Helen McKay, Author, Speaker, Storyteller.
Founder, and Life Member of Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) Inc, Helen McKay worked tirelessly to promote storytelling around Australia. To this day she has kept contact, by email, with storytellers around the world, sharing knowledge and ideas. Helen is mother to two daughters, two sons, six grand-daughters, five great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter, who live in New Zealand, Australia, the U.K., USA and Canada. She loves to share her stories with her family.
In 1996, with co-author, Berice Dudley, she wrote the book ‘About Storytelling – a Practical Guide‘, now used as a recommended text in Universities and Teachers’ colleges. This book has helped many people in Australia, UK and New Zealand, to master the skills of storytelling (a 2nd edition was released, May 1998). A further book of riddles – Riotous Riddles, was published in 1998. ‘Links to Your Happiness’, a strategy for a happier life was published in 2007.
While working in New Zealand as an art teacher, she inspired gifted under-achievers to extraordinary accomplishments, using music and story, which were part of her background. As a child, she played the violin for 15 years. Helen is a 3-dimensional artist, author and designer.
Since settling in Australia, Helen has been enthralled by the indigenous stories of Australia and began actively researching their origins. She believes the messages they carry are more relevant to today’s society than ever before. She and some Aboriginal friends became concerned that their stories and language were becoming lost forever, as people assimilated into the community. So working with three Australian Aboriginal story custodians, Helen has managed to gather a range of authentic Aboriginal stories for the book ‘Gadi Mirrabooka’.
As a speaker, Helen links stories to the messages she delivers in her workshops. She presents workshops on Storytelling, Speaking, Writing and Life Skills – `Meeting Life’s Challenges’ and `Happiness and the Art of Living.’
