Book an Adventure was the theme for Book Week across Victoria this year in its 80th year of celebrations.
This year the High Country once again enjoyed book week celebrations in both Omeo and Swifts Creek. In what has become a tradition in the High Country, both Omeo Primary School and the Swifts Creek P-12 School, as well as the local kindergartens participated in costume parades and a local community reading walk, where students and children walked around their towns enjoying local community members reading to them. These events showcase how important literacy development is from an early age and how imaginative and fun books and reading can be.
At both Omeo Primary School and the Swifts Creek P-12 School, students and staff paraded their costumes as they dressed up as some of their favourite book characters from their chosen book. The costumes were creative and super fun, with some mums and dads dressing up as well.
The first costume parade was held at Omeo Primary School and the High Country Uniting Early Learning Centre joined in, together with some of our local families.
At the completion of the parade, school students and early years’ children joined together in two groups for the traditional community reading walk to various local venues around Omeo to hear four amazing locals read to them.
This year’s readers included Trudy Anderson who read Smelly Bill by author Daniel Postgate at Omeo Rural and Hardware.
Trudy sat herself up on top of a large pile of dog food bags and the kids gathered around to share in this funny story.
Local policeman Phil Chapman once again read to both groups at the A.M. Pearson Historical Park.
He read I’m Afraid your Teddy is in Trouble Today by Jancee Dunn and the students and younger children loved this.
The students, teachers and parents then headed to the Omeo Hall for a morning tea break.
They were treated to delicious, healthy snack boxes organised by the PFC and prepared by local business Pippa’s Bakehouse.
Once everyone’s stomachs were nice and full, they then headed to our next two community readers.
Martin Sala from the Omeo Pharmacy Martin read two different books. For the younger group he read Pig the Rebel, the latest book in the Pig the Pug collection by author Aaron Blabey.
For the older students, he read Your Birthday was the Best by Maggie Hutching.
Local Occupational therapist from Playful Peaks Therapy, Lily Hawkins read at the Omeo War Memorial garden.
Lily read the very colourful book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
The following week, book week celebrations were held in Swifts Creek.
Students and staff dressed up as book characters from some of their favourite books and there were wonderful costumes on display, including some who chose to dress up as a group. Each person in costume got to say who they were and from what book.
After the parade, the students and early years’ children set out in two groups, walking to various locations around Swifts Creek where wonderful local community members read to them.
The students and early years’ children were treated to four wonderful readers in Swifts Creek. Ray Gallagher, one of Swifts Creek’s beloved retired teachers, local dad Nat Bricknall, and active community members Leanne Stedman and Sandi Beltrame.
Ray sat on the back of his ute with a large round bale of hay and his gorgeous dog Wombat, and read the very funny book Muddled up Farm by Mike Dumbleton to the younger students and children, which they all loved.
He then read The Mighty Bunyips by author Paul Harvey to the older students, which they also thoroughly enjoyed.
Nat sat on the back of a DEECA firetruck to read the very creative book The Detective Dog by author Julie Donaldson.
He then read the magical book Twinkle by Nick Bland to the younger group, with the book reminding them of friendships and fun.
Leanne read at the local Community Centre dressed as a fantastic pirate and shared the very fun book How to Become a Pirate by author Melinda Long to the older students. Leanne then read the book I Wish I had a Pirate Suit by Pamela Allen to a very entertained younger group.
Sandi parked her beautiful blue combi van next to the local Junction Hotel and read the very funny, tongue twister book Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root to the younger group, as they were all nestled inside listening. She also read this book to the older group, who were thoroughly entertained as well.
Schools as Hubs who coordinate the event, would like to thank everyone involved in this wonderful tradition in the High Country, to all those who came along, dressed up and got into the spirit of the event.
Organisers thanked all of the community readers who put in time and effort to read to the students and younger children, helping show them the importance of reading and literacy and the enjoyment that can come from books at all stages of life.
These wonderful family and community inclusive events in the High Country support raising awareness on the importance of literacy and reading to all ages, especially local children.
This is one of the many events that the Schools as Hubs program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and facilitated in Gippsland by Uniting Gippsland coordinate. This program delivers many events supporting families in the High Country, with an emphasis on engaging families and community in activities that promote childhood wellbeing and development.
