza Studio, the first Contemporary/Lyrical classes linked to the curriculum in the area. She has since assisted numerous students to achieve high results in Performing Arts. In 2020 Desiree implemented the new QCAA Dance Syllabus at Riverside Christian College and provided the contemporary/lyrical and expressive link to the community through the Studio. Desiree commenced Boy Tap Classes (The LADS) in 2008. Today it is the largest group of male dancers in the region with 16 boys ranging from 6-20 years old. Desiree was the winner of the 2015 Best Choreographer – Lyn Dahl Award for her work in the Brolga Production of Hairspray. For her leadership and teaching innovation she was finalist for the 2019 Fraser Coast Education Alliance University of the Sunshine Coast, Educator of the Year Award and in 2012 was the Stated finalist Queensland College of Teachers Excellence in Teaching Award. For the past six years Desiree has been Head of Faculty for Creative Industries. She is the Head of Dance Department at the College and led her Department to National Award winning level in Wakakirri StoryDance Secondary schools (2017, 2018, 2019). She is the Director, Teacher and Founder of La Danza Studio since 2007 with currently 95 dance students registered, with multiple competition awards won in the past 5 years.

Nominate them for an Arts & Culture Award.

frasercoast.qld.gov.au/cultural-person-of -the-month

Meet Young Cultural Award of the Year winner Jasmin Corby in the Winter Edition of Fraser Coast Scene.