The Queenscliff ovation

Photo courtesy of Queenscliffe Literary Festival.

When Indigenous author and Voice referendum campaigner Thomas Mayo concluded his story at our show last Saturday night the 300-strong audience broke into sustained applause that very, very quickly became a standing ovation.

Mayo’s story, ultimately one of hope, was what the Kev Carmody/Paul Kelly song From Little Things Big Things Grow means to him in the light of the 2023 referendum result.

As he read the story  – the first item of the second bracket – his face was, not surprisingly, full of concentration. When our singers Gemma Keating and Martina Medica sang their verses in the middle of the story he stood back from the lectern a little, observing, listening. Concentrating.

When the audience applauded and rose up as he ended his story his eyes widened, his mouth smiled, his face shone.

In some ways the Stereo Stories band was incidental, was peripheral to these moving moments. We just happened to be there, on stage with him. (Mayo received a standing ovation the next day at a QLF event discussing the Voice referendum.)

But, with our format, the conclusion of the story is not the end. We always follow the story’s last paragraph by finishing the song.

So Gemma and Martina, and the rest of the band, stood there waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Soaking up the moment. Savouring the privilege of being there.

And then the guitar and mandolin came back in and Gemma sang the ninth verse, Martina sang the final verse and, of course, the audience sang the chorus as one.

And we continued the rest of the show.

Thank you Thomas Mayo. Thank you Queenscliffe Literary Festival audience.

For footage of the standing ovation, and photos from the show (including, on a lighter note butterfly wings, mullet wigs, and Claire Hooper dancing) head to our Facebook page (@thestereostories) and the Instagram account and Facebook page of the Queenscliffe Literary Festival.