The Reporters are STARS!!!!!
The librarians are STARS!!!! (Thankyou Ann and Sabine, Joanne from Wyvern)
The Head of Teaching learning is a STAR!!!! (Thankyou Sean Corcoran)
The Headmaster is a STAR!!!! (Thankyou Dr David Mulford)
The parents who looked after us are STARS!!! (Thankyou Wendy)
My fabulous minder. I’d have got lost without him. (Thankyou Ewan.)
Loved speaking to the boys, the passion for making a better world, engaging conversations and of course catching up with fantastic Australian authors who I call my friends – all of us committed to reaching young people through literature.
Randa Abdel-Fattah, Deborah Abela, Felcie Arena, Michael Gerald Bauer, Charlie the Educator, Andrew Daddo, Kirsty Eager, Nick Earls, Archimede Fusillo. Scot Gardner, Gus Gordon, Neil Grant, Richard Harland, Barry Heard, Simon Higgins, linda Jaivin, Barry jonsberg, Valana Khoza. Will Kostakis, john Larkin, Benjamin Law, Jeni Mawter, Mandy Ord, Michael Parker, Oliver Phommavanh, Mochael Pryor, Richard Tulloch, Arnold Zable and others.
Thrilled as an author ambassador for Room to Read, that this Festival supports Room to read and bringing literacy to the children of the developing world.
Jenny Hale,William Kostakis,Kate Forsyth,Susanne Gervay
Bookfeast was abuzz with balloons, kids, teachers and the cream of Australian children’s authors and illustrators.
Haberfield school librarian, Michael Fraser’s annual event is unique in uniting the community of Australian children’s authors and illustrators with their audiences in a celebration of literature and reading.
Keynote speakers were:-
Richard Harland award winning and best selling fantasy author
Sue Murray Australia’s leading youth playwright
Sarah Davis - awarded best new young illustrator by the CBCA for ‘Mending Lucille’
Duncan Ball, Australia’s much loved and multi award winning author of Selby the Talking Dog and Emily Eyefinger.
It was a FEAST of talent including
Gus Gordon illustrator - look out for brilliant picture book WENDY
William Kostakis author - YA novel ‘Loathing Lola’
Moya Simons author - series ‘Walk Right In Detective Agency’
Emma Quay illustrator - adorable picture book ‘Bear and Chook’
Sue Whiting author - kids favourite the Firefighters illustrated by Donna Rawlings
Kate Forsyth world wide fantasy author - brilliant series Chain of Charms
Deb Abela author delights with - Max Remy Super Spy
Jenny Hale and her debut fantasy series JATTA which is already a best seller
Chris Cheng editor of a new Poetry anthology that is receiving acclaim
and many more - Felicity Pulman, Vashti Farrer,David Mulligan,Libby Hathorn,Alan Baille,Patricia Bernard,Vicky Morrison ….
It’s truly a FEAST
Sue Whiting and Sarah Davis' picture book 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy'
Kate Forsyth,Vicky Morrison, Deborah Abela
Susanne Gervay and Glenda Millard
Nette Hilton, Ursula Dubosarsky, Tohby Riddle
Donna Rawlins, Simon French, Michael Stephen King
Pat Rutter, Susanne Gervay & Richard Harland - it's funny
I love the NSW Art Gallery. It’s such a beautiful venue for this great celebration of Australian literature.
So many of my friends received short listings and awards from Ursula Dubosarsky, Tohby Riddle, Nette Hilton, Stephen Michael King and many more who were there partying and celebrating - writers, illustrators, authors, Arts community and our heroes - the readers.
I had the privilege of nominating and writing the ‘blurb’ that NSW Premier Nathan Rees read on the night for the recipient of the Special Award. There was a standing ovation for Special Award recipient Katherine Brisbane for her work as founder of Currency Press which is the oldest publisher of Australian plays.
BIG NEWS at the Awards is that the fabulous author and illustrator team and gorgeous couple Donnna Rawlings and Simon French are flying to China to collect their baby boy - Heavenly Writer - what a special name for this special family.
Former NSW Premier Neville Wran gave a witty speech at the awards celebrating Australian literature
Bini, author Chris Cheng & ABC Books publisher Belinda Bolliger
Brilliant Aurelius Winning Fantasy authors Richard Harland & Kate Forsyth
The Reporters are STARS!!!!!
