ARTHUR AND OLIVIA
WEST MORETON
welcome to 2026
ofacknowledgement country
Storyfest respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul People of the Yugara/Yagara Language Group, as custodians of the land and waters we share.
Storyfest is proud to partner with the Ipswich District Teacher Librarian Network and West Moreton Anglican College to bring Storyfest West Moreton to life. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering a love of stories, literacy, and creative thinking across our communities.
We also acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable legacy of the Ipswich District Teacher Librarian Network, which has delivered the StoryArts Festival Ipswich (SAFI) biennially for more than 30 years. Their longstanding dedication has inspired generations of young readers and laid a strong foundation for storytelling in the region. It is a privilege to build on this history and continue that tradition in a new and evolving format.
Together, we are creating opportunities for young people to connect with ideas, imagination, and some of Australia’s most inspiring storytellers. By placing authors, illustrators, and diverse voices directly in front of students and families, we aim to spark curiosity, build confidence, and nurture lifelong learners.
Storyfest West Moreton represents the power of partnership in action, local expertise, educational leadership, and a shared belief in the transformative impact of stories. We are delighted to extend the Storyfest experience into the West Moreton region and look forward to growing this vibrant celebration of storytelling for years to come.
BOARD
Chair Airlie MacLachlan
Directors Alex Woodthorpe (Deputy Chair), Michael Auckland, Megan Daley, Dr Caroline Graham, Rev Chris Ivey, Sara Kirby, Louise Park and Kylie Sherrington (CFO).
Festival Patron Will Kostakis
STAFF
CEO Andrea Lewis
Artistic Director Megan Daley
Business Development Manager Narelle Higgs
Producer Events and Engagement (Regional) Gabriella Lennon
Tom Tate
Producer Events and Engagement (Gold Coast) Teraze Burke
Marketing and Communications Officer Jared Watt
Andrea Lewis CEO 'aka Boss Lady'
WEST MORETON
from the...
It is a privilege to bring the magic of words, visuals and ideas to life through the 2026 Storyfest West Moreton programme.
I began my teaching and literary career at West Moreton Anglican College as the founding primary school teacher librarian, and as an active member of the Ipswich District Teacher Librarian network this region has always held a special place in my heart. I am delighted to be circling back to a community that shaped so much of who I am as an
Our programme leans into creativity, curiosity and connection, with curriculum-aligned events and a firm focus on joy. This inaugural Storyfest West Moreton celebrates the breadth of contemporary storytelling for young Australians, with some of the finest names in Australian children's literature coming to share their stories with your community. The programme features workshops, professional development for educators, book launches and sessions designed to make young people laugh, challenge their thinking, inspire their own writing and creativity, and help them see reading and writing as a living, breathing part of
Parents and educators are encouraged to engage with the programme ahead of time, enjoy the festival, and purchase books to continue the conversations sparked here, extending the Storyfest experience well beyond the event itself.
festival info
BOOKING INFORMATION
Tickets are $10.00 (GST inclusive) per person per session. For adult sessions, workshops and catered functions, please refer to individual event information. Bookings can only be processed on receipt of full payment. Bookings may be made online with credit card payment. There are no refunds or exchanges once bookings are processed. All tickets are issued as e-tickets and will be sent to your designated email address.
PURCHASING YOUR TICKETS
Tickets will be on sale from Monday 20 April 2026. You may book online anytime. Many sessions have limited numbers, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
SCHOOL BOOKINGS AND RESERVATION POLICY
Schools can reserve their tickets via our online reservation form. Once the form is completed, tickets will be placed on hold for 14 days. Payment must be made via direct deposit or credit card within that 14 days. All payments must be finalised at least seven days prior to the Festival.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY PERMISSIONS
Storyfest will have a photographer and videographer on-site to record events throughout the Festival. These photos are for archival and marketing purposes and purchase of a ticket implies permission to use the photos taken for these purposes. Children who do not have media permissions should be seated in the back left of venues. this area will not be photographed.
FESTIVAL BOOKSHOP
The Bookshop stocks an extensive range of books and is open daily between 8.00am and 4.00pm as well as during The Prologue Party. Following each session, authors are available for book signings!
SUPERVISION POLICY
Any child 14 years or younger must be accompanied by a supervising parent/ guardian or teacher while on campus at all times during Storyfest West Moreton.
BAGS
There is no cloakroom facility at Storyfest West Moreton. We encourage students to bring a small carry bag, as some venues have limited access for school bags. We advise students to leave valuables at home. All lost property can be collected from the festival bookshop.
