Kurt Fearnley the paralympic Gold Medallist and Marathan Man of Wheelchair Sports had the audience standing, cheering, clapping.
He climbed the Kokoda Track on his hands and knees. it was gruelling, courageous, but he was showing that disability unites us.
He was a boy from the country. He never walked but he explored, climbed trees, played footy with the other kids, on his hands and knees.
I loved his courage.
Governor Marie Bashir and ABC radio announcer Adam Spencer celebrated him.
There were sports people, writers, business people, Ita Buttrose Australian of the Year packing the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney.
Cuaght up with Stephan Wellink the Executive Producer of the feature film ‘I Am Jack’, best selling author and actor Judy Nunn, children’s non fiction author Jill Bruce, ABC announcer and artist Yianni Johns.
The night was balmy, the speech inspiring, the Conservatorium overlooking the Botantical Gardens towards the harbour was a special night.
LOVE being an Australia Day Ambassador.
Balloons, partying, Glen Street Theatre, authors, illustrators, librarians, kids’ literature enthusiasts – the Christmas party by Children’s Book Council, Northern Beaches was a buzz!
Michael Stephen-King had us moved to tears with his stories of the heart:
- illustration as his place to escape, explore, create in a confusing world where his deafness separated him
His joyous lines capture the curiosity of childhood and we love him.
Glenda Millard also brought tears and laughs with her stories of family and relationships.
She invites us all into the safety of being different and celebrating it. Love her too.
It was a night of friendship and celebration of the children’s literature community-
authors Kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell, Wendy Blaxland, Margaret Roc, Aleesah Darlison, Laurine Croasdal, Jill Bruce, Anna Feinberg, Kim Gamble
… the iconic Maurice Saxby father of Australian children’s literature
and Margaret Hamilton publisher, writer, and Director of the illustrator’s house Pinerolo in the Blue Mountains.and so many more.
Thankyou to Wendy Fitzgerald, president of the CBCA Northern Beaches and all the fabulous people who supported this night.
FABULOUS NIGHT!
Wandering through the Reading Room exhibiting children’s illustrations by wonderful artists such as Cathy Wilcox, Sarah Davis, Shaun Tan, Donna Rawlings, Nina Rycroft, the Children’s Book Council gathered in the warm candle-lit sun lounge of The Hughenden.
Everyone was waiting for Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and patron of the Children’s Book Council.
Carol Keeble Pesident of the CBCA (NSW), Maurice Saxby a father of Australian children’s literature and Margaret Hamilton former President of the Children’s Book Council, the CBCA Foundation and a leading literary figure in Australia welcomed the Governor.
It was a wonderful evening of fine food, the company of authors and the children’s literary community.
Some of the authors included J.C. Burke, Christopher Cheng, Sue Whiting, Mary Small, Jill Bruce, Margaret Roc joining the President of the CBCA NSW and supporters to discuss books, listen to an address by Jill Bruce the new judge of the CBCA Awards and Wendy Smith the outgoing judge.
Fabulous night with everyone lingering on to share good company, food and celebrate children’s books.
Patricia is an intrepid explorer – she’s just returned from the Cairo riots safely.
Evi Pickler sang us the beautiful song she wrote ’Australia’
David Morris completed his mega saga manuscript and it’s at his agent
Jill Bruce flashed her 10 fantastic non-fiction books on Australia and we shared Australia Day Ambassador stories.
I shared my excitement about Monkey Baa Theatre performing ‘I Am Jack’ again in October at the Seymour Centre Sydney.
Kurt Fearnley the paralympic Gold Medallist and Marathan Man of Wheelchair Sports had the audience standing, cheering, clapping.
