Yamandhu marang, this month we experienced one of our most incredible achievements to date, the ILF was awarded the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
This award recognises the value of our work in remote First Nations Communities and the special relationships that have enabled us to publish Community stories and provide books and literacy resources in First Languages.
We thank you, our supporters, who have helped us to achieve this. Our work and this award would not have come without the generous support of donors throughout Australia.This award will not change the ILF focus and we remain focussed to expand our work with remote Communities across the country.
This award is an acknowledgement of you all, your commitment and your investment in the Community led approach of the ILF to support Community achieve their literacy aspirations. I thank you for your ongoing support.
In more exciting news, we ask you to mark your calendars for our biggest celebration of the year, Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD). This year, ILD will be held on Wednesday September 4th 2024 and we're excited to celebrate this year's theme - 'Be A Proud Voice For Country'. More information to come shortly!
We also invite schools to register for our newest musical fundraiser, Busking for Change! Schools across the country will learn how to sing and play Shordi Krik in English and Kriol, an Aboriginal language spoken in the Top End of Australia while raising funds for the ILF. Register today and get access to sheet music, charts, videos, lyrics and more!
Mandaang guwu,
Ben Bowen (Wiradjuri/Gandagarra), Chief Executive Officer
SINGING ALONG | To Shordi Krik Lyric Video
Thank you to Studio Gilay who created the Shordi Krik lyric video in both English and Kriol. This will be an amazing resource for the remote Communities we work with where Kriol is the First Language as well as for schools participating in this years Busking For Change.
SPOTLIGHTING | Word of the Month
To celebrate second year of UNESCO's 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 girrganyi in Bunuba language! Bunuba Country is located in the southern West Kimberley, in Western Australia.
- Brown Falcon = girrganyi
- Phonetics: girr-gan-yi
Our News
RECEIVED | Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
We are so pleased to be awarded the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award which was announced on 9 April 2024 at a press conference in Stockholm and at the Children's Book Fair in Bologna.
ATTENDED | Bologna Children's Book Fair
ILF's Head of Publishing, Nicola attended the Bologna Children's Book Fair for the first time ever! It was so great to have the opportunity to spread awareness of the ILF to overseas publishers and agents, who are considering licensing the rights to publish our books in many countries, including Spain, China and North America.
CALLING | Registrations for Busking for Change 2024
Primary schools are invited to register and commit to learning Shordi Krik, in English or Kriol, an Aboriginal language spoken in the Top End of Australia. Once students master the song, they ‘busk’ or perform the song collectively or individually to their friends, family, school, or post a video online.
ANNOUNCING | Sydney Trivia Night | Wednesday 17 July 2024
Our Sydney Trivia Night will be held at Marrickville Town Hall hosted once again by the incredibly talented radio presenter, journalist and author, Richard Glover. It is always an hilarious night of fun, frivolity and friendly competition while fundraising to support our programs in remote Communities.
CALLING | Volunteers for ILF at Sydney Marathon!
We are pleased to announce that for the second year, The Sydney Marathon will be donating $40 to the ILF per volunteer who helps to run our drinks station on the marathon route on Sunday 15 September, 2024.
ASKING | Would your school love a visit from Andy Griffiths?
Simply host a Great Book Swap with funds submitted by 1 November 2024 and your school will be guaranteed a virtual visit from beloved ILF Ambassador and children's author, Andy Griffiths! This visit will be a digital livestream with all participating schools in November 2024. If you cannot attend the day, you will receive a recording to watch at any time.
SUPPORTING | The ILF at Gold Coast and Melbourne Marathons!
Thinking of participating in the Gold Coast Marathon (6-7 July) or the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival (18 October) this year? Why not register and raise funds for our the ILF!
CLICKING | For more stories
Work in Community
CREATING | Books by Women from Fitzroy Crossing to Preserve Language
Learn more about the four new bright, fun and bilingual children's books written by women from Fitzroy Crossing that will help to preserve their First Nations Languages and also share a snapshot of life in a remote Community.
ATTENDING | Ceduna Workshops
This month, our team travelled to Ceduna to host workshops in collaboration with Far West Languages Centre and led by ILF Ambassador Jared Thomas and Wirangu, Kokatha and Mirning children's author, Susan Betts. Our team will revisit Ceduna later in the year to work on developing the Communities stories into published books. Watch this space!
ADVANCING | Copies of Who Sank the Boat? and Who's Hiding?
This month we received advanced copies of Who Sank the Boat? in Ngaanyatjarra and Who’s Hiding? in Ngaanyatjarra, Kriol and Walmajarri. Who's Hiding? is also the first lift-the-flap book published for Community!
Ambassador News
Justine Clarke
Congratulations to ILF Ambassador Justine Clarke who will return to star in the play, Julia. The brilliantly talented Justine Clarke returns to step into the shoes of Australia’s first female prime minister and deliver a performance that will be remembered for generations.
Emma Donovan
Congratulations to ILF Ambassador Emma Donovan on her newly released album, Til My Song Is Done. Emma is also currently touring Australia with her new album. Learn more.
Josh Pyke
Congratulations to ILF Ambassador Josh Pyke who is currently touring the country with his new album, Revisions. Learn more about the tour dates and locations.
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 recognise the longstanding support from the Envato Foundation who have just made another donation - bringing the total donations to $200,000. This is an amazing level of support which has gone towards our Book Supply and Community Publishing programs.
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 the team at Rethink Change who donated to the ILF at their Rethink Change Conference. Each year, the conference donates to a charity of choice and this year they donated $2,000 on behalf of their generous pro bono presenters.
A special thank you to Anjanette Fennell, Anne-Marie Taplin and Megan Close Zavala, editors of The Heart Will Find a Way, who are donating all profits from the sale of the anthology to the ILF. The Heart Will Find a Way is a collection of short stories that share the diversity of emotions we experience within our hearts.
We are so grateful for the support of Erstwilder who are soon launching an exciting collaboration of wearable art accessories with Ngarabal and Torres Strait Islander artist, Lauren Rogers. $5 from the sale of every design on launch day Tuesday 21 May 2024 will be donated. Thank you Erstwilder!
CALLING | Donations of Auction Items | Sydney Trivia Night
If you or your workplace have any items (this can include physical products or vouchers) you would like to donate as auction or raffle items to our Sydney and Melbourne Trivia Night we would be grateful if you could contact us at fundraising@ilf.org.au
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.