FESTIVAL LOCATION
The Festival is located at West Moreton Anglican College, 8 Keswick Rd, Karrabin QLD 4306.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Phone: 07 5559 7377
Email: bookings@storyfest.com.au
meet the storytellers
Session 113 Thur - 9.30am
Session 132 Thur - 12.30pm
Session 212 Fri - 9.30am
Session 231 Fri - 12.30pm
Session 243 Fri - 1.45pm
Session 121 Thur - 10 45am
Session 133 Thur - 12.30pm
Workshop W22 Fri - 9.45am
Session 233 Fri - 12.30pm
Session 123 Thur - 10 45am
Session 144 Thur - 1.45pm
Session 213 Fri - 9.30am
Session 234 Fri - 12.30pm
Nat Amoore's debut novel Secrets Of A Schoolyard Millionaire was Dymocks and QBD's 'Kids Book Of The Month’, becoming Australia's #1 bestselling debut Aussie children’s fiction in 2019 and selling into the UK, US, Italy, China, Estonia, Germany and Romania. The Power Of Positive Pranking won the 2021 Environment Award for Children’s Literature and The Right Way To Rock, We Run Tomorrow and Nat’s new junior fiction series Shower Land are all CBCA Notables. Nat’s first picture book I Don’t Need a Little Brother hit stores in June 2025.
www.natamoore.com
Kathryn Apel is the author of verse novels like What Snail Knows , (a heart-squeeze story about a shy girl coming out of her shell), and the award-winning Bully on the Bus . Her picture books are full of wordplay and include Miss Understood (the true story of the three little pigs, as told in rhyme by the wolf) and the minimalistic Mad Cows , both fabulously illustrated by Beau Wylie. Born-and-bred a farm girl and married to a Queensland grazier, Kat is still scared of cows! But she’s not afraid to put them in her picture books.
katswhiskers.wordpress.com
Tristan Bancks
Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves , The Fall , Detention , Cop & Robber , Ginger Meggs , the Tom Weekly series and, most recently, Scar Town , a suspense-thriller that won the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year for Younger Readers. His other awards and shortlistings include a CBCA Honour Book, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and the YABBA children’s choice book awards. His next book for readers age 10+ is Raised By Wolves , a followup to Two Wolves , was launched at Storyfest Gold Coast 2026!
www.tristanbancks.com
Nat Amoore
Kathryn Apel
Workshop W11 Thur - 9.45am
Session 142 Thur - 1.45pm
Session 222 Fri - 10.45am
Session 241 Fri - 1.45pm
Workshop W13 Thur - 9.45am
Session 141 Thur - 1.45pm
Peter Carnavas writes and illustrates books for children. His books have been published widely across the world and have won many awards, including a Queensland Literary Award and a NSW Premier's Literary Award. His latest book is Leo and Ralph , a novel about friendship, change and an imaginary alien from one of Jupiter’s moons. Peter also works as a teacher librarian and he lives on the Sunshine Coast with his family.
www.petercarnavas.com
Megan Daley is Head of Education at StoryBox Hub and Artistic Director of Somerset Storyfest. She is an experienced and award-winning author, podcaster, literary judge, teacher librarian, and early years educator. Megan has been recognised with the ASLA Australian Teacher Librarian of the Year Award, the QSLA Queensland Teacher Librarian of the Year Award, and the national Dromkeen Librarian’s Award. Her books include Raising
Megan Daley
Peter Carnavas
Session 112 Thur - 9.45am
Session 131 Thur - 12.30pm
Pencil to Plate Thur - 5.30pm
Session 211 Fri - 9.30am
Session 232 Fri - 12.30pm
Andy Geppert
Andy Geppert is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator whose heartfelt creations have garnered industry wide recognition. His witty take on the everyday, illustrated in his gorgeous, warm and inviting visual style, will draw you into worlds and stories you won't want to leave. Andy's accolades include the prestigious Crichton Award for Best New Australian Illustrator. His picture book, MEEP , has been recognised as a Notable Book by the CBCA. Australian Backyard Birdies received recognition from the Australian Book Design Awards and landed #26 on the top 50 Australian books list by Better Reading in 2023.
www.andygeppert.com
Session 125 Thur - 10.45am
Workshop W12 Thur - 12.45pm
Session 225 Fri - 10.45am
Dr Caroline Graham
Dr Caroline Graham is an award-winning investigative reporter, who works in formats ranging from documentary and podcast through to book-length non-fiction. She spent five years investigating the disappearance of Paddy Moriarty and his kelpie from the tiny outback Northern Town of Larrimah and co-wrote the Walkley Award-winning investigative true crime podcast Lost in Larrimah , and the Australian bestseller Larrimah . Caroline’s other collaborative projects include the ABC documentary Outback Musical , the Walkley Award-winning investigative series NT Schools in Crisis and Writing Feature Stories: How to research and write articles – from listicles to longform. She teaches journalism and creative writing at Bond University.
