News from the ILF
July 2022
Launch of Winthali, Fitzroy Crossing 2022
Image by Elizabeth Arrigio
Yamandhu marang Friend,
There is a lot to be thankful for this month. And I turn that thanks to YOU, our valued supporters.
Firstly, thank you to all of our supporters who joined our NAIDOC event at the International Towers, Barangaroo. I hope you enjoyed hearing from ILF Ambassador, Kirsten Banks and meeting the ILF team. It was great to meet face to face with many supporters and celebrate NAIDOC together. For those that participated in our raffle prize, you helped to raise over $1000. That's an extra 100 books for children in remote Australia. For everyone else outside Sydney, I hope you also had an opportunity to participate in NAIDOC events or activities in your region.
A big thank you to those who supported our end of financial year fundraising. We simply couldn't continue our work without your support. You are an integral part of our journey as we grow our reach and build long term relationships with Elders and residents in remote Communities to support their literary development, in ways they wish.
As mentioned last month, we released a second round of Book Supply packs that are on their way to remote Community organisations, that missed out on the earlier run. The additional 21,000 books means that we have supplied 116,000 books as part of the Book Supply program this year. Amazing!
Thank you to the many publishers who have sent in book submissions for consideration for Book Supply 2023. Our Review Committee will be meeting early August to determine the packs for the four age groups.
Lastly, please save the date for our key advocacy event - Indigenous Literacy Day, celebrating Stories, Cultures and Languages on Wednesday 7 September. Read information below.
Mandaang guwu,.
Ben Bowen
Chief Executive Officer
To celebrate UNESCO's first year of the Decade of Indigenous Languages, each month we will encourage readers to learn a new word in either an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
This month's word of the month is stingray in Tiwi language!
stingray = kirluwarringa
Phonetics: k-ulu-wa-wringa
Download the audio version here.
Illustration from No Way Yirrikipayi.
Garma Festival - here we come!
ILF CEO Ben Bowen, Co-Chair Marnie O'Bryan, Board member Leitha Assan and Regional Coordinator Tictac Moore will be attending Garma Festival, Australia's Premier Indigenous Cultural Exchange. Stay posted for stories and learnings in next month's newsletter.
Virtual Visit from Andy Griffiths
A big shout out to all the schools across the country that held a Great Book Swap in the first half of the year. Congratulations to our early bird winner, Haileybury Rendall School in the Northern Territory. They won a virtual school visit from ILF Ambassador and acclaimed children's author, Andy Griffiths!
Australian Literacy Educator's Association Conference in Darwin
ILF regional team members Tictac and Josie attended the ALEA/AATE - 'Landscapes of Learning' conference in Darwin this month. The three day event was an opportunity to promote ILF programs and explore opportunities for new collaborations.
Byron Writers Festival - 26-28 August
If you are in the Northern Rivers in late August, we hope you will join us at the Byron Writers Festival. It's three days of books, reading, learning, sharing, listening and activities...and fundraising. If you are there please drop over and say hi to the ILF team.
Indigenous Literacy Day 2022
This Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) celebrates the Stories, Cultures and Languages of First Nation's Peoples with a National Digital Event. We invite all ages to join in on the fun of the day. Learn more about the ILD National Digital Event on Wednesday 7 September here.
Launch of Winthali in Fitzroy Crossing
Earlier this month, ILF team members, David and Liz attended the Community launch of ILF published book, Winthali. The event took place on a boat travelling along the stunning Fitzroy River, the setting of the story. NITV captured the incredibly beauty and highlights on the event here.
New Titles for Community
Our Publishing team is excited to be sending two new books to print this month, We Look, We Find, from Napranum, Far North Queensland; and Stori bla brutbrut en bujagat (Story about Cat and Mouse), from the Northern Territory. Watch this space for updates.
The Welcome Gift of Books for all Ages
Hear from Robyn Kenny, Principal Consultant with the Port Lincoln Partnership, South Australia who has been ordering from ILF’s Book Supply program and distributing books to almost 30 young mums and bubs who attend a Nunga playgroup. "This excitement … hopefully translates into developing a love of books initially and leads to a lifelong love for reading.”
Thank you Northern Trust for your generous philanthropic support. Your donation assists us to deliver ILF programs to 400 remote Communities.
Thank you to the Envato Foundation for their fourth annual donation to our Book Supply program. This donation helps put 5,000 culturally relevant books in the hands of kids in remote Communities. Longer term support such as this is so important for our Foundation.
We are indebted to our partner Australia Post for their support with the delivery of Book Supply packs to remote Communities and their ongoing fundraising. Learn more about how they supported ILF in 2021 here.
This month we would like to celebrate an exciting fundraiser from Sisterhood ANZ who have organised a Bridgerton inspired chairty ball. Funds from ticket sales and a silent auction will be donated to the ILF as well as several other charities. Buy tickets to the Sydney event here.
We would like to thank OLOE Australia Pty Ltd who are donating 1% of funds raised from their organic and plant-based nutritional shake.
Thank you to Pan Macmillian who have held their yearly NAIDOC Trivia Night which raised an incredible $1000 for our Foundation!
