South Coogee Public School Celebrates National Year of Reading with Library After Dark

South Coogee Public School celebrated the National Year of Reading with a fantastic pyjama party with kids, parents and teachers. (Only kids in pyjamas).

The Principal, staff and parents braved the cold, were outside cooking sausages for their sausage sizzle.

Helen Te Rata the Deputy Principal invited me as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading to speak at this book love-fest.

The audience of kids, parents and teachers were enthusiastic and I LOVED every minute of speaking to them.  They LOVED my JACK who I had to admit is messy, nearly blew up the house, but he’s a super great kid.

I was so impressed with the girls who were initiating a BOOK CLUB for years 1 and 2, and want to extend it to years 3 to 6.

The kids also made a commitment to Indigenous Literacy with a fund raiser.

It truly was a celebration of reading.

LOVE the LONDON OLYMPICS!

The opening ceremony has the WOW factor.

Brilliant by the UK!!!!

Loved James Bond in all his forms taking the Olympic torch to the opening and the Queen parachuting in  … so many highlights .. .

LAUREN Jackson has competed in four Games, won three medals in basketball and leads the Australian team into the  Olympic stadium.

Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlanger -100 metre relay GOLD!

Human Rights with Patrician Brothers Schools & Human Rights Writer and Poet Antjie Krog

What a day – driving across Sydney to speak to teenage boys at Patrician Brothers Blacktown, ending with an evening with South African writer and poet Antjie Krog at the Australian Human Rights Centre, Law Faculty, University of NSW.

Highlights:

The boys were from so many countries from Tonga, India to Sudan sharing – insights about the immigrant journey. The boys were thoughtful, intelligent and insightful.

Antjie shares insights about racism and apartheid and its devastating effects on the psyche of South Africa today. Very moving.

Antjie is staying at The Hughenden and loving Paddington-Woollahra, enjoyed walking around Centennial Parklands and walked right into the city.

‘A fabulous night of hilarious fun’ – The New York Times – in Paddington with Linda Jaivin

The quaint Anglican Chruch was the theatrical venue for ’7 laugh filled short plays, drinks and canapes. I was in Heaven.’ – Woody Allen.

Woody was right.  As I sipped my glass of wine and nibbled on cheese in the company of the best selling author Linda Jaivin, with a party of artists, actors writers, it was the beginning of a fabulous evening.

Funny, bitter-sweet plays, with great energy, acted brilliantly with actors:-

Nicola Furst, Claire Gandy, Emma Louise, Steve McGrath and Grace Rouvray, Dave Woodland, Corinne Marie, and Malcom Frawley

Loved the evening – and ‘Frivolities at Five Ways’ is on until August 15th – bookings: wwwmoshtix.com.au.

You won’t be disappointed.

Trust Me Too (Ford Street Publishing) launched at Parramatta High School

Parramatta High School’s hall was filled with students, teachers and kids from other schools, authors – Paul Collins, Meredith Costain, Oliver Phommavanh, Toni Brisland, Wendy Fitzgerald, Lindy Batchelor, Wendy Orr.

Judith Ridge, recognised as one of Australia’s leading authorities on youth literature, wrote the foreward for ‘Trust me Too’ – 58 reasons to celebrate reading by some of Australia’s best loved authors and illustrators.

Wendy Orr read from her moving story ‘The Snake Singer’

Meredith Costain read her wonderful poem ‘Shoefitti’ illustrated by Grant Gittus.

It includes an Obernewtyn novelette by the interntaional best selling fantasy author Isobelle Carmody.

Everyone can dip into this anthology and discover laughs, tears, meaning, fantasy, imagination and more.

A National Year of Reading 2012 event.