Session 111 Thur - 9.45am
Session 121 Thur - 10.45am
Session 145 Thur - 1.45pm
Session 224 Fri - 10.45am
Session 245 Fri - 1.45pm
Pip Harry
Pip Harry is an Australian author, copywriter and journalist. Pip's novel August & Jones , published by Hachette in 2022, was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers 2023 and the 2024 YABBA Awards, and won the CBCA Shadow Judging Book of the Year for Younger Readers. Pip has also written picture books Over or Under? (a CBCA Notable book and shortlisted for the ABIA Picture Book of the Year Award 2025), The Inside Dog and Drift , a verse novel. She lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches with her family and energetic rescue kelpie.
www.pipharry.com
Session 114 Thur - 9.45am
Session 135 Thur - 12.30pm
Workshop W21 Fri - 9.45am
Session 235 Fri - 12.30pm
Will Kostakis
Will Kostakis writes for young adults. First published at 19, he is best known for writing whip-smart comedies that break (then mend) hearts, and occasionally making national news for resisting local book and author bans. We Could Be Something is his latest novel. It’s a humorous yet heartrending look at family, fame and falling in love. It won the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Literature, and was shortlisted for the Victorian and New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards and the Queensland Literary Award.
www.willkostakis.com
Pencil to Plate Thur - 5.30pm
Session 221 Fri - 10.45am
Liv Lorkin is a heart-led children's book author, illustrator and visual storyteller. Since packing books underneath her bed as a child, she’s loved reading, writing and colouring outside the lines. With a blended background in science and a career in design, she creates thoughtful stories that spread messages of hope and joy. Inspired by nature, magic and a dash of whimsy, her debut graphic novel, Gnoming About: Tree Mail Adventure , was released in early 2026. When not immersed in illustrating, she can be found exploring gardens, finishing a good puzzle and drinking her third cup of tea.
www.livlorkin.com
Liv Lorkin
Session 124 Thur - 10.45am
Session 143 Thur - 1.45pm
Session 214 Fri - 9.30am
Session 223 Fri - 10.45am
Session 242 Fri - 1.45pm
Allison Tait (A. L. Tait) is an internationally published, bestselling author of 11 middle-grade novels. Her three epic fantasy adventure series – The Mapmaker Chronicles , The Ateban Cipher , and Maven & Reeve Mysteries – have been shortlisted and longlisted for various awards. In 2024, her first contemporary middle-grade novel The First Summer of Callie McGee was longlisted for the Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award. Willow Bright’s Secret Plot and Danger Road followed in 2025. Allison is the co-host of the top-rating Your Kid's Next Read podcast and teaches creative writing for children at the Australian Writers’ Centre.
www.allisontait.com
Carla Salmon is a teacher and marketing professional who loves
Carla Salmon
A.L. Tait
booksignings
Join storytellers at the Festival Bookshop after each session and workshop. Shop and browse our entire catalogue daily throughout the festival.
student sessions
9.30am to 10.15am
Lower Primary
Senior Primary Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
10.45am to 11.30am
Lower Primary
Senior Primary Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
12.30pm to 1.15pm
Lower Primary
Senior Primary
Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
1.45pm to 2.30pm
Lower Primary
Senior Primary Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
Thursday 23
Pip Harry #picturebooks #familyandfriends
Andy Geppert #picturebooks #authorillustrator
Nat Amoore #laughoutloud #adventure
Will Kostakis #identity #contemporaryficton
Carla Salmon #crimewriting #creatingcharacters
STORYTELLER
Kathryn Apel #fracturedfairytales #poetry
Pip Harry #versenovels #identity
Tristan Bancks #thriller #moraldilemmas
A.L. Tait #coldcase #mystery
Dr Caroline Graham #podcasting #investigativejournalism
Andy Geppert #picturebooks #authorillustrator
Nat Amoore #laughoutloud #adventure
Kathryn Apel #friendsandfamily #versenovels
Carla Salmon #crimewriting #creatingcharacters
Will Kostakis #identity #contemporaryficton
Megan Daley #bees #narrativenonfiction
Peter Carnavas #friendsandfamily #authorillustrator
A.L. Tait #creatingcharacters #adventure
Tristan Bancks #thriller #moraldilemmas
Pip Harry #versenovels #identity
Age Guide
Recommended for young people and their actively engaged supervising educators
Early Years = Pre-Prep to Year Two
WEST MORETON ANGLICAN COLLEGE
Prologue Party Wednesday 22 July
Lower Primary = Year Two to Year Four
Senior Primary = Year Three to Year Six
See page 18 for full details
Middle Grade = Year Four to Year Eight
Lower Secondary = Year Seven to Year Ten
See page 18 for full details
Senior Secondary = Year Ten to Year Twelve (these sessions may contain mature content)
These are recommended ages only. Please review each creator's bio and book titles to ensure the best fit for your group's booking.
