Pacific Calling Partnership Heads off to Kiribati

We’re on a mission to the equator, heading for 33 atoll islands in the Pacific.

Stop over Nadi in Fiji – greeted by Fijians singing -beautiful welcome.

Highlights: Meeting the rest of the party in Fiji.

Nicola Daley award winning cinematographer flew in from Alice Springs where she was filming echnidas to join Tom Zubreski producer and director of a documentary on Maria Timmon from Kiribati and the Pacific Calling Partnership.

Jill Finnane social justice advocate and fantastic organiser who gave me shiny green huge gloves for the mangroves we are going to plant in Kiribati – at 6 am before it gets too hot!!!!!

And there’s more ….. but later … we’re 10 in the delegation and the film makers Nicola and Tom. Ready to go to Kiribati now.

Pacific Kiribati Delegation:Patrick Dodson Father of Indigenous Reconciliation,Phil Glendenning Human Rights Advocate,Tom Zubrycki award winning documentary film maker …..

 

It’s a Pacific Calling Delegation including Patrick Dodson father of reconcilation, Phil Glendenning human rights advocate and Director of the Edmund Rice Centre, Tom Zubrycki award winning film maker - www.tomzubrycki.com and Louise Whelan award winning photo journalist. 

The world is so small – apologies for cliche – Tom met my cousin Ruth Balint (also a documentary film maker) for coffee a few days ago.

Our delegation shared dinner last night in preparation to start our 8 day mission on Monday.

My purpose: As a kids and YA author who writes to gives choices to young people, and as an ambassador for Room to Read bringing literacy to kids in the developing world, I’m on a fact finding mission.

I’ll try to report from Kiribati.

Wendy Blaxland’s ‘How are they Made?’ series launched at Abbotsleigh School Sydney

I launched Wendy’s series of 12 books ‘How are they Made?’ to hundreds of enthuisiastic Abbotsleigh girls dressed as their favourite book characters.

The research is huge, the books really, really interesting and fun on things around us – paper, pencils, plates & mugs,  sneakers, knives & forks, bottles and jar, jumpers, helmets, basketballs, guitars, cans -  I love the recycling focus too. 

Jacqueline Harvey coordinated the Abbotsleigh Literature Festival and was MC of the launch. She’s also the author of the popular series Alice Miranda -  boarding school adventures.  Such a great series. The teacher who dressed up as Alice Miranda was a huge hit with the kids. She bicycled into Wendy’s launch wearing a helmet – highlighting Wendy’s ‘Helmet’ book in the series.

 I loved speaking about Wendy and these fantastic books.

CBCA Celebrations for Book Week with authors Oliver Phommavanh, Chris Cheng, Jeni Mawter, Deb Abela & I Am Jack

Aussie kids at Auburn North was like the United Nations.

Kids whose families come from Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Thailand, China, sixth generation Aussie background and more … welcomed Aussie authors.

Their Principal Mr Harris celebrated books as a way to fulfil kids’ dreams of reaching their dreams.

Their Librarian, teachers, CBC President Carole Keeble welcomed authors, kids and parents.

The MC, talented author Deborah Abela, who co-ordinated this CBCA Book Week event, had the packed library in love with her book ‘ The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen.’

Oliver had them laughing; Jeni had them laughing even more; Chris has them engrossed in his amazing zoo stories and I was deeply touched that my JACK was on the feature StoryBridge painting that covered the main wall.

Thankyou to bookseller Kay from Shearer’s Bookshop, to the wonderful librarian  Catherine Clift, Leanne Hodges and President CBCA Carole Keeble and especially Deborah Abela.   

Thankyou to the kids of Auburn North for loving JACK.

Playback Theatre, Storytellers at The Hughenden

Storytellers crowded into The Hughenden for fabulous stories:-

Love Playback Theatre’s Stephen Meagher and his Sinbad the Sailor swashbuckling into the show.

Playback Theatre is interactive improvisation with actors and musicians and audience.

www.playbacktheatre.com.au – at Newtown Theatre Sydney

Andrew Kwong told wonderful stories. His life story  of being a refugee boy fleeing China is part of the Picador anthology, ‘Fear factor: Terror Incognito’.  

Andrew just did a Varuna Residency in the Blue Mountains where he told the spooky tale of ghostly visitors at 3.37 am every morning, I’ve done a fellowship at Varuna Writers Centre in the Blue Mountains and loved the sharing with other writers, the fireplace in the evenings and the beautiful eucalyptus bush.

The storytellers loved the stories and the afternoon tea as they dug into clotted cream, berry jams and mouth watering scones that just came out of the over from The Hughenden kitchen

Thankyou Head Chef – Kat Medina  

from Stoyrtellers Guild NSW