Indigenous Literacy Day 2013
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) will stage its seventh Indigenous Literacy Day on Wednesday 4 September to raise funds for literary resources in remote Indigenous communities.
ILF executive director Karen Williams told Books+Publishing that ILF is ‘enormously excited’ about the day, and is hoping to raise up to $200,000 for Indigenous literacy. Last year’s Indigenous Literacy Day raised around $230,000 through contributions from publishers, booksellers, authors, schools, libraries and other organisations.
Once again, schools, libraries, booksellers and other organisations will be hosting ‘Great Book Swaps’, where students can trade a favourite title for a gold coin donation. ILF expects over 20,000 students to take part in book swap events across the country. Retailers and publishers have also pledged to donate a percentage of sales from the day, as well as raise funds through events and donation boxes.
One of the major events of the day will take place at the Sydney Opera house with students and staff from one of Australia’s most remote schools, Tjuntjuntjara Remote Community School in Western Australia. The students will sing songs and read from the book How Does Your Garden Grow, which was written by the students in collaboration with 13-year-old Melbourne student Lachie Coman, who travelled to Tjuntjuntjara when he was just 11 with the support of ILF ambassador Andy Griffiths. Coman and Griffiths will attend the Opera House event, along with authors Anita Heiss, Kate Grenville and David Malouf, and musician Josh Pyke.
Other Sydney events include a Great Book Swap with Kamileroi painter and author Elaine Russell at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and writing, photography, acting and music workshops with various actors, authors and playwrights at University of Technology Sydney’s Jumbunna College.
In Melbourne, the Australian Society of Authors will host an art auction called ‘One Word, One Day’ at the ABC Southbank Centre, with works from artists such as Mitch Vane, Wendy Binks, Lucia Masciullo, Tony Flowers and Christina Booth.
Also in Melbourne, Wattle Glen Primary school will hold a Great Book Swap with children’s author and illustrator Annette Sax, and Cranbourne Library has organised a day of writing, drawing and cultural awareness workshops involving over 300 students from surrounding schools.
In Perth, Curtin University Centre for Aboriginal Affairs will hold an event with Warburton Remote Playgroup Mums, demonstrating ILF’s Book Buzz program, which provides early literacy packs to families in remote areas to encourage reading from an early age.
‘Get Caught Reading’ campaign launched
ILF has also launched a new fundraising campaign called ‘Get Caught Reading’. The social media campaign asks booklovers to make a small donation for Indigenous literacy and upload and share a photo of themselves reading one of their favourite titles. Williams said ILF is hoping to gain 10,000 supporters by the end of the year.
Category: Local news
