Libraries Literacy Festival 2024

Sasha is an advocate for literacy and creativity and runs writing workshops for children and adults, as well as offering mentoring services. She is a WA Ambassador for Books in Homes Australia charity promoting early book ownership for life success. Her debut novel was published in 2015 and by the end of 2023 she will have 16 published novels in the world. Today, she lives in the Perth hills region with her partner and two daughters, surrounded by dogs, cats and chickens

View Sasha's website.

A West Australian, Kamille has a Science Degree, Comprehensive Writing certification and facilitates a prose writers’ group at the Fellowship of Australian Writers W.A. Winner of the BJ Paterson Writing Award 2013, Kamille’s various short stories and articles have placed nationally, and been published in print and online. 

Visit Kamille's website.

Sara Foster is an internationally published, bestselling author living in Western Australia. Sara is passionate about writing strong female characters and incorporates contemporary themes into her books, which often traverse the genre areas of psychological suspense, family noir and crime thrillers.

Visit Sara's website.

David Whish-Wilson is the author of eight novels and three creative non-fiction books. He was born in Newcastle, NSW but raised in Singapore, Victoria and WA. David’s first novel in the Frank Swann crime series, Line of Sight (Penguin Australia) was shortlisted for a Ned Kelly Award in 2012. He has since written three more in the series – the first three being published in Germany by Suhrkamp Verlag. David wrote the Perth book in the NewSouth Books city series, which was short-listed for a WA Premiers Book Award.

Visit David's website.

Joanne Morrell is an author and podcaster based in Perth Western Australia. 

As an author, she traditionally publish children’s and young adult fiction under the pen name JzeMorrell, as well as independently publishing women’s fiction and short non-fiction books for authors in her Author Linings series. 

Kylie Howarth is an award-winning, internationally published children’s book author-illustrator from Western Australia. Kylie recently won the WAYRBA Hoffman award and KOALA Honour award. She has been shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Writers Fellowship, SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrators Award, CBCA Book of the year awards, WAYRBA and the YABBA awards.

This event is for local school students by invitation only. Please contact Australind Library on 9797 4590 for more information.

Join in on the fun and laughter in the Teddy Bear Tent, meet our special guests and say hello to 'Marley'!

City of Bunbury Libraries are bringing theTeddy Bears Roadshow to the Ridley Place park on Friday, 8 March 2024 at 10am. The program consists of a Story Time followed by a Teddy Bears Picnic in the special teddy bears tent.  Families are encouraged to enjoy a coffee, stay, play and connect at the playground thereafter. Face painter will also be attending on the day.

BYO: towel to sit on (or sit on the grass) and your child’s favourite teddy bear.

In this event, we will cover these topics:

• Learn about Deaf Community and Deaf Culture
• Communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
• Learn Auslan alphabet, numbers, greeting and drinks/foods signs.
• Your family and friends will have lots of fun learning new language!

Enjoy an afternoon of painting, chatting and tea at Australind Library on Friday, 8 March at 1pm.

Whether you are an experienced painter or a beginner, you are welcome to join us and express your creativity. Painting is a great way to reduce stress, improve your mood and unleash your imagination.

Australind Family History Society (AFHS) dedicated to helping people research their family's ancestry locally and worldwide.

AFHS has a comprehensive library where members can pursue their family history interests. 

AFHS will be promoting their services at the festival on Thursday, 7 March from 10am to 3pm.

For more information about their services, please contact AFHS on phone 9796 1050 or email alindfhs@iinet.net.au

Cristy Burne, AKA the Creativity Queen, is an award-winning internationally published children’s author working on the intersection of story, science, technology and creativity.

This event is for local school students by invitation only. Please contact Australind Library on 9797 4590 for more information.

This nature-based incursion is designed to connect students (and teachers) with the natural world through play. This creates an internal sense of why it’s important to change our environmental behaviours, and work to find sustainable solutions for our world. 

The incursions are designed to empower students through the opportunity to develop skills and find individual and collaborative success in the transformation of natural objects. 

Each year, Josh Langley inspires thousands of school children across WA with his powerful messages of resilience and self-esteem. 

His funny and highly engaging presentations have been developed to complement the health and well being aspects of the Australian school curriculum as well as connecting with pastoral care policies.

Topics covered: Resilience, self-acceptance, the importance of talking about feelings, building empathy and the power of imagination.

This event is for local school students by invitation only. Please contact Harvey Library on 9729 0390 for more information.

Cecilia May Gibbs was one of Australia’s foremost children’s authors and illustrators and is best known today for the iconic Australian children’s story, The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

Come to the Harvey Library and enjoy the May Gibbs exhibition featuring some unique items. 

Katie Stewart is an author and illustrator. Born in the north of England, she came to Australia at the age of nine. She started her working life as an archaeologist and ethnohistorian, went on to teaching and then to being a mother.

Her books have been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year (2020 and 2021) and shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Book Awards (2022).

This event is for local school students by invitation only. Please contact Harvey Library on 9729 0390 for more information.

The event is open to everyone and will showcase local writers, along with all those who love to read.  Entertainment for