We want every child to experience the magic that happens in the space between you, someone you love and a great story. We want every child to grow up be able to read for themselves so they can learn, explore, understand, and access the world around them.

Jane Vaughan

Big Sky Stories was honoured to be a finalist in the Far West NSW 2022 Business Awards: Excellence in Social Enterprise / Outstanding Community Enterprise category.

Congratulations to other finalists and the winner, West Darling Arts!

After-school macrame and weaving classes

For four Wednesdays in November, 14 children from 8-13 years came to Big Sky Stories for some fibrecraft fun. They knotted and wove their way to lots of mini creations to take home, as well as worked together on a community weaving to adorn the walls of Big Sky Stories. What fun we all had!

Out and about to local playgroups

Jane has worked with children, parents and caregivers at Mission Australia, CatholicCare and Central playgroups modelling shared reading and related activities. It’s been such a privilege to share the love of reading with parents, toddlers and preschoolers.

Macrame-making for adults

Since our last newsletter Nicky has delivered four workshops. Beginners and experienced alike have come together to connect, chat and create. Apologies to everyone who has been on the waitlist. There are more classes being planed, so you’ll get an opportunity - I promise!

Teachers’ Event: Using drama to explore literature and literacy

Ten Broken Hill teachers participated in an enjoyable evening workshop with Jane Vaughan and Robyn Ewing AM. They explored the role drama processes can play with quality literature to help develop children’s oracy, reading and writing using Freya Blackwood’s wonderful wordless picture book The Boy and the Elephant.

Choosing great books for children

Jane Vaughan and Robyn Ewing offered an evening for parents and caregivers to discuss their important role in choosing books for the children and young people in their lives.

School Excursion to Big Sky Stories

Jane presented 3 separate workshops for School of the Air children from Kindergarten to Year 2 based on Little Bird’s Day (Sally Morgan and Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr). Children used drama and other creative art strategies to explore the book. By the end of the session they had created their own readers theatre to tell the story.

Do you know about Pay it Forward?

Pay it forward gives customers to our retail shop, One More Page Book Emporium, the opportunity to purchase a book for a child who does not experience books at home.

So far 155 books have been paid forward and the wheels are in motion to distribute these books to families and children in Broken Hill before the end of the year.

With Christmas just around the corner, please help us to help families give the gift of a book to their child.

Thank you so much everyone.

You can participate in this initiative by purchasing a book in-store at 360 Argent Street, Broken Hill or online on the One More Page Book Emporium website.

Give the ones you love a choice of gift this Christmas

Big Sky Stories gift vouchers are valid for everything.

• Books

• Toys and gifts

• Fibrecraft materials

• Workshops

Fibrecraft Fun

Plans are underway for January and beyond. Please register your interest to go onto the mailing list and be the first to hear about what is on offer for children and young people.

Here is an overview of possibilities:

Summer holiday group sessions for 8-13 year olds and those 14 years +

1:1 macrame tuition

A continuation of the after-school program

Private workshops for groups of family and friends

The Holiday Break Program

Monday 30 January - Wednesday 1 February

In our third school holiday working in partnership with WestWords we have secured filmmakers Glenn Fraser and Amelia Foxton to come and share their creative writing talent with young people aged 11 years + for 3 days of workshops.

Please register your interest to be the first to hear the details. Places are limited.

A Week of Creativity

In the week beginning January 9, Jane, Nicky and Robyn will be using their collective skills to deliver a diverse program of creative activities for young and old alike.

Drama, art, fibrecraft, creative writing and music workshops are on the agenda.

Please register your interest to receive the program of events once it is finalised.

We’re working on it!