student
9.45am to 11.15am
adult workshops workshop
Tickets $30 pp
WORKSHOP with Peter Carnavas #wordandpicture #writingprocess
12+
W12
This is a workshop for every kind of storyteller. Whether you're a wordsmith, a non-stop scribbler, somewhere in-between or nowhere near, you will learn how to build a story with words and pictures - from ideas to planning to getting it all down on the page. All you need is a pencil, some paper, and a head full of questions.
12.45pm to 2.15pm
Uncover the power of true stories in this interactive podcasting workshop, Storytelling with Sound. You’ll learn how to record, interview and layer sound and music to bring real stories to life. By the end of the session, you’ll have created your own mini audio story from scratch, and you’ll walk away with skills you can use to keep creating podcasts and telling true stories, long after the workshop ends. 9+
Tickets $30 pp
WORKSHOP with Dr Caroline Graham #podcasting #truestories
3.30pm to 4.30pm
W11 W13
Tickets $20 pp
RAISING READERS: THE SKILL AND THE WILL with Megan Daley #literacyeducation #raisingreaders
See page 21 for full details
5.30pm to 7.00pm
Peter Carnavas and Liv Lorkin (For students ages 10+) $45 pp See page 20 for full details
Thursday 23
family programme
Upper Primary session with Nat Amoore
Ipswich Central Library Event Space
Thursday 23 July 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Free with RSVP
Ipswich Children's Library The Bubble
Thursday 23 July 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Free with RSVP
gnoming about
with Liv Lorkin
West Moreton Anglican College Ongoing throughout the festival Wednesday 22 to Friday 24
Step into the magical world of gnomes, mushrooms and fun. You're invited to get creative at the Two Tree Writers' Wall, go hunting for missing gnomes across the festival, and have the chance to win an epic prize pack.
Make sure to join Liv for a special author session of Gnoming About: Tree Mail Adventure on Friday 24 July at 10.45am. Tickets can be purchased at storyfest.com.au
student sessions
9.30am to
Lower Primary
Senior Primary Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
Friday 24
Andy Geppert #picturebooks #authorillustrator
Nat Amoore #laughoutloud #adventure
Tristan Bancks #thriller #moraldilemmas
A.L. Tait #creatingcharacters #adventure
Carla Salmon #crimewriting #creatingcharacters
Lower Primary
Senior Primary Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
Liv Lorkin #gnomes #adventure
Peter Carnavas #friendsandfamily #authorillustrator
A.L. Tait #creatingcharacters #adventure
Pip Harry #versenovels #identity
Dr Caroline Graham #podcasting #investigativejournalism
Lower Primary
Senior Primary Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
Lower Primary
Senior Primary Middle Grade
Lower Secondary
Senior Secondary
Nat Amoore #laughoutloud #adventure
Andy Geppert #visualliteracy #authorillustrator
Kathryn Apel #friendsandfamily #versenovels
Tristan Bancks #thriller #moraldilemmas
Will Kostakis #identity #contemporaryficton
Peter Carnavas #friendsandfamily #authorillustrator
A.L. Tait #creatingcharacters #adventure
Nat Amoore #laughoutloud #adventure
Carla Salmon #crimewriting #creatingcharacters
Pip Harry #versenovels #identity
Friday 24
WORKSHOP with Will Kostakis #shortstories #writingcraft
In a practical writing workshop, Will Kostakis shares his tips and tricks to conquer the blank page, and write impressive stories.
WORKSHOP with Kathryn Apel #poetry #creativityworkshop
Poetry Doesn’t Rhyme ALL the Time: Pumping poetry builds writing muscle and sparks creativity. With so many different forms of poetry to choose from, there’s something fun for everyone!
Recommended for young people and their actively engaged supervising educators
Early Years = Pre-Prep to Year Two
Lower Primary = Year Two to Year Four
Senior Primary = Year Three to Year Six
Middle Grade = Year Four to Year Eight
Lower Secondary = Year Seven to Year Ten
Senior Secondary = Year Ten to Year Twelve (these sessions may contain mature content)
These are recommended ages only. Please review each creator's bio and book titles to ensure the best fit for your group's booking.
prologue party free event
Wednesday 22 July 4.30pm to 6.30pm
West Moreton Anglican College
Come along to the opening night of Storyfest West Moreton. A fun-filled evening for all the family to celebrate reading and storytelling! The Prologue Party is a great opportunity to meet some of Australia’s best authors and illustrators.
