Community launches

Let’s Read Launch ( Elizabeth Vale SA)

 In South Australia, The City of Playford's Let's Read Launch took place on Tuesday the 25th of August 2009, with over 100 people in attendance. Families engaged in fun, free activities run by local Early Years sites. There was face painting, readings by various local authors and a sausage sizzle. Keith Conlon and two Adelaide Crows Players; Scott Thompson and Brad Moran, also helped us celebrate the launch, reading various Let's Read books to the children and signing library bags that were made and donated by Gawler VIEW club. The event was very successful, with the Playford Mayor showing his solid support for the program's growth in the area.

 

Babies to Bookworms: Let's Read Launch at Hackham West, South Australia - April 22nd 2009

From Leeann Koesters

The event was held on Wednesday 22nd April on a bright sunny day, and involved three significant sites in the Hackham West area including the Hackham West Children’s Centre, Hackham West Primary School and Hackham West Community Centre

Fun literacy based activities were running all day at each of the sites including the local library storytellers and puppets, make your own book, star making, family treasures, year 7s from the primary school reading stories, bookmarks, fairy wands, playgym and more…

There was face painting and food galore with a healthy eating focus.

We really appreciated the time that was given to us by author Jo Fiedler who came along and read her new book I Only Eat Toast at two of the venues.

The whole day was free and families were encouraged to travel to each location to learn more, connect with their community and have great fun.Lets Read was launched on the day and was well received. We were delivering LetsRead from the school, and many families were very interested in what was in the bags. At first they thought we were just giving away freebies but we managed to talk to everyone into a conversation about reading with their children. Many of the parents loved our ideas especially around taking the suggested reading lists to the library and getting children to hunt for the books.

The day was funded by Communities for Children as well as supported by many local community people and agencies including Save the Children, Learning Together and Communities for Children and a group of mums who have been scrapbooking together. The face painters were a group of community people who have just completed a face painting course and were looking for some experience. We gave them each a voucher for face painting equipment to thank them for their amazing patience.

We currently have 10 trained community professionals in the Hackham community with many more people who would like to take part; we are ready to go as soon as money comes pouring in!!

Let's Read Launch in Exmouth with a Teddy Bear's Picnic

From Susanne Dominik, Let's Read Coordinator

WOW - What a great day it was! After weeks of preparation and input from a lot of people, we were finally able to launch Let’s Read in Exmouth with a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. It was held at Krait Street Playground, which turned out to be a perfect venue for the picnic as it offered shade and a gazebo. We were also very fortunate with the weather, throughout the morning it threatened to rain, however,

the first drops only fell once we had packed up.

                                                                                                    

I had sent out and posted invitations well ahead of time and it worked! The launch was a big success with 53 children and 45 parents attending.

The park was decorated with Let’s Read coloured balloons, banners and we set up a table with Let’s Read information for parents to read. I made up Let’s Read bookmarks and flyers for everyone to take home and we gave a certificate to each child that dressed up their teddy bears.

After the families settled down I gave a quick introduction to Let’s Read and thanked everyone that helped and attended. This was followed by Story Time whereby all Let’s Read trained professionals sat on a picnic blanket and read to a smaller group of children and parents. Jackie Cutler then did a yoga activity with the group which was followed by morning tea. 

We are now finalising the strategy to deliver Let’s Read to the Exmouth community and will keep everyone updated.

 

Gosnells Early Years Action Group launches - August 19th 2008

On August 19th 2008 the Gosnells Early Years Action Group (GEYAG) launched Let’s Read as part of their broader “Bonding with Books” Initiative. The aim is to reach 500 families in the Gosnells area within the first year of implementation.

The Mayor of City of Gosnells, Cr Olwen Searle, the Chief Operating Officer of Shell Development Australia Mr. Chris Gunner, and Aboriginal Elder Beryl Harp attended along with approximately 60 children and invited guests. Adults and children were entertained by Levi from Didgeridoo Breathe when they arrived.  The children then had an opportunity to express their creativity by decorating their own book bag, making a “Bonding with Books” book and manipulating play dough into unique shapes and designs. The activities were supported by the Roberta Jull Family Day Care Scheme, Coolabarro Neighbourhood Centre, and Derbarl Yerigan who will all take part in the delivery of Let’s Read.

Beryl Harp opened the ceremony with welcome to county an invited the audience to participate in the Hokey Pokey which she sang in Noongar.

Following the launch a presentation about Let’s Read was given to Shell employees at the North Fremantle terminal.  Shell staff were invited to take a children’s book home to read with their child and write a review for the Let’s Read website. They were also given the opportunity to further  support the program by purchasing a book from our booklist to donate to a "share box" for the WA sites.

 

Salisbury South Australia- 2nd July 2008

 

Salisbury Communities for Children launched Let’s Read with a huge community event attended by some 200 parents and children at Ingle Farm Recreaton Centre. Many local organizations including kindergartens, church groups, libraries and schools with  FamilyZones on site were involved.  Children made puppets, bookmarks and their own personalised book to take home. They were entertained by Bozette the Clown and had books read to them by the library service. Parents had an opportunity to speak with a speech therapist and to gather information on community activities.

The day was officially opened by Karl Brettig Manager of Salisbury Communities for Children.  Project facilitator Cathie Bishop gave away lots of books & pencils to eager children and led a rousing version of “The children on the bus sing read Read, Read Read!!!”   From all reports everyone had a fun-filled day and went away with lots of new enthusiasm for reading.

