School Visits, Book Launch & National Sorry Day Celebrated in our Nation's Capital

Visiting Canberra in the autumn promised to be stunning, and this year it did not disappoint. A magnificent display of yellows and reds lined each street, with warm sun-filled afternoons to delight. Having arrived in Canberra on Thursday afternoon, my dear friend (and amazing author/illustrator) Nicky Johnston and I headed straight to Dymocks Canberra to meet up with the incredibly talented Dub Leffler, and illustrator of SORRY DAY, for a book signing. We then popped into the National Library of Australia, where planning was well underway for the official launch of SORRY DAY on Saturday. 

Dub and I had the privilege of visiting two Primary schools in Canberra on Friday; Holy Trinity Curtin and Forrest Primary Schools, and shared SORRY DAY with hundred of receptive students.

On Saturday, Australia stopped to celebrate National Sorry Day, and we began our day at the Woden Library. Dub and I shared stories with the Us Mob Writers at a Meet the Creators Event, before heading to the National Library of Australia for the official launch of SORRY DAY. We were only a kilometre away from where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave the National Apology a decade earlier.

Director-General of the National Library, Dr Marie-Louise Ayres, chaired the proceedings with Brother Tyrone giving a wonderful Welcome Country. The National Library's first Indigenous Curator, Sister Rebecca, shared a very emotional testimony of her connection to the Stolen Generations and what the book meant to her and her family.

Dr Anita Heiss officially launched and OPENED the book, before Dub and I took the podium to speak. To conclude the ceremony, Dub and I read the book to the huge crowd gathered; reading each paralleled story; I read the story of Maggie and her mother gathering on the lawns of Parliament House to watch the National Apology, while Dub read the story of the group of Aboriginal children who were taken from their families on that fateful day. 

We finished the event, and the celebration of National Sorry Day, with a book signing and a delicious afternoon tea together. I am incredibly grateful to the National Library of Australia, and in particular Susan Hall, my publisher, for believing in this important book and for organising the momentous launch of this book. It was also wonderful to catch up with creative friends at the launch, and during our time in Canberra, including the exceptionally talented author/illustrator Tania McCartney. And I even had the wonderful privilege of meeting Christina Huynh, the illustrator of a new book I've written, coming out in 2019.

Launching SORRY DAY in our nation's capital was a thrill. It is my hope that SORRY DAY helps children understand our history and the damaging injustice done, in a way that is sensitive and appropriate, but also to remind us all, that in that one powerful word – SORRY- there is hope for a way forward for every Australian- that what had been, would never be again.

The Meet...Don Bradman Book Launch Wrap-up

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A large crowd of young cricketing fans gathered in the MCC Library at the mighty MCG on a classic rainy Melbourne’s day, being the perfect backdrop for the official launch of the new children’s picture book, Meet…Don Bradman.

Channel Nine’s Livinia Nixon warmly welcomed everyone, giving a brief history of Don’s sporting achievements and his relationship to this great stadium; where he scored more Test centuries than anywhere else in the world.

I donned a Baggy Green and gave everyone a first look at Meet…Don Bradman, with a cricket stump and golf ball in hand (you’ve got to read the story to know why).

The children had a sporting time creating their own ‘paper’ cricket balls, ‘balloon’ Baggy Greens and cricket bats.

And as we sat, surrounded by such amazing cricket history, everyone cheered as Meet…Don Bradman scored a six and was officially launched.

Meet…Don Bradman is available in stores from 18 April 2016.

The Hairy Maclary & Friends Waterfront Sculpture Project

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On a recent trip to New Zealand, I was thrilled to visit the new Hairy Maclary & Friends Waterfront Sculpture Project in Tauranga.  The Sculpture Park is a tribute to local Tauranga resident of over 20 years and author to the world renowned Hairy Maclary series, Lynley Dodd.

The project is a "storybook scene" of permanent bronze sculptures of Hairy Maclary and some of his friends – Scarface Claw, Slinky Malinki, Hercules Morse, Muffin McLay, Bottomley Potts, Schnitzel von Krumm, Bitzer Maloney and Zachary Quack.

It was a joy to watch as children recognised the characters, called them each by name (as a beloved family pet), touched, hugged and climbed them with delight. Against a stunning waterfront setting and adjacent to the children’s playground, the larger-than-life public art truly brings the loved children's book characters to life and leaves a legacy for generations to come.

If you are a Lynley Dodd fan (like me), Tauranga Waterfront NZ is a must see!

YABBA 2014

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I had a great day at this year's YABBA ceremony hosted so superbly by Hillcrest Christian College; celebrated with 25 other authors and illustrators and with over 400 students from 17 different schools. Congratulations to all the winners!

With the wonderfully talented Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton, Bob Graham, Nicky Johnston, Serena Geddes and Kayleen West!

Book Week 2014

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Having the most wonderful Book Week; visiting schools, story-telling, dress ups, meeting students, writing workshops, hearing their stories and encouraging everyone to connect 2 reading! #bookweek2014 A big shout out to - Our Lady of Lourdes School, Karoo Primary School, Bayside Christian College, Christian College Drysdale, Strathaird Primary School, Kardinia International School and Wandin Yallock Primary School and many more!

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