Treeshape - Book launch
Saturday 21st March 2026
in partnership with the Castlemaine State Festival and Castlemaine Library come along to
TREESHAPE – BOOK LAUNCH Celebrating International Day of Forests - Calling all tree lovers! Trace Balla – much loved creator of the multi-award winning Rivertime, Leaflight and Rockhopping – has a new graphic novel about the trees in her life. Come along for the launch of Trace’s new book and stay for a workshop. (AND WORKSHOP - booking out fast) Do you have a special tree in your life? In the hands-on workshop you can create a collage-cartoon-love letter-story about a particular tree or forest in your life. The book launch and workshop are both free – workshop materials are provided. 10.30am – Book Launch – no need to register, just turn up! come early for book signing.
Saturday 21st March
10.30am-12.30pm – Workshop – please register here:
Changemakers
Tuesday 24 March 2026
4pm-5pm
Storytelling, comic and collage with Trace Balla
Calling all tree lovers!
Join author and artist Trace Balla for a collage-cartoon-story workshop about a particular tree or forest in your life; and a peek behind the scenes of her new book, Treescape.
Ages 12+ years and adults.
Lake Bolac Eel Festival
Saturday 28 March 2026
11.30am to 1pm &
2pm to 3.30pm
Cartooning the Amazing Eel Story
How amazing is this! Trace Balla, renowned children’s book author/illustrator, will tell you lots of interesting information about eels, show you some tips and tricks about cartooning and then you can make your own cartoon strip, all on the themes of the amazing eels.
come along to a singalong book launch for a new book A Basket of Songs - the Castlemaine Launch will be in the courtyard cafe (yes you can by cuppas and cake!) of the Good Op Shop (yes you can go op shopping before and after!) - Trace has written the lyrics and stories behind the songs, and illustrated the book. Andrew McSweeney has made them into songs- the book comes with music sheets as well as a link to online recordings.
Cost $20- cash or card- (correct cash is faster!)
11 am Sat 16 March 2024 - the Good Op Shop, 4 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine
parking is limited so come early, or by foot or bike
Singalong city book launch for the new book A Basket Of Songs as part of the Sustainable Living Festival and Climarte.
Lyrics by Trace Balla music by Andrew McSweeney. A Basket of Songs is for everyone to connect to our hearts and things that matter. Includes stories behind the lyrics, lyrics, song sheets, link to online recordings, and beautiful illustrations. Songs for celebrations, ceremonies, schools, sunsets, around fires and kitchen tables, at memorials, on your bike, anywhere a song can be sung.
11.00am, 17th February, 2024. Fitzroy Gardens (near the Old Bandstand - cnr Clarendon & Grey Sts East Melb)
books $20 -cash or card - correct cash is fastest!
come along to the city launch of Trace’s new graphic novella Leaf-light (2023)
talks, book sales, signing, singalong with Andrew McSweeney to Trace’s lyrics, listen to Wildlife Vic speaker, and Trace will give a peep at how she created the book.
come by tram or bike, 11 am Tues 26th sept Botanic Gardens, Dallas Brooks drive, Naarm, Melbourne
Book Launch 11 am, sat Aug 5th, 2023
Castlemaine Visitors Info Centre
come along to the book launch of Leaf-light! We will have a chat about making the book, a bunch of thanks and some songs to celebrate with songman Andrew McSweeney, (some of Trace’s lyrics to join in singing with ) book sales and signing.
Join Miri and Wingo on their quest to help a rescued baby emu find their feet in the world… a beautiful ode to working together to make the world a better place. A story about friendship, taking down barriers and creating community, finding your own path in the world and inspiring others along the way. A stand-alone companion to Landing with Wings.
Trace and Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson, having a sneak peek at a preview copy of Leaf-Light
launching in Castlemaine on August 5th, and in Melbourne Domain House BOTANICAL GARDENS on Tues 26 Sept - 11am 2023
Nature Journaling
Connect with nature in the city by getting involved in nature journaling where you will record observations, reflections and feelings about the natural world.
Nature journaling is recognised as a creative, educational and therapeutic tool that can be used to develop ecological literacy and reinforce observational skills, which are key components of supporting a person's connection to nature.
By capturing creative findings over time you will build your connection to place and will help us understand perceptions of nature within the City of Melbourne. As well as highlighting all the natural wonders that you can find even on your doorstep.
Citizen Foresters are invited to take part in a series of face-to-face nature journaling workshops. In these workshops you will be provided with tangible skills and art activities to help you record your observations of the natural world.
These sessions will be professionally filmed by our friends at Remember the Wild. They will then be published on this page as an online resource for nature journaling within the City, which can be accessed by anyone at any time.
These workshops will be held at Walmsley House within the Native Australian Garden at Royal Park, Parkville. Light refreshments will be provided.
On the day you will be asked to bring your own journal or writing paper. We will provide all other art materials.
*IN-PERSON* Nature Journalling for youth with Trace Balla
In this workshop Trace Balla will inspire youth to advocate for environmental sustainability, through nature journaling and storytelling and illustration for young creatives. Ages 12-18.
Dunkeld Writers Festival
Session 3
11.00am
THE COUNTRY ADVANTAGE
At Sterling Place - Dunkeld Community Centre
Is there one, who has it, what did they do with it, and where are they now? The Age’s Tony Wright will wrangle Rick, Colin and Trace on their origins, memories and motivations stemming from a country childhood.
A True Roo Tale of Wandering and Wondering, set on Djaara Country, south eastern Australia. Created to honour the gentle kangaroos that live among us, as well as to acknowledge and support local wildlife rescue and care workers and shelters. A thoughtful graphic novella about Trace’s relationship with the local roos- for all ages, that you can color in. All proceeds go to the Red Box Wildlife shelter.
Soon Available in shops and as an ebook
join Trace for some super fun, free cartoon making workshops at the Woodend and Bendigo libraries, and learn about Boobook owls!
bookings filling fast - follow the links