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
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) |
February 2024 | Eucalyptus/Murray Bail (Australian) |
April 2024 | The Stolen Bairn and the Sidhe (Irish) |
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 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.
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