Barbie Bates | Page 4 | Paint the Town REaD

Our new Patron!

By Barbie Bates | 6 September, 2019

We are delighted to announce that Her Excellency, Mrs Linda Hurley is our new Patron.

Mrs Hurley writes:

I am delighted to become Patron of Paint the Town REaD.
There are few things I am more passionate about than encouraging our young people to read, sing and rhyme. Many of us take these foundational skills for granted but it is far too common for children to arrive at school without the skills necessary to make the most of their early education. That is why Paint the Town REaD’s efforts are so critical. The more we encourage parents, carers and communities to read with children the better off they will be as individuals and we will be as a country.
I’m looking forward to supporting your cause and celebrating your efforts over the next five years.

Street Libraries – our new partner!

By Barbie Bates | 29 July, 2019

Paint the Town REaD is thrilled to partner with Street Libraries across
Australia, both at a strategic and local level.

Strategically we are forging communication and purchasing links, and locally we are looking together at some joint branding, as well as PTTR groups being invited to ‘adopt a Street Library’ for orphan libraries.

Our inaugural meeting
L to R: Nic Lowe, ‘Captain’ of Street Libraries, Cecile Schuldiener, its General Manager, Barbie Bates, ED PTTR Ltd, Lindy Alwis and Vivi Martin,
Co-ordinators of Paint Marrickville REaD.

Thank you Lady Cosgrove

By Barbie Bates | 30 June, 2019

Thank you Lady Cosgrove for being our first Patron – for your warmth, wisdom, laughter and commitment to the children of Australia.

Over these past three years we have truly valued meeting and celebrating with you our milestones and plans for the future.

We wish you and Sir Peter all the very best for your future adventures, knowing that they will include reading with children from birth!

Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove has been bitten again by the REaDing Bug at
Admiralty House, Sydney, NSW.
l to r: Rhonda Brain, Lady Cosgrove, Barbie Bates, Lindy Alwis, Tracey Kirk Downey.

Grounded In Truth

By Barbie Bates | 2 June, 2019

Grounded in Truth – Walk Together with Courage.

The theme for this year’s Reconciliation Week resonates through us here at PTTR as we remember with gratitude the wise, beautiful and heartfelt Welcomes to Country that we have received from Aboriginal Elders as we travelled on the Paint Australia REaD Book Relay from Perth to the Pacific, these last couple of months. From Auntie Marie in Noongar Country to Aunty Lorraine in Dharawal Country, and the many Elders in between, we have been blessed by your truth and your courage. Thank you so much.

Two New PTTR Communities

By Barbie Bates | 18 May, 2019

54 days of the Paint Australia REaD Book Relay have passed in a whirl of excitement and invitation, children’s delighted faces as they enjoy reading together and meeting new communities keen to work together to give their children a better start in life .

This week, the Relay team was present for the hatching of two new mascots…two new communities that have chosen to take the Paint the Town REaD pathway to increase the literacy levels amongst their children. Welcome Dhinawan the Emu for Lightning Ridge NSW, and Gracie Guy-a-wan the Shark for Taree NSW. Both mascots have been chosen by local Elders. As totems of Gamileroi and Biripi nations respectively, these mascots will be front and central, in supporting children to be introduced to the love of reading from birth.

Dhinawan, the baby emu hatches at an early morning community gathering in Lightning Ridge this week.

Thank you Dymocks

By Barbie Bates | 27 April, 2019

As we head off on Stage 2 of the Paint Australia REaD Book Relay, from Adelaide to Wollongong via rural and urban SA, Victoria and NSW we take with us $10,000 worth of books donated by Dymocks Children’s Charity for distribution to local communities, especially in the bush. A number of the books have also headed west to WA and remote SA.

It is through people like Dymocks and generous local communities that we are building the Relay Book which will capture how across Australia we value and celebrate our babies and young children by reading with them from birth so that they will be ready for learning at school. Please keep following the Relay on our Facebook page – Paint the Town REaD.

Thank you Perth for a terrific Conference

By Barbie Bates | 1 April, 2019

Our 7th National Early Literacy Conference was an outstanding success, starting with a PreConference Symposium on 20 March lead by Curtin University early literacy experts, A/Prof Suze Leitao, Dr Mary Claessen and Dr Mark Boyes with Dyslexia Speld’s Mandy Nayton.

That was followed by a WA State Parliament Reception, hosted by the Hon Janine Freeman, with the Hon David Templeman theatrically launching the Paint Australia REaD Book Relay.

The Conference ‘proper’ got underway the following day, with Aunty Marie Taylor Welcoming us so warmly to Country, and WA’s Governor Kim Beasley opening the Conference. Dr Bret Hart, Colin Pettit – WA Commissioner for Children and Young People, Greg Mitchell and Barbie Bates were ‘just what the Doctor ordered’ for Keynote speakers.

And Workshops led by experts from around the country, kept delegates inspired and involved.

No sooner than the Conference finished, did the Relay begin. After a week in the SW and Perth, it is now heading east. Keep track of it on Facebook – Paint the Town REaD!

One week to go!

By Barbie Bates | 12 March, 2019

Wednesday week, 20 March, we kick off the 7th National Early Literacy Conference with a special 2-hour symposium presented by @Curtin University and @dyslexiaspeld.

Dr Mark Boyes will be discussing new socio-emotional research into the development and impact of language and literacy difficulties in children and adolescents. While DSF will present on some incredible work they have done addressing phonological awareness in local languages.

So register now! It would be great to see you there.
https://bit.ly/2R4ir9d

Have you registered yet?

By Barbie Bates | 4 March, 2019

Have you registered yet for the 7th National Early Literacy Conference?

Don’t miss the chance to hear from the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA, Colin Pettit.

The Commissioner will outline the work of his office in consulting with thousands of WA children and young people on issues affecting their wellbeing and how the views of the children themselves should be used to inform and challenge current thinking on factors that influence vulnerability.

7th National Early Literacy Conference
March 20 to 22
The Esplanade Hotel
Fremantle, WA

Get your tickets now!

Young children smiling on conference poster

40% off every second Conference registration now available!

By Barbie Bates | 13 February, 2019

To help organisations and local Paint the Town REaD groups to send more delegates — and so increase the learning and fun — we are now offering a 40% discount for the second person from each of these groups. Brilliant!

You will find the discount offer on the Select Tickets section as you register on Eventbrite.

Note that this offer applies to every second registrant from a group. So you can book two, or four, or six, or eight attendees and every second one can take advantage of this offer.

Exclusions: Already subsidised or sponsorship funded positions