Yamandhu marang.
We are pleased to announce that the first release of our Book Supply invitations for 2024 has gone out to our remote Community contacts and so far over 89,000 books have been ordered by 385 remote Communities. We will also have a second release of Book Supply invitations later in the year and aim to gift over 136,800 culturally relevant books into 430 remote Communities.
This month we launched our annual fundraiser, Great Book Swap at Sydney SEA LIFE Aquarium with First Nations primary school students and ILF Ambassador Andy Griffiths. The event was held at the dugong enclosure to tie in with one of our four NEW Language Houses that schools get allocated when they register for Great Book Swap - Marntuwunyini (dugong in Tiwi language). See the word of the month below to learn how to pronounce dugong in Tiwi language!
Pre-registrations for the musical fundraiser, Busking for Change have also opened this month. Schools across the nation will learn how to sing and play the Shordi Krik song in both English and Kriol. This is a term 3, joyful multi-literacy activity Students can sing, play an instrument, dance and learn the song in Kriol while raising funds for our Foundation to support the creation of books in First Languages. Learn more about Busking for Change.
We ask for our supporters to get involved with Great Book Swap and Busking for Change as they not only support our three core programs but also spread awareness of the importance of First Languages and our work in Community.
Mandaang guwu,
Ben Bowen (Wiradjuri/Gandagarra), Chief Executive Officer
SPOTLIGHTING | Word of the Month
To celebrate second year of UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages, each month we encourage readers to learn a new word in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
This month's word is dugong in Tiwi language! Tiwi is an Aboriginal language with multiple dialects, spoken by over 2000 Tiwi people, the majority of whom reside on the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
- Dugong = marntunwunyini
- Phonetics: marn-too-woon-yin-ee
News
REPORTING | Jessica Mauboy on her Tour, Literacy, and Believing in the Next Generation of Storytellers
Check out this interview with ILF Ambassador, Jessica Mauboy where she talks about her Yours Forever tour, literacy, music and storytelling. Jess also talks about her passion about the work of the ILF and advocates for the next generation of First Nations storytellers in every aspect of her life.
LAUNCHING | Great Book Swap at SEA LIFE Aquarium!
First Nations primary students from five Sydney schools had the opportunity to learn about and meet a dugong for the launch of one of our biggest annual fundraisers, Great Book Swap! With beloved Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) Lifetime Ambassador and children’s author, Andy Griffiths.
- Watch video (2 mins)
- Read more
REGISTERING | NOW for Great Book Swap 2024!
This year we have four NEW language houses as well as two very exciting prizes for schools! Schools and Early Learning Centres who host a Great Book Swap by 1 November 2024, will automatically win a virtual visit from ILF Ambassador Andy Griffiths! We also have an Early Bird prize – a book pack consisting of ten ILF titles. Learn more about Great Book Swap in the link below.
COMMEMORATING | International Women's Day
On International Women's Day, ILF Head of Programs Zoe Cassim spoke to staff at Exchange for Change about how the ILF empowers female storytellers in Community, the innovations of First Languages being revitalised and reinvigorated through our Translation Rights Projects and the power of the next generation of female storytellers through our Create Initiative program.
ANNOUNCING | Sydney Trivia Night
After the success of our 2023 Sydney Trivia Night, we are pleased to announce that we are currently planning our Sydney Trivia Night for this year! This year it will be held in mid-July. Watch this space for more information as we'd love to test your knowledge!
CLICKING | For More Stories
Work in Community
REPORTING | Cobar and Orange Book Buzz Trip
This month, we had our first Book Buzz trip since pre-Covid, visiting a Book Buzz site in Orange and one in Cobar. This was a great opportunity to officially meet the Community, gift our collaborative Vision Australia and Deaf Australia kits and also deliver some Book Supply family packs.
REPRINTING | Namarnkol
This month we are so excited to announce that we have published the fifth edition of the Barramundi book! Namarnkol (Barramundi) is a non-commercial book in Kunwinjku language produced with Jabiru FaFT in the Northern Territory.
Ambassador News
Gregg Dreise
Congratulations to ILF Ambassador Gregg Dreise on his new children's book, Circles of Life. The book is an astounding work of significance for sharing with kids and adults about Indigenous art from the super star Kamilaroi author.
Shelley Ware
Congratulations to ILF Ambassador Shelley Ware on her book, We Are Matildas, which was shortlisted for the West Australian Shortlist for Young Readers Book of the Year.
Special Thanks
Thinking of writing your will? The ILF has partnered with Safewill to provide our supporters with the ability to write their will for just $80 (half price).
We would like to thank MFS Investment Management for another generous donation. Their fantastic support over the past four years has enabled support for all of our programs in remote Communities around Australia.
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.
Community Fundraisers
A big thank you to Murray Henman for his dedicated support for the ILF for the last five years. Murray has donated funds raised from trivia nights to our Foundation and has raised an incredible amount of over $10,000 over the years. We are so grateful for Murray's support!
Thank you to the Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne 2023 Graduate teams at Colins Biggers & Paisely who fundraised for the ILF through trivia nights, online auctions and raffles! The teams set a target of $6,200 which they surpassed by raising an incredible amount of over $19,000 to support our work in remote Communities.
We are so grateful for the support and tremendous efforts of Emma Tovey Crutchfield who has raised over $11,000 for the ILF this month! Emma and her friends and family swam an incredible 100km to raise money for our Foundation.
MORE:
Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF)Address: 17/207 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9280 0644
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) acknowledges First Nations peoples and recognises their continuous connection to Country, community and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and honour the sharing of traditional stories passed down through generations. In particular, ILF acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which our head office is based in Sydney.