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We promised you some good news stories in our last ezine, and the first one is below... it's about a Sydney-based teenager who donated his birthday money to Books in Homes. We were so overwhelmed with his generous gesture that we insisted on visiting him and his family to find out more about him. It must be said that we appreciate all the donations that come into Books in Homes. Every donation no matter how seemingly small plays its part in helping our charity to fulfil its mission and that is to create an Australia where every child and family has access to books in the home. The funds go to paying for something as simple as a Book Bag for a child, or nine books-of-choice for one student over the course of a year, or many boxes of books for an entire school. We also set up a postage fund recently, which is used to send additional donated magazines and books beyond the scope of the Program to children around Australia. Thank you to Aiden for his donation, but also thank you to all the individuals, organisations and corporate donors who have made one-off or regular donations.
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Peter Large
Chief Executive Officer &
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
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AWESOME AIDEN'S AWESOME DONATION!
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A few weeks ago Books in Homes received an email that said:
"I’m 13 years old, I’ve just had my birthday and will be donating a portion of the gift money I received to your amazing program.
I have always loved reading and would love to help kids learn to love reading like me and improve their literacy skills.
It will be $1,066 (13 x $82) and is being donated via my dad.
Thank you,
Aiden"
The Books in Homes team was delighted with the email and immediately made plans to meet with Aiden and his parents where we found out a little bit more about this awesome student who attends Emanuel School in Sydney.
Aiden's favourite school subjects are Technology, English and Music, and his favourite activities are music lessons and going to the gym. He also has a great sense of humour. He's inspired by Mel Brooks and believes that you should always look on the funny side of life.
But most importantly to give you context on why Aiden gravitated towards Books in Homes is that he loves reading, especially Fantasy and Sci-Fi. His three favourite books are Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. Aiden's favourite authors are Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, as well as Derek Landy and Garth Nix. Right now Aiden is reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. It is about siblings—Kendra and Seth. They go to their grandparents’ home and find out that their grandfather is the caretaker of many mystical animals and creatures. This leads to Kendra and Seth to go on many adventures.
It is Aiden's love of reading that led him to Books in Homes, as he wanted to give other kids a chance to learn to love reading too. The funds he donated will go towards supporting 13 children at a remote school in the NT.
Thank you, Aiden, for your extraordinary generosity.
PHOTO CREDITS
Above: Aiden with Peter Large (CEO of Books in Homes)
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Sponsor: Central Australian Youth Link-Up Service
Location: Alice Springs, NT
Website: www.caylus.org.au
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What does CAYLUS do?
The CAYLUS mission is to support community initiatives that improve the quality of life and address substance misuse, affecting young people. CAYLUS only works in communities at the request of local people and agencies. The CAYLUS service area spans communities across the bottom half of the Northern Territory. Whilst many supply-reduction measures specifically targeted inhalants, the demand-reduction measures such as development of community-based recreation and youth programs have had a myriad of other health, substance misuse prevention and community safety outcomes.
How long has CAYLUS been supporting Books in Homes Australia?
CAYLUS has been a supporter of Books in Homes Australia since the beginning of 2018.
What schools and communities does CAYLUS currently sponsor?
CAYLUS sponsors Ariparra Community Utopia Homelands, as well as Ariparra School Community Homelands, which are located in Sandover in the NT.
"We are enacting the communities' vision for their kids. People wanted more literacy so we are supporting a number of initiatives including this one. We were hoping for behavioural change and we are seeing it—kids now climb into their parents laps and want to read—it has become a way of getting special one-on-one attention from their older family. This resets the foundations of their home life in a way that will show benefits throughout their life."
Blair McFarland, Manager, CAYLUS
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What part of your work most interests you?
I love to write stories. They come to me and I have to write them down. As an exercise physiologist, I promote healthy living in my own lifestyle, which reflects in my stories too. All of my characters are fit, healthy people!
How did you choose your career path?
I wanted to write books since I was 13, which was when I started. After writing about athletic characters and sports, I was in a phase and so I went to university to study exercise physiology.
What do you do to relax?
Read, watch movies, and go for walks.
Who has inspired you most in life? Why?
My mum. She underwent lifestyle change and lost heaps of weight and got into exercise when I was about 15, so naturally I joined her and that’s also where my healthy living and exercise physiology degree comes from. And even though she doesn’t read, she always encouraged me to and bought me lots of books.
What did you most enjoy about school?
Writing with my friends. Two of my friends and I wrote our first books together in Grade 9 and it was great to have a shared project like that. With the support, we all finished them.
What did you hate most about school?
Funnily enough, Physical Education. I got out of that as soon as possible. Then studied it at uni.
What advice would you give your 10 year old self?
Enjoy life at school while you can. It’s much more fun and carefree than being a grown up.
What three children’s books were your favourites when you were at school?
The Jewel Kingdom series by Ann M. Martin, then the Just series by Andy Griffiths, then Harry Potter.
What would you take to a desert island?
Endless supply of paper, endless supply of ink, and my dog.
And just for fun, choose your preference below:
Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Ice cream or cake? Ice cream.
Plays or musicals? MUSICALS!
Football or soccer? Football.
Tea or coffee? Tea.
Sailing boat or speed boat? Speed boat.
Chocolate or chips? Chocolate.
TV or computer games? TV.
Book or TV? Book.
Swimming or cycling? Swimming.
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Queensland-based Role Model Dimity Powell invites you to attend the book launch of her new children's picture book At the End of Hollyrood Lane, illustrated by Nicky Johnston. Books in Homes Book Selection Committee member Susanne Gervay OAM will be the special guest.
The launch is being held on Sunday 23 September 2018 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at The End Room, Brisbane Square LIbrary. RSVP: dimityspowell@gmail.com or 0413 822 509
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Congratulations to Role Model, illustrator and designer Matthew Lin who has just released his new Samurai Ninja Colouring Book, which is available at The Children's Bookshop at Beecroft. |
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Win one of five book sets of the Zach's Story series by Wendy Milton, which includes: Angel of Fire, Sophie's Return, Nemesis, Spooks and Finding Cathcart.
To enter the competition just send an email to: support@booksinhomesaustralia.com.au with the following information:
1. Email Subject Line: ZACH'S STORY COMPETITION
2. Your full name
2. Your school name (if applicable)
3. Your address
4. Your phone number
5. Answer the following question:
Name two of the five book titles in the Zach's Story series?
COMPETITION RULES:
* The closing date for the competition is Friday 14 September 2018 at 5:00pm (AEST – Sydney time).
* The competition is open to all subscribers of THE BRIDGE (students, schools, Role Models, Sponsors and others), excluding any employees of Books in Homes Australia.
* Enter as many times as you like for more chances to win.
* The first five correct and complete, randomly selected entries will be deemed the winners.
• Only one book set will be awarded per person or school.
* The competition will be drawn on Monday 17 September 2018 at 11:00am.
* The winners will be notified by email on Tuesday 18 September 2018, and the prizes will be mailed to the addresses of the five winners included in the emails of the winning entries.
* The winners' names will be published in the next issue of THE BRIDGE (#46, September 2018).
Good luck!
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THE 91-STOREY TREEHOUSE COMPETITION WINNERS
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Thank you to all the individuals and schools who entered THE 91-STOREY TREEHOUSE COMPETITION that was published in last month's edition of The Bridge. The answer to the question was: Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.
Congratulation to the five winners. They are:
- Nadaysha Moylan, Taree Public School, NSW
- Lotte Van Oijen, Illawarra Grammar School, NSW
- Reyhan Terzi, Broadmeadows Primary School, Vic
- Amy Shakleton, Darkinjung Barker School, NSW
- Lakaya Bungie, Taree Public School, NSW
Keep an eye out for further exciting competitions in future issues of The Bridge.
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TOP 5 TERM 2, 2018 TITLES!
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The Top 5 Books chosen by students from the Term 2, 2018 Primary Book Catalogue in each reading level were:
ORANGE
1. Rodney Loses It!
2. Excuse Me!
3. The Little Yellow Digger
4. Old MacDonald Had a Farm (with CD)
5. Kookaburras Love to Laugh
BLUE
1. 3D Cats and Kittens
2. DC Comics: Super Heroes Storybook Collection
3. Shopkins Ultimate Collector's Guide Vol 3
4. Macca the Alpaca
5. Big Book of Aussie Animals
PURPLE
1. Dog Man #4: Dog Man and Cat Kid
2. Lego Ninjago Movie Novel
3. Ninja Kid
4. Ella and Olivia #18: Happy Campers
5. Miniwings #3: Oceana's Kitty Catastrophe
GREEN
1. Diary of a Minecraft Zombie #5: School Daze
2. Ripley's Believe It or Not! 2018
3. Ella Diaries #11: Going Green
4. Thor Ragnarok Movie Novel
5. The Island at the End of Everything
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MAINFREIGHT CALENDAR – SEPTEMBER 2018
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CLICK on the calendar above to download.
Provided courtesy of Mainfreight.
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