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CBCA ACT Branch eNews:
2021 Issue 7
August 2021
Welcome to issue 7 of the CBCA ACT Branch eNewsletter for 2021.
In this Issue
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MEMBERSHIP
You've subscribed but have you thought about becoming a member?
You can join the ACT Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia by clicking the link below.
Information on the benefits of joining is available here plus membership forms for personal or Institute that you can print. To pay by credit card, use this link.
Join now
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JULIE LONG OAM - PRESIDENT OF THE CBCA ACT BRANCH
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President’s Report August 2021
Hello everyone,
It was with great excitement that I heard on 666 ABC radio that Lisa Fuller had won the ACT Book of the year for her novel “Ghost Bird” which was an Honour book in the Older Reader’s category of our CBCA Awards in 2020. Congratulations Lisa. Those of you who came to the Short List event in March at Book Cow will remember that Lisa gave a talk about this book.
Children’s Book Week is this month. In the CBCA National Chair’s “From the Desk” there are some clues to what you will see at our own Awards Announcement at the National Library on 20 August. Everyone is welcome – adults and especially children will enjoy what we have planned. No need to book and no cost.
I hope those involved with children/grandchildren/fellow teachers/Librarians are already thinking of dress up ideas for Book Week parades and assemblies. The theme of “Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds” gives great scope for costumes too.
Happy reading everyone,
Julie Long
CBCA ACT Branch President
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Calendar
1st August - 30th August: Reader's Cup Entries open
20th August - 10th October: Graeme Base Exhibition - Belconnen Arts Centre
Friday 20th August: Book Week winners announced - National Library Theatre
Wednesday 1st September: Indigenous Literacy Day
Tuesday 14th September: The Reading Hour
Wednesday 20th October: Reader's Cup
For a full list of events and details, go to the CBCA ACT website Events page.
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Book Week Theme 2021
"Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds"
Awards announcement August 20th
11.30-12.30 - National Library
Come and hear the announcement of the awards and enjoy performances by local schools.
Hashtag for this year is #CBCA2021
To access teaching notes, judges' critiques, CBCA Reading Time reviews, videos and more just click on the 'read more' button beside each book on the CBCA Shortlist page.
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Some schools are delaying their Book Week for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the CBCA has added two new images for use in newsletters and online content. They are the Shaun Tan Poster without dates.
Click here to get your copy (Resources page on the CBCA website).
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Book Week Short Films
A series of short films have been made to help promote Book Week and build up excitement. The first one is about the announcement and features the paper plane theme. The second is a series of clips "Flying Thoughts" by South Australian authors and illustrators talking about their favourites from this years Book Week Books.
Book of the Year announcement: https://youtu.be/nJepjB4pGrg
Flying Thoughts (first two, more to come):
Janeen Brian talking about "Bindi"
https://youtu.be/BxOX2oeuOpw
Jane Jolly talking about "Your Birthday was the Best!"
https://youtu.be/QfFiVKD9O1s
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CBCA National Conference - Save the Date!
The next CBCA Conference will be held in Canberra, June 10-12 2022.
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Readers Cup
Entries are now open and close on August 30th. Go to the ACT CBCA website for entry forms, or Trybooking at https://www.trybooking.com/BTDBC. If you are a CBCA Member, keep an eye out for a special discount code email.
Book Passion will host a popup bookshop on the night.
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Graeme Base Exhibition
The Belconnen Arts Centre is making NCACL Graeme Base artworks their star attraction in their latest Exhibition. It Opens August 20th and runs until 10th October. There will be activities and events based on "The Worst Band in the Universe". Click here for more information. Entry is free!
*School Special*
Special Music, Writing and Visual Art afternoons are available for schools, $5 per student. Contact Ann McMahon, (02) 6173 3320 or ann@belcoarts.com.au for more information.
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The Great Book Swap 
The Great Book Swap is a fantastic way to celebrate reading locally, learn more about Indigenous languages and culture, while raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Schools, workplaces, libraries, universities, book clubs, individuals and all kinds of organisations can host a Great Book Swap. The idea is to swap a favourite book in exchange for a gold coin donation.
This year, we are aiming to raise $350,000! By registering to host a Great Book Swap at your school or library, you will be actively helping us gift 35,000 new, carefully chosen books to children in remote communities across the country.
To register, go to https://www.greatbookswap.org.au/.
Indigenous Literacy Day
A free virtual event will be held on Wednesday 1st September from 9am to celebrate First Nation stories and language. It will include 2 minute videos of First Nation People of all ages storytelling. To register your interest, go to the registration page.
