Stories

October 31, 2021 - Kicking Covid

Boots Beating The Pandemic.

See ‘Boots The Clown – World’s Greatest Act’ Series here.

October 31, 2021 - Halloween Wink Wink

See article – Buy Into It – Or Not

August 14, 2021 - Boots The Clown – World’s Greatest Act Part II

Boots arrived in response to the pandemic …

August 9, 2021 - Boots On The Street

(‘Boots the Clown.  World’s Greatest Act’.  Arrived out of isolation 2020.  Pakenham Street, Fremantle).

World’s Greatest Act Story Part I.

Caught in a spin, under lights left on, the crowd piled high in competition and clutter.  Until one, not so surprising day, an invisible curtain crept up.  ‘At last’, the big top moaned.  The crowd no longer applauded mindless acts.  The performance was over.

Finally, in tune with the, ‘Going, going, gone’, the crowd rose to reunite through the hands of a clock ticking.  Together again, they would perform the world’s greatest, most death defying act of all time …

Boots the Clown Series. 

July 16, 2021 - Boots The Clown – World’s Greatest Act Part I

Boots the Clown, World’s Greatest Act is a story of comfort and hope during COVID times.  Boots arrived during lock down early 2020.  Please know you can freely share and pass on this link to others and print out the poster or concertina book/story panel.  Video instructions on Instagram @browneink.

Free to print A4 posters/concertina book, with instructions (below and above).  Print, frame or stick up story panels.  Make a concertina book for window sills, desks, mantle pieces – do something of your own.  Free to print A3 poster.

The World’s Greatest Act Part I…

‘Boots’ the Clown was a worrier (underneath).  Boots worried about all the troubles right around the world.  Boots worried it was getting harder and harder for those struggling to be heard and seen amidst the din of selling, frenzy of buying and the glare of celebrity.

Endlessly, Boots worried about the children.  The fires.  Trees.  Animals.  The ocean.  The air.  And that one day, everything would be lost.  All of these worries felt impossible to do anything about.  Until, one strange day, the curtain went up.

October 14, 2020 - Why Have Our Children Stopped Dancing

‘Why Have Our Children Stopped Dancing’….

Reposting this article which was written in 2007 reflecting on a presentation I gave at CAYPAKS (Children and Young People and Key Stakeholders) Convention, and Eating Disorder Prevention and Treatment Conference (2008), titled ‘Why Have Our Children Stopped Dancing’.

Now, 13 years on, particularly in COVID times, it seems even more relevant …

Imagine…..what if we could wave a magic wand to help young people feel better about themselves what would that world look like?  Dr Who and his time machine, the Tardis, immediately came to mind.  I wondered whether I’d choose to travel into the future or past in search of a place that nurtured the growth of children?

With the good old days in mind, I ventured down memory lane . . . It was a time before automation, technology and mass media had stolen children’s creativity, curiosity and the opportunity for them to build a bank of experiences that develop character, strength and resilience—give life purpose and meaning.  A culture where the qualities of kindness, innovation, creativity, community involvement, authenticity, and a social and environmental conscience were considered as valuable, if not more so, as a university degree and a six figure salary.