Let's Read in Queensland - March 19 2008

On Wednesday March 19, 2008, ‘Let’s Read’ was launched at the Maroochydore Neighbourhood Centre,

Cotton Tree on the Sunshine Coast. With funding provided by the Queensland Government through Department of Communities for the Reading to Children initiative, Let’s Read is being delivered in eleven communities for a four year period.

Carrolyn Male, the local MP for the Glasshouse Mountains addressed the attendees on behalf of the Minister for Communities, Lindy Nelson-Carr. Sonja Pase the National Program Manager for Let’s Read and David Ballhausen Head of Community Programs for The Smith Family spoke regarding the Let’s Read principles and the importance of engaging children in literacy before they commence school. More than forty community members from the Sunshine Coast, in conjunction with professionals from a range of services including the local libraries, Queensland Playgroup Centre, Queensland Health and Queensland Education and VIEW Club

members attended the event along with Channel Ten and Channel Seven news television. At least twenty children from the local Cotton Tree C&K Community Centre and Foster Care also attended the launch and were entertained by a storyteller, face painter and balloon artist. The children then joined the other guests to hear Agro the puppet, assisted by Rosanna Natoli, the MC for the day, read theLet’s Read cake was cut and everyone was invited to have morning tea.

To support Let's Read in Queensland, Elizabeth Sayers joined the Let’s Read team in January this year as the Community Facilitator for Queensland. Six project officers have also been employed to manage the 11 Let's Read sites, which will be located in North Brisbane area, South Brisbane area, Bundaberg/ Isis, Mackay, Townsville and Mount Morgan/ Rockhampton. 

There will be two elements to the delivery of Let’s Read in Queensland; the first involving the general one to one delivery of Let's Read messages by trained community based professionals and the second involving community activities with mature aged volunteers to promote early literacy.

 

Mirrabooka – 28 March 2006

story ‘Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy’. At the conclusion of the launch, the

African drumming, Vietnamese finger puppets, literacy crafts and activities and an indigenous dance performance were some of the highlights of the Mirrabooka Let’s Read launch in Perth. More than 50 children and their families attended the event, which was MC-d by Nine news reader, Sonia Vinci.

 

 

Devonport – 17 August 2006

Devonport City Council arranged a fun morning for more than 30 children and their families including a story-time session led by local identity Sid Sidebottom and a performance by children’s entertainers ‘The Fun Bugs’.

60’s pop star, Ronnie Burns, gave his time to act as MC and Liberal member for Braddon, Jeremy Rockliff assisted in launching the program, speaking of the importance of investing in children from an early age.

Parramatta – 25 October 2006

Burnside chose National Children’s Week to launch Let’s Read to local families, inviting more than 30 children and their parents to attend the special event. Families from diverse cultural backgrounds came together to enjoy morning tea, games and activities and learn more about the importance of reading with their children.

Parramatta Eels footballer and father of two, Chad Robinson, read to the children and local MP Julie Owens joined Nine Newsreader Kelly Connolly and Burnside CEO Jane Woodruff to officially launch the event.

 

 

Gladstone - 18 November 2006

November 18th 2006 saw the official Launch of the Gladstone Communities for Children Let’s Read Programme. A fantastic crowd turned out at the newly completed Library Square Park to enjoy the entertainment organised for the day.

Local former radio personality Grant Cooper lent his professional expertise as MC keeping the day running smoothly. Formal proceedings included guest speakers Mayor, Cr Peter Corones, Mr David Manntan Executive Director of Schools Gladstone District who represented the Gladstone Communities for Children Initiative and our very own Jason Hetherington, former State of Origin Legend.

The children were entranced by the two stories read by Anita Rienks (dressed appropriately as

‘The Old Lady who lived in a Shoe’) and were equally entertained when the Bunbury Players

enacted the story “Where the Wild Things Are” in street theatre style.

The day was appropriately child themed with pirates, Indians, soldiers, fairies mingled amongst the crowd handing out hats, balloons and giveaways including free books from the Let’s Read programme series.

The main drawcard were the Silly Billies. Jumping John, Cosmo and Ophelia the Fairy bopped and sang their way through 45 minutes of fun, engaging the children in silly billy antics.

A sausage sizzle tempted the masses rounding off a successful day for the Launch.

 

Port Stephens – 27th November 2006

Approximately 40 children, parents, grandparents and carers joined Port Stephens Library for a morning of storytelling, singing and dancing, to celebrate the community launch of Let’s Read at the Health & Community Care Centre in Raymond Terrace on 27th November 2006.

Jacqueline Harrison, The Smith Family Community Program Manager, spoke about the partnership between The Smith Family, Centre for Community Child Health, Shell and Port Stephens Library Service. She emphasised The Smith Family’s commitment to early childhood literacy and highlighted the important role parents play in reading to their young children.

The Let’s Read Program was officially launched by Port Stephens Councillor Geoff Dingle who recounted tales of reading to his children when they were young, and the joy shared between both parent and child. Councillor Dingle spoke from a personal level about the value of reading aloud with children and the benefits realised by members of his family.

Port Stephens Library, in conjunction with the Kids Who Read Succeed program, will coordinate the delivery of Let's Read to parents of more than 2,400 children across Port Stephens. Local businesses and health care providers will assist in raising awareness of Let’s Read by displaying promotional material and encouraging parents to visit their local Library branch to collect the resources.

As the inaugural corporate supporter of Let's Read, Shell has generously funded Let's Read resources for the Raymond Terrace community. Resources for the wider Port Stephens community have been purchased through Library Development Grant funding, made available by the State Library of NSW.