It’s a privilege to be an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading.
I love being sent to speak at libraries around the country; speaking to kids.
Today it was Campbelltown Library with Ingleburn High School students.
They were wonderful and thoughtful. I appreciated their comments and engagement. Thankyou.
I shared anti bullying through ‘I Am Jack;, music through ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ – they were all into music.
I shared my family’s journey as refugees finding home in a new country through ‘Ships in the Field.’
The walls are high, the security is tight – locks, guards, security codes.
I’ve entered the world of Sunning Hill Education in the Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre (JJJC).
The teachers are welcoming and professional. Their goal is to give these girls vocational and social skills so that they won’t have to be incarcerated again.
I am given a serious induction session- the security and the way it operates.
I have the privilege of being in the staff meeting where the weekend reports are read out and discussed – this young offender was unsettled, that young offender had to be subdued, privileges are removed, Sunday afternoon had no events.
I am taken through locked hallways, across the courtyard to the lecture room. It’s modern with book posters including ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ and ‘Butterflies’ on the wall and a display of books for the girls to read. I am only allowed to bring in my books.
There are 6 teachers-staff-security present as the 15 teenage girls are brought in.
My Book Week talk is one hour about search for identity, the journey of writing with my daughter Tory, ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ and meeting challenges through ‘Butterflies’.
The girls look down, some look at me and so begins a very special hour sharing story and life.
My heart goes out to these girls, because they are just girls like my daughter.
I am glad to be part of this day. I am glad there is an education facility with the Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre.
I hope I have touched even a few of these girls, as I want them to have a life where they can pursue their dreams.
They deserve that.
I appreciated this special experience.
Amy Winehouse’s death is such a tragic waste – talented singer, loving family, a voice of youth.
Drugs are ‘friends’ that invite people in for a party, but drugs are not friends and take everything:-
They destroy familes, young lives, community.
Young people are so vulnerable – I personally know young people trapped by drugs, some are in and out of mental health hospitals, can’t keep a job, live for the next hit and some have died like Amy.
Music is such a real way to reach emotions, express emotions, reach into lives – but it’s got to be NO to drugs.
Amy’s death is so deeply sad.
Scene from videoclip of Psycho Dad
Schools of Isolated & Distance Education (SIDE) - connects with young people,teachers, parents across WA, Australia and beyond.
I loved going into their Leederville studios in Perth. Headset on, computer ready, visuals ready, connected to teens and I talk for an hour with teens in remote country towns and outback stations.
Thankyou Cathy Scott for setting up and hosting the studio session.
The focus was my young adult books – Butterflies, The Cave, with special emphasis on ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ where music and lyrics by Tory Gervay integrate with narrative. Jump onto the website and read the film scripts, lyrics, music, backstory - it’s all there.
The cover of ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ has a female only cover – turns the guys off even though it’s about girls and guys and their relationships set against the music scene. So guys be brave and jump into “That’s Why I Wrote This Song’.
Listen to I Wanna be Found and Psycho Dad by Tory Gervay on youtube:-
www.youtube.com/user/sgervay
Teacher librarians came from Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and NSW to this warm and welcoming conference.
Paul MacDonald from Beecroft Book Shop discussed young adult novels with their tradition of search for identity & confronting youth issues.
I spoke about my younger fiction which although dealing with tough issues is warm, funny, safe, assessible for Christian schools -
I AM JACK – bullying
SUPER JACK – blending families and aging grandparents
ALWAYS JACK – breast cancer coming out in October
DAISY SUNSHINE - women’s right for education.
However my YA books are confronting as they deal with teen search for identity – social, sexual, independence - & the eternal youth questions - Who Am I? Why Am I here? Where am I going?
‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ where my teen daughter Tory wrote the lyrics and music for the book, captures that searching, emotional power of music, impact of relationships and search for identity:-
See the video clips of Tory Gervay’s songs – Psycho Dad and I Wanna Be Found on my youtube channel:-www.youtube.com/user/sgervay
The poem from teenager Donna Higginson given to me at the conference is moving, beautiful and embraces challenging YA literature that partners young people on their search for pathways to self realisation.
Tribute to Nathan
by teenager Donna Higginson