Enjoy all the fun of the fair with games and activities. The festival bookshop will be open during this event, it is a great opportunity for adults and children to browse the bookshelf and find that perfect book.
Stage activated from 4.30pm to 6.30pm - details announced soon
Variety of dinner and beverage options available for purchase.
Nat’s books boogie 'n'
Prologue Party
West Moreton Anglican College
4.50pm, 5.30pm and 6.00pm
If you love books and you love to boogie, then this is for you! Take your body on a storytelling journey as you shimmy and shake your way through a book-inspired author DANCE PARTY! A loud, fun and physical celebration of books that is definitely not suitable for your oldschool hush-hush library.
pencil toplate
Join top children’s illustrators Peter Carnavas and Liv Lorkin as they cross canvases before a table of fierce, but fair, young judges. A vibrant competition of skills and creativity, students will steer the artists' illustration and decide who remains standing.
Peter Carnavas is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. His books have been published widely across the world and have won many awards, including a Queensland Literary Award and a NSW Premier's Literary Award. His novel, Leo and Ralph , was awarded an Australian Book Industry Award and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature.
Liv Lorkin is a heart-led author, illustrator and visual storyteller. Her work is full of whimsical characters, nature and a sprinkling of magic. She won the 2025 Storyfest Drawybest Central QLD Award and is looking forward to claiming more titles this year.
Join the battle for a night of laughter and imagination while tickets remain!
Thursday 23 July 5.30pm to 7.00pm
$45 pp includes dinner and soft drink
middle grade to senior secondary students
MEGAN DALEY adult workshop
Thursday 23 July
$20 pp
Suitable for parents, teachers and guardians 3.30pm to 4.30pm
RAISING READERS: THE SKILL AND THE WILL with Megan Daley #literacyeducation #raisingreaders
We all want our students and our own children to develop both the skills of reading and the will to be lifelong readers. This workshop is designed to empower educators and parents/ caregivers of primary school-aged children to take an active role in encouraging literacy development, with practical tools and expert knowledge to make a real difference.
Award-winning teacher librarian and author Megan Daley brings 25+ years of experience to this session, sharing practical tips and expert insights on building a home/school reading culture, balancing books and screens, how books support social and emotional growth, navigating visual literacy in a digital age, and how to keep your kids looking for their next read, over and over again. With explicit, evidence-informed reading instruction now shaping classrooms across Australia, Megan is well placed to speak to both the skills children need to become readers and the motivation they need to stay readers. Megan launched her career in West Moreton and is delighted to return to share her knowledge with the community that shaped her.
BEAUTIFUL THINGS START WITH A SOUIGL.
It takes just a few scribbled words or loose doodles to spark young minds and launch a lifelong love for literacy.
The SQUIGL Club unites young minds through picture books, stories and creativity. This unique online gathering run by award-winning author and illustrator Andy Geppert, in partnership with Somerset Storyfest, teaches kids a very special lesson: a vivid imagination can take them anywhere. Celebrating young artists from the bush to the Arctic, this joyful art and story-share program is growing thanks to your help.
BE PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL, PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT OR APPLY TO JOIN OUR GROWING SQUIGL CLUB COMMUNITY.
In partnership with:
Somerset Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition
Somerset National Poetry Prize
FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATION TO THE GOLD COAST
TICKETS TO ATTEND STORYFEST GOLD COAST (22 TO 24 MARCH 2027)
ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 04 DEC ‘26
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Gold Coast MODERN
Vibrant Mediterranean Flavours
Championship Golf Course
What would your child’s journey to excellence look like?
At West Moreton Anglican College, every student is able to discover their strengths, explore their interests and grow into their best.
Set on a picturesque 70-hectare campus, our co-educational Prep to Year 12 College offers a breadth of opportunities across academics, sport and the arts, complemented by real-world learning that prepares students for diverse pathways.
In a nurturing and connected community, students are known, supported and encouraged to pursue individual excellence.
Start their journey to excellence.
Book a tour today.
sponsors & supporters
Development Fund
We would like to acknowledge the donors who have contributed to the Storyfest Development Fund in support of the development and delivery of literacy programmes for disadvantaged children.
Somerset Storyfest is supported by the City of Gold Coast.
Somerset Storyfest is supported by the Queensland Government through