www.firstnationstelegraph.com
ILF brings Tiwi girls to Sydney to publish a book
by Ashleigh Barton 28 October 2015
N
ext week the Indigenous Literacy Foundation will bring nine senior schoolgirls from the Tiwi Islands to Sydney to participate in a week-long writing and mentoring workshop hosted by Hachette Australia. Throughout the week, the girls will write and illustrate stories about life on the Tiwi Islands and learn how to turn those stories into a book. Author and ILF ambassador Dr Anita Heiss, along with awardwinning author Pamela Freeman, will lead the workshops while the
Hachette team will help edit, design and publish the book in just five days. OPUS Group is on board to have the book printed in time for its launch on Friday 6 November. Hachette joint Managing Director, Louise Sherwin-Stark says: ‘We have ambitions to not only create a book the Tiwi girls can be proud of but a book that we can take to market, and book that can take their unique stories to Australian readers. All in a week!’ Penny Evershed, Head of Children’s Product and Communications says: ‘We are so excited to work with the girls and allow them to share their stories
in the publishing of this book. The challenge is to do it in one week.’ The trip is made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Norman Family Bequest, in memory of former Hachette CEO Matt Richell, and will provide the senior girls’ class from Tiwi College on Melville Island with a unique opportunity to develop their literacy skills. ‘We are great admirers of ILF’s work and delighted to support this initiative which we are sure will create exciting, new possibilities for the Tiwi College girls,’ said Matt Richell’s father-in-law, John Norman.
Page 1
www.firstnationstelegraph.com
‘The mentoring and writing workshop is not only a fantastic opportunity for the girls to develop their skills but it’s a wonderful time of two-way learning where we’re all introduced to Tiwi culture and life. The donation is an enormously significant and generous gift that will open doors for these young women and make it all possible,’ said Karen Williams, Executive Director of The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Earlier this year, Hachette joint Managing Director Louise Sherwin-Stark, accepted an invitation from the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to visit the Tiwi Islands as part of their annual ambassador trip. Whilst in the Tiwi Islands, Louise had the opportunity to see first-hand how the ILF go about their work, and to witness the positive impact of more books in schools. Read more about Louise’s visit to the Tiwi Islands here. The book will be launched in Sydney on Friday 6 November at 2.30 pm.
Page 2