News from the ILF
January 2023
Yawuru Country (Broome), 2022. Photo by Wayne Quilliam.
Yamandhu marang Friend,
Happy 2023 and we hope you all had a lovely, safe and relaxing break.
On January 26, we took the time to reflect on the incredible strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities across Australia throughout our shared history. On this day, and every day, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation acknowledges First Nations Peoples' unbroken connections to land, sea and sky and pay our respects to Elders and all First Nations peoples.
Our thoughts are with those currently affected by the record flooding in the West Kimberley region. People in the affected regions have lost access to food and water, and some have lost their homes and animals. These Communities are in need of essential supplies. If you can, please donate generously to Community organisations that are part of the flood relief effort.
We have started 2023 with a bang by welcoming four new staff members and several internal staff changes to help deliver our biggest year yet.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Marketing Manager, Becc Finney who commenced in the role earlier this month. Becc is a highly experienced marketing professional with a background in primary and early years education. Read more about Becc here.
We have two new members joining our busy fundraising team - Marj Hutchinson as Fundraising Administrator and Krista Brydges as Fundraising Officer/Coordinator. We also welcome Asal Tabaee as an intern who will assist across all teams.
In our Programs team, current Tiwi Regional Coordinator, Tictac Moore, will be stepping into the Programs Manager role while our current Manager, Zoe Cassim, is on maternity leave. Bella Puruntatameri, will move to a full-time role as Tiwi Islands Regional Coordinator and ILF's Katherine Regional Coordinator, Josie Lardy, has relocated to Western Australia and will support remote Communities in her new local area.
In regard to events, it's not too early to save Wednesday 6 September for your Indigenous Literacy Day celebration and we are currently planning our two key fundraisers, the Great Book Swap and Busking for Change. More to come!
Thank you for your continued interest and support. Stay safe and well.
Mandaang guwu,
Ben Bowen
Chief Executive Officer
To celebrate UNESCO's second year of the Decade of Indigenous Languages, each month we encourage readers to learn a new word in either an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
Illustration from Can You Dance? published by ILF, 2018.
This month's word is kangaroo in Wiradjuri language!
kangaroo = bundharray
Phonetics: bun-da-ray
Download the audio version here.
Wiradjuri Country is in central New South Wales.
Yabun Festival
The ILF were excited to participate in Yabun on the January 26, the largest, annual, one-day gathering and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia, held on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. Thank you to everyone who visited our stall, donated and purchased ILF published books and merchandise.
Murli La Launch Video
Last month we launched our newest title, Murli la - Songs and Stories of the Tiwi Islands, with the Ngarukuruwala Women’s Group in the Tiwi Islands. Check out our Youtube video and hear from some of the women, why this book is important for future generations. Order Murli la here!
Busking for Change
This year, we are officially launching our newest fundraising activity, Busking for Change, developed by ILF Ambassador Josh Pyke. Busking for Change engages primary school students in a multi-literacy activity incorporating song, music, movement and language. Click here to register your interest.
Staff Changes
We would like to congratulate the following ILF staff who have had a title change to reflect their role at ILF:
- Early Literacy Coordinator, Jolene Brown, has been promoted to Book Buzz Manager
- Book Supply Administrator, Brad Gambetta, has been awarded Data and Operations Manager
- Marketing Coordinator, Emma Toomey, has been promoted to Senior Marketing and Events Lead
- Marketing Assistant, Ella Schofield, has been promoted to Marketing and Communications Coordinator
- Laura Atherden, Donor Engagement Office, has been promoted to Community Fundraising Manager.
Advance Copies of Country Tells Us When
This month, our team received advance copies of a new book, Country Tells Us When. With three editions in Yawuru, Mangala and Karajarri, this story shares how the Yawuru people, the traditional owners of the lands and waters in and around Rubibi (the town of Broome) read the seasons. Copies of the Yawuru edition will be available to purchase later in the year. Watch this space!
Shordi Krik - in the works!
Our Publishing team also received colour proofs of a new book, Shordi Krik, a song written and illustrated in Kriol and English by students from Barunga School with ILF Ambassador, Justine Clarke. It's a colourful and lively book and we can't wait to share it with you.
New Titles in our Warehouse
Two new books have recently arrived in our warehouse! Stori bla brutbrut en bujigat and We Look, We Find are two new beautiful stories from the remote Communities in Northern Territory and Queensland respectively. Keep an eye on our social media and newsletters for the release dates of these two delightful, bilingual picture books.
We would like to thank the staff at MFS International Australia Pty Ltd who have voted for ILF to receive a generous donation of $20,000 for the third year! This kind of support greatly assists us to plan and deliver vital programs in remote Communities across Australia.
ILF is an official beneficiary of Crewmen, an app launching mid- February supporting men’s health and wellbeing by providing men opportunities to grow support networks and mateship.
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.
We would like to thank the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for donating their ticket sales from their annual New Year's Eve Concert and raising an incredible $55,500! This is the third time ABC have supported ILF with this event and we are extremely grateful for their ongoing support.
A big thank you to Kinokuniya Bookstore who supported a fundraiser to wrap books over the festive season in exchange for a donation to ILF. We would like to also thank the 300 volunteer wrappers who helped us to raise over $15,000!
A big thank you to Better Off Said who since 2021 have been donating a portion of profits from their monthly salons. To date, they have donated over $8,000!
