General

Michelle Calderbank was presented with WA’s  Shire of Yilgarn Australia Day Active Citizenship Award for her significant contribution to supporting the Yilgarn community.

Michelle set up Paint the Yligarn REaD in her own time to provide the next generation of children in Southern Cross with the best possible chance to reach their potential. Michelle is a high school English teacher. She has witnessed first hand the significant challenges for young people who have missed out on important early literacy foundational experiences.

A long-time resident in Southern Cross, Michelle has had the connections and the respect in the community to engage everyone in supporting and spreading the PTTR message. This includes her high school students who eagerly took on the catering role  at the launch event, and gained catering qualifications in the process.

Michelle has a number of other voluntary roles in the community, such as running the Young Entertainers program for the past 12 years and active involvement in sporting clubs.

Congratulations to Michelle — a great PTTR Champion.

Today we celebrate and remember the importance of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.

Thank you to the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aunties and Uncles and workers from across Australia, who are leading us to Paint Australia REaD, Black and Yellow so that our children will arrive at school loving books and ready to learn.

If you’re in the North Richmond (NSW) area, check out this exciting new program starting on 21st October.

Paint the Swan REaD invites you to get involved in our Annual Reading Week

Children’s Week 24 October – 1 November, 2015

There will be a special focus on four communities in the City of Swan

1. Midland
2. Ellenbrook
3. Alton
4. Bullsbrook

Business or shop owners!

• Decorate your shop in red for Children’s Week.
• Offer to read to children in your shop on 27 October.
• Donate items for fundraisers for the reading event.
• Sponsor items for Reading Week; e.g. a reading tent, books, library bags or stickers.

Libraries and Child and Family Services!

Host or plan to include your service in activities in your area.

Families!

Take your children to join in the free, fun activities.

Everyone!

Volunteer to join a local planning group for one of the four communities.

Wherever you are, stop and read at 11 am on 27 October.

For more information and to get involved in activities in your area, ask at your local library, visit the Paint the Swan REaD Facebook site, or contact Fiona Lee at CLAN Midland, on 9250 6335.

Put the date in your diary for Paint the Gong REaD’s annual reading day to be held on 20th August at Westfield Warrawong.

There’ll be lots of great early literacy activities, singing, craft, puppets and Bright Spark our reading mascot will be there with her friend Billy Back pack. Come and join us.

Find out more here. 

Congratulations to Paint Holroyd REaD and Paint Parra REaD  (in partnership with the Parramatta Eels) who have won a Zest Award in the category of Exceptional Community Partnership across a region. The award was for the read with a mate,  a program which focuses on encouraging fathers and father-like figures to read and engage with their children, learning about early literacy and brain development and the important roles they play in their child’s development.