Lunch with the Stars - Manly (CBCA Northern Sydney sub-branch event) 30th August, 2016

I had the absolute pleasure of spending yesterday as a 'star' at the seventh annual 

'Lunch with the Stars' 

event hosted by the CBCA (NSW) Northern Sydney sub-branch.

Twenty-two schools (176 students) and 22 'stars' (aka children's authors and illustrators) from across Sydney filled the Grand Hall of ICMS (old St Patricks College) in Manly. 

Grand Hall just before the kids arrived

 This amazing venue made me feel like I was in a Harry Potter story. The old 

sandstone building certainly set the scene for an incredible experience.

(I forgot to take a photo of the outside of the building this year - doh!) 

LWS Booklet 2016

Each child was given an event booklet full of 'star' information
and for gathering autographs after lunch. 
Signing these booklets is the highlight of the day for everyone which makes the hard work producing it worth it. The time and effort to bring this publication together behind the scene is mammoth (I know as I've co-ordinated and am currently finalising the
Newcastle LWS booklet with the support of a team of people). The booklet then becomes a precious memento of the occasion.

Humphreys, the local Manly bookseller, sold books by the stars during the day. 

It is so lovely to see our little book sitting with such an outstanding selection 

of beautiful children's books and to see older children buying it.

 

 I was so lucky to host a table with students from Marina Regina, Avalon. This is a small Catholic school on the north shore. It was extra special when I found out they are part 

of the Broken Bay Diocese as I used to teach in this diocese many years ago and 

I have such fond memories.

Just take a look at the following photos showing how they decorated our table with a dandelion theme. I must admit their efforts meant so much to me as our book is a picture book and these students are in Stage 3. As soon as I tried to explain picture books are for everyone, they assured me they already knew as their librarian tells them the same thing. 

GREAT NEWS! 

Notice the wooden recycled place mats, fresh flowers, hand made dandelion puffs, gardening tools, grass table runner, yellow cups and basket of paper flowers. 

They can come and decorate for me any time - clever chooks!

 

 The illustration challenge was very popular. The children had a great 

time drawing a tapir led by the amazing Marjorie Crosby-Fairall.

This last photo is my effort - hense why I am an author!

It was an absolute delight to have Kirrili with me at this event. My students got to meet her too and she got to see how the Marina Regina students decorated the table for our book. Kirrili's student's from Random House decorated her table using ideas from her LAC books.

Here are the clever chooks from Marina Regina. They dressed up using the dandelion theme as well. I have had a few of these student email me with sweet messages since meeting them yesterday. Such a highlight of my job!

 And here is a photo of all the talented authors and illustrators who gave up 

their time to help the CBCA Northern Sydney sub-branch celebrate books.

From left to right:

Katrina McKelvey, Belinda Murrell, Felicity Pullman, Wendy Blaxland, Kirrili Lonergan

Wendy Fitzgerald, Louise Park, Lesley Gibbes, Susanne Gervay, Allison Tait

Lindy Batchelor, Kaz Delaney, Kate Forsyth, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Deb Abela, Aura Parker, Jill B. Bruce, Laurine Croasdale, Debra Tidball

Not in photo but at event:

Jan Latta, Peter Macinnis, Mark Thomason

Thank you to Belinda and Wendy for including Kirrili, Kaz and I from Newcastle. 

The long drive to this beautiful part of Sydney is always worth it. And it's  

a pleasure to help the Northern Sydney sub-branch have fun.

With help from the Newcastle sub-branch LWS committee, I look forward to delivering our second 'Lunch with the Stars' event on 13th September to 14 local schools in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area. 

Wish us luck as I hope our lunch is as spectacular as this one!

CBCA NSW Inc. Northern Sydney Sub-branch 'Lunch with the Stars' Event

I was invited to participate as a 'star' in the CBCA NSW Inc. Northern Sydney Sub-branch's annual

Lunch with the Stars! 

I didn't realise how lucky I was until it all unfolded yesterday.

Mark Thomason, Serena Geddes, Kate Forsyth, Paul Russell, Belinda Murrell, Wendy Fitzgerald, Kaz Delaney, P.J Tierney, Oliver Phommavanh, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, Tonya Alexander, Jacqueline Harvey, Andrew Cranna, Debra Tidball, Yvette Poshoglian, Katrina McKelvey, Jill B. Bruce.
(Absent from photo: Jess Black, Wendy Blaxland, Susanne Gervay, Lesley Gibbes, Jan Latta)

For this extraordinary event to happen, it took a combination of the following things:

Belinda Murrell - event founder, organiser, and key speaker

Wendy Fitzgerald, president of the Northern Sydney Sub-branch and her sub-branch team

The Grand Hall of the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS)

A stunning day in Manly

22 authors and illustrators

23 tables of children

200+ children, teachers, and librarians and 

5 Room to Read ambassadors and Zac the Yak

Tables dotted the room with decorations just waiting for the children to surround them.

Event booklets were placed everywhere so children could study their favourite 

participating authors and illustrators and learn about some new ones.

 I had the most amazing honour of sharing my table with 

children from Stewart House. 

From their website:

Every year 1,800 public school children attend our safe haven next to Curl Curl beach at no cost to their parents or carers.  During a 12 day stay they are provided with dental, optical, hearing and medical screening and treatment. 

Children participate in educational programs and excursions designed to develop their social and emotional skills, build self-esteem and improve their overall well-being.  

This experience provides children with a much needed break from their current circumstance.  Our children are inspired to see beyond the present and to have real hope and positive aspirations for their future. 

Children in the care of Stewart House attend a specific purpose school onsite for 8 days of their 12-day stay.   The NSW Department of Education and Communities provides infrastructure and staffing support for this school.

These children were also gifted a new book of their choice from the Northern Sydney Sub-branch.

 Once the buzzing room settled, Belinda Murrell spoke of her life, family 

and writing career. She was very animated, interesting and inspiring.

Then Room to Read ambassadors Belinda Murrell, Jacqueline Harvey, Oliver Phommavanh, Kate Forsyth, and Susanne Gervay promoted the Room to Read project with some help from Zac the Yak! 

http://www.roomtoread.org/Australasia

Then illustrator, Andrew Cranna, creator of 'The Bloodhound Boys', sent the room 

in a spin with crazy illustration challenges. The kids had a blast doing these.

Lunch was served soon after. We were very hungry after so much fun.

Following lunch, the children made a mad scramble to the book shop and book creators for autographs. I've never signed my name so many times in such a short amount of time. 

I sure felt like a 'star'!

 A few familiar book friends made an appearance as well. 

I would love to have the same travelling schedule as these three ladies!

What a privilege it was to share my new yet-to-be-released book, Dandelions (one month to go!), 

writing journey and writing tips with such beautiful children at this truly grand event. 

It will go down as a very memorable one for me.

I find it hard to describe how I felt with all these clever children in such a grand building 

and in such a special location. I would definitely jump at the opportunity to do it all again 

- including the 4:45am get-up and journey to and from Newcastle!

 Congratulations to the organising team from the CBCA Northern Sydney sub-branch. 

It always takes a team of people to make an event this size successful. 

I hope we can make the CBCA Newcastle 'Lunch with the Stars' event in November just as amazing.