Different fairy tales are explored five times a year: February, April, July, September, and November.

Fairy Tale Rings discuss the feature tale’s history and variants, meanings, and Australian perspective. Rings also feature storytelling, displays, and a chance to find out what is happening in the Fairy Tale world today.

Members receive resources of Bibliographies and Points to Ponder which stimulate discussion at Fairy Tale Ring meetings. Members who can’t get to a physical Ring can join the online discussion in the Magic Mirrors via Zoom.

Full of texts to study, books, news, and other media to reference – all with a particular emphasis on the tale’s relationship to Australia – resources of previously explored fairy tales are fonts of useful information for anyone studying or working with the tale in any form! Members can find these reading lists in the Members’ Section at Fairy Tale Biblios and Points to Ponder.

We continue to grow locally-run Rings around the country, so please don’t hesitate to contact our ‘Ring Maiden’, Jo Henwood, email austfairytales@gmail.com to find out what’s happening closest to you, or ask about forming a new Ring.

Upcoming fairy tales

February 2023 – ‘The Black Entire from Bryan O’Ville in the Underworld’ or ‘The Witch’s Tale’ (Irish Australian)

April 2023 – Snow White and Rose Red (Grimms – German) / Diamonds and Toads (Perrault’s ‘The Fairies’ – French) – stories of sisters

July 2023 – The Prince and the Three Fates also known as The Doomed Prince (Egyptian)

September 2023 – Donkeyskin (Perrault – French)

November 2023 – The Elves (3 stories) (Grimms – German)

Magic Mirror

Ring Leader (from 2023) –  Jo Henwood

Location – Zoom.  Email austfairytales@gmail.com for the link.

Time –  1.30-4.30 AEDT

Cost – Free for members. If you would like to discover what we’re like before joining AFTS, please email austfairytales@gmail.com for the link.

Upcoming Magic Mirror discussions

Saturday 25 February ‘The Witch’s Tale’ or “The Black Entire of Bryan O’Ville in the Underworld” (Irish Australian)

Sunday 23 April ‘Diamonds and Toads/The Fairies’ (Perrault), and Snow White, Rose Red (Grimms)

Saturday 22 July “The Doomed Prince’ aka ‘The Prince and the Three Fates’ (Egyptian)

Sunday 24 September ‘Donkeyskin’ (Perrault)

Sunday 3 December ‘The Elves’ (Grimms)

Adelaide

Ring Leader –  Graham Ross

Location – at the home of different members. Email austfairytales@gmail.com for details.

Time – variable weekend afternoons

Cost – Non-members $5

Brisbane

Ring Leaders – Kathryn Gossow and Bettina Nissen

Location – State Library of Queensland

Time –   early afternoons

Cost – Non-members $5

Visit Brisbane Fairy Tale Ring Facebook group for details

Illawarra

Ring Leader – Pat Simmons

Location –   Various coffee shops in Thirroul.  Contact austfairytales@gmail.com for details.

Cost – Non-members $5

Note: They explore different fairy tales from what the rest of the AFTS covers. Contact austfairytales@gmail.com for details.

Sydney

Ring Leader: Jo Henwood

Location – Don Bank Museum 6 Napier St North Sydney. 

Time – 1.30-4.30pm usually the first Saturday of the month.

Cost to cover venue hire  –  Members $7 Non-members $10

Victoria

Ring Leader – Patsy Poppenbeek

Location – varies

Time – varies

Cost – varies

Email austfairytales@gmail.com for details.