The wonderful Dianne Wolfer has headed SCBWI Western Australia and Northern territory for 6 amazing years.
She has lead growth of memberships, run conferences, enthused our West and promoted the community of children’s writers & illustrators.
Frane Lessac SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator has partnered her in this - so many WA authors and illustrators have become published, award winning authors and illustrators and have travelled throughout the West on speaking tours, conferences and festivals.
Dianne is still very much a part of the SCBWI committee . However she’s now doing her Phd and writing more books.
Frane Lessac, award winning picture book writer and illustrator is the new leader – the RA SCBWI Australia West – taking back her old role.
James Foley Crystal Kite winner for ‘The Last Viking’ is taking Frane’s place as Illustrator Coordinator.
Award winning novellist and picture book writer Meg McInlay is the ARA – assistant regional advisor.
What a team!!!!!!
THANKYOU DIANNE WOLFER FOR YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATION & SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
THANKYOU FRANE LESSAC FOR TAKING ON THE LEADERSHIP AGAIN.
Love you all.
We’ve finally on facebook and news about the children’s writers and illustrators sharing information and friendship is easily available now. Come and have a look.
SCBWI has conferences, meetings, networks, lots of comraderie across Australia and New Zealand.
SCBWI Australia and New Zealand supports :-
National Year of Reading where SCBWI leaders Frane Lessac, Hazel Edwards, Deb Abela, Christopher Cheng and I are ambassadors www.love2read.org
Room to Read bringing education to the children of the developing world www.roomtoread.org
SCBWI is lead by:-
Frane Lessac Illustrator Coordinator
Corrine Fenton in Victoria and Tasmania
Dianne Wolfer in WA
Sheryl Gywther, Prue Mason. Tina Marie Clark, Pamela Rusby in Queensland
Frances Plumpton in New Zealand
Amanda Graham in SA
Susanne Gervay in NSW, ACT and Australia
Christopher in Australia and on the international board
www.scbwiaustralia.org
5 hour flight across the Australian desert. Love our desert.
Landed in Perth to be welcomed by Festival Director of All Saints Literature Festival – thankyou Kris Williams!
I settled into the creative residence on the ALL SAINTS campus, then headed for the Open Day at the Fremantle Youth Literature Centre – an old prison which is now a leading Kids Literature Centre.
Who should be there but the driving force of the Literature Centre Director Lesley Reece, and of course, my brilliant friends:-
Frane Lessac talented award winning illustrator and picture book writer
Dianne Wolfer talented award winning author
Mark Greenwood talented award winning author
Mark Wilson talented and award winning illustrator and picture book writer
Louise Schofield talented and award winning fantasy author.
Yes, I know – how come ALL my friends are talented and award winning? Well, because they ARE!!!!!!
Mark Wilson’s exhibition of ‘My Mother’s Eyes’ is moving, as the words and illustrations reveal the story of an Australian boy soldier who was only 16 when he enlisted for the First World War.
Post script to the Open Day:- Hanging out at Frane Lessac and Mark Greenwood’s cool house where we watched Shan Tan’s brilliant film ‘The Lost Thing’. We indulged in good food, wine and a hot spa in the balmy Fremantle weather where we toasted Shan Tan’s ’The Lost Thing’ – academy award winner!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah to Shan Tan.
PS Shan just won the Astrid Lingren Award too – most prestigious in the world.
The Friday night SCBWI International Conference Australia & New Zealand at The Hughenden dinner, introduced the SCBWI leaders- me and Chris Cheng co-RA’s, Frances Plumpton Literary agent New Zealand, Dianne Wolfer ASA Western Australia, Frane Lessac Illustrator Coordinator, Corinne King ASA Victoria, Peter Taylor co-ordinator Queensland
and Executive Director of SCBWI worldwide film maker and author, Lin Oliver.
Sarah Foster Publishing Director for Walker Books Australia, gave a war, funny, celebratory speech about ‘Hank Zipster’ written by Henry Winkler (The Fonz) and Lin Oliver.
It has sold more than 3.5 million books.
Everyone loves the FONZ.
Hank Zipster is a funny, meaningful story inspired by The Fonz’ who had undiagnosed dislexia and faced difficult schools years. It’s a beautifully written series that gives kids a belief in themselves.
The creative life is an exploration of places within and beyond – filled with community, ideas, sharing and friendships.
Rottnest Retreat, Western Australia – 10-13th June
SCBWI Western Australia headed by author Dianne Wolfer and WA authors and illustrators have a retreat in beautiful Rottnest Island – off the coast of Perth. www.rottnestisland.com
You can come for a day, but I’m staying in a cabin with Sarah Foster Publisher Walker Books and brilliant illustrator Ann James.
It’s casual, personal and fun and while I’m doing some talks, I’ll also be happy to discuss your writing.
Many of the best of WA authors & illustrators will be there workshopping, sharing writing and publishing news .
Here’s the brilliant, talented, welcoming SCBWI WA team. Do I think they’re fantastic? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[email protected]
www.scbwiaustralia.org
