Max-Strong, BA

Poet, Storyteller, Teacher

Max also has an alter-ego as a pirate storyteller telling his own tales: “The Troo Adventures of Salty Pete the Pirate” Max Strong is a prize-winning writer and performer of both contemporary and bush poetry.

Salty Pete the Pirate and his Troo Adventures

‘Max the Pirate’, presents “The Troo Adventures of Salty Pete the Pirate”. The show is an interactive one of pirate tales, songs, poems, humour and a treasure hunt.

Max has performed his original pirate stories for children at the Bangalow Fatherhood Festival in 2004 and at Woodford Folk Festival in 2005 and 2006.

The show appeals to both boys and girls, but particularly aims to engage boys from 5-12 years using swashbuckling yarns with a message or two, pirate jokes and banter, plus a tug-of –war, interactive songs and a treasure hunt with a difference.

Salty Testimonial

“Max Strong is a natural writer and teller of stories. When Max tells stories of Salty Pete, he has great presence and it is not too difficult to believe in pirates. He has a warm rapport with the audience that delights children and adults alike. As a children’s performer it is very important to be able to connect with adults (parents), as adults won’t stay if ultimately they don’t enjoy the experience.
The Children’s Festival in 2006 attracted an aggregate attendance of more than 10,000 children.” - Becky Wandell, Children’s Festival Co-ordinator, Woodford Folk Festival

Salty Pete Recordings

Watch this space for recordings of Salty’s Troo Adventures coming in 2008. You can send us an email to go on a mailing list, then we can let you know once Salty Tales become available.

Max is a regular performer at Byron Bay's "Writers at the Rails" and at the Lismore Rous Hotel. He's twice been invited to perform as a finalist in the "Byron Bay Writers Festival Poetry Award". Max's poem "My Father's Hat" won the 2002 World Peace Bell Poetry Competition.

Bush Poet

Bush Testimonial

“Max is a great poet, a lover of the spoken and written word and is able to convey great depth of feeling through his recitations. Max has a great sense of humour – his original poems in particular reflect his great talent, understanding of our Australian culture and is pure value.” - Phil Ainsworth, President, Oracles of the Bush Inc

Teacher, Tree Planter

Max has taught English as a high school teacher and worked as a specialist teacher with students with learning difficulties for thirty years. Max has developed many programs to engage students with literature and has organised poetry and literary events to inspire students.

He is a passionate tree planter and has worked with his ‘grounds group’ students to not only beautify the school grounds with edible bush tucker and native trees, but also they have planted thousands of native trees in community settings outside the school grounds.

When Max became a father and his young children asked him for stories, ‘Salty Pete’s Troo Adventures’ began pouring out if him spontaneously. Max becomes so salty when he tells these tales peppered with nautical terms and history, some suspect he may be tapping into a past life!