There will also be pay-to-experience events and a launch of Stella Raymond and the Binjari Buk Mob book, Tudei en longtaim (Now and Then).
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Story Box 
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Books for the Outback
Luke has begun delivering donated books to people who don't have a lot of access to books. Read the story here.
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Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program
CBCA NSW Branch is pleased to announce that the Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program is being re-launched in 2021 with sponsorship by Cathie Tasker who will mentor the winner. Fremantle Press will provide 2 runners-up with access to their online writing course plus the text How to be an author by Georgia Richter & Deborah Hunn.
The Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program aims to foster the talent of aspiring writers of children's literature across Australia and is open to all Australian citizens residing in Australia.
For details on how to be part of the program, go to their website. Manuscripts due 31st August 2021.
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Members Only Access!
If you are a member and did not receive a special Members Only email this month, please let us know and we will send it to you. It has the Judges' talks link, CBCA National Page password and special NAIDOC resources.
Send to: info@cbcaact.org.au
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Libraries ACT - Story Walk
Enjoy walking? Enjoy reading? How about both at the same time?
Both have great health benefits and we’ve combined them to create a walking route with a difference.
Find out more on the Libraries ACT website where you can download a map to follow (or you can scan the QR code at one of the stops to download it).
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Exhibition Postponed
Unfortunately, the exhibition that was to be held at "The Shop Gallery" in Glebe in the week prior to Book Week has had to be postponed. More information will be sent out when it comes to hand. For further information, go the the ACLF website or email admin@childrenslaureate.org.au.
If you would like your picture to be part of the show too, then draw, do a painting, a model or even make a puppet of a magpie, take a photo of it and then send it to admin@childrenslaureate.org.au. You can use Andrew Joyner’s brilliant guide “How to Draw a Magpie” if you like.
For past writing ideas and resources go to the Laureate Resources page. This month there is the August Spider Code activity.
In the Read with Ursula tab, you will find "The terrible plop" Auslan version. Other videos include "Midnight at the Library", "Too many elephants in this house" and "The little cat".
Join the "One Loud Voice Network" conversation. We would love to hear why reading is important to you. Post it on Twitter @OzLaureate, on Facebook @childrenslaureate, or on Instagram @ozchildrenslaureate alongside the hashtag #readforyourlife OR email your video or ideas for other campaigns to ebanyard@childrenslaureate.org.au. To see some that have already been done, click here.
To receive the ACLF newsletter, go to their website and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
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Postponed until Spring
For more information, go to their website: https://www.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/
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Book Week Merchandise
The merchandise has been released. To order, visit the CBCA store.
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Australia Reads - 14 September 2021
Australian Children’s Laureate Ursula Dubosarsky is an Australia Reads Ambassador in 2021. The Australian Reading Hour returns for its tenth year on Tuesday 14 September 2021.
Ursula is thrilled to share her Australia Reads Special Edition book, “The Magnificent Hercules Quick”, illustrated by Andrew Joyner.
For more information go to www.australiareads.org.au
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Dear Branches,
I am hoping this email finds you all well and safe. Lockdowns in NSW, Vic and SA have been difficult and we are certainly thinking of you all. Some of us are still experiencing the pain and uncertainty. Please reach out if you need to, your directors are here to support you.
This message carries important operational information so please read it carefully.
With a heavy heart the Board voted it was more sensible and safer to cancel the invitations to the Adelaide BOYA luncheon for writers, illustrators and their publishers. We also voted to organise a virtual celebration and gift for them on the evening of August 20. Our thanks to Karys McEwen and Jane Moore for sorting this with enthusiasm, and the hosting SA Branch for supporting this ‘after party’.
We have engaged the PR company DMCPR to work with us again this year to make sure we put our best foot forward in terms of media coverage which is one of the key ways in which we support children’s literature, its creators, and Australian children.
This year marks 75 Book of the Year Awards which deserves special recognition and reflection. If you have any connections or ideas for media coverage please send them to our Communications Convenor Robyn Emerson on robyn.emerson@cbca.org.au and Shannon King on shannon.king@cbca.org.au.
Seventy-five years! What an amazing achievement. We thank sincerely the Awards Foundation for securing the generous funds which make our awards possible. It would be so appropriate for the branches to send congratulations to the Foundation and make sure they are acknowledged appropriately on all your communications and at events.
In the absence of a special event where our winning authors and illustrators can celebrate their win, it would be wonderful if branches could step forward with invitations for shortlisted creatives to attend your events for BOYA announcements and CBCA Book Week. This is an important time of the year for them with school and library visits. It is troubling for those who have had their bookings cancelled for the second year in a row. Regardless of where lockdowns are in place, travelling around the country is still compromised. Please do what you can to support and celebrate them.
***IMPORTANT NO CHANGE OF DATE FOR CBCA BOOK WEEK
We have been juggling many incoming enquiries as to whether the CBCA will shift CBCA Book Week again this year to October. Why are we sticking with August?
1. We do not have a crystal ball, unfortunately. We cannot confidently predict when this crisis will end, nor when another will begin. Lockdowns are not the same across the nation; about half the country is not locked down at present.
2. It is too late. Last year decisions were put in place from March to June when merchandise could be reprinted with new dates and other arrangements were made.
3. Last year, we found that despite moving it to October, many schools and libraries still chose to celebrate in August. This showed schools adapt to local needs and are flexible. On the downside, though, in those schools Book Week lost its connection to the BOYA. It is critical to keep the connection because the BOYA and CBCA Book Week work together to create community engagement and media interest.
4. CBCA SA has committed to the Government House announcement and video.
IN SHORT
The CBCA 75th Book of the Year Awards will be announced online on August 20 at noon AEST, please join the celebration at cbca.org.au.
We encourage everyone to have a paper plane at the ready as this is a strong motif in our video and the perfect vehicle to launch CBCA BOOK WEEK 21 August-27 August ‘OLD WORLDS NEW WORLDS OTHER WORLDS’.
Shaun Tan’s artwork invokes flight as a symbol of movement between our inner and outer worlds.
While we have decided to stick with the August dates, we encourage our community to keep the party going and celebrate in their own way when it is safe to do so. We would love to hear from your members, we are happy to celebrate with them, whenever they choose to celebrate. If there was ever a great time to inspire a love of reading quality Australian literature in our young people, or to assist our teachers, librarians, and parents —now is the time!
CBCA SOCIAL MEDIA
- Share all our BRAVO social media posts, and share the link to our great resources https://cbca.org.au/ shortlist-2021 where you click on the “read more” buttons.
- We are putting together some lovely videos as ‘flying thoughts’ from our SA creatives to 2021 shortlist creatives. Feel free to share.
- We will also be posting contributions from our Board and our branch committees who have shared with Shannon their favourite books from the 75 years of the BOYA. Share these and encourage your members to reflect. My favourite winner is ‘Fox’ by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks. Apparently, I am not alone, some others have also chosen ‘Fox’, and Shannon has pointed out, a group of foxes is indeed a ‘skulk’—so I am part of the ‘Fox’ skulk, — there the cat is out of the bag now!
- Use our free CBCA Book Week digital resources: https://cbca.org.au/cbca-book-week-resources for your social media.
- Most important is that we ‘like’ and ‘share’ posts from CBCA, our branches and our creatives. Let’s create some energy.
SUPPORT FOR OUR PARTNERS
At the end of our BOYA video there is a special surprise appearance as Graeme Base launches the special Australian Mint ‘Animalia’ coin for the 35th Anniversary of the book. There will be a special competition page at cbca.org.au which will link to the Australian Mint through to October. Stay tuned for GIFT CARDS for sale from our e-store—featuring the ‘Lazy Lions in the Library’ image from the book, which will raise funds for the CBCA. Please support our other major partners:
OTHER SPECIAL NEWS!
****For each Branch Because we know times are tough, the Board voted to give each Branch a Shaun Tan giclee print to use for your own special fund raising or membership engagement campaigns. Do let us know what exciting ideas you have for this, and who will be your campaign contact person. You can view the description of this poster is here: https://store.cbca.org.au/shaun-tan-giclee-art-print
SAVE THE DATES
September 1 2021, Spring has sprung and we announce our 2022 CBCA Book Week theme. It will certainly be an eye opener…
CBCA National Conference June 10-12, 2023 Canberra. The ACT Branch are doing a wonderful job getting this up and running. A webpage is not too far away.
OTHER BUSINESS
We have closed applications for the Company Secretary/National Executive Officer position and have commenced the assessment and interview process.
We still would love to hear from a branch willing and able to work on the BOYA announcement in 2022.
Please know we appreciate all your work and service.
Wendy Rapee, Chair
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ACT Instagram Account
We have a new CBCA ACT Instagram account: https://instagram.com/cbcaact?igshid=104w91fwixoxg
We would love you to follow us!
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CBCA Instagram Account
The Communications Subcommittee recently launched a new CBCA National Instagram account @cbcaustralia (@cbca was unavailable). This, along with our Facebook and Twitter accounts, will be used to communicate our key announcements and to share interesting and relevant content with our members and followers. Just a reminder to use the hashtag #CBCA2021 when promoting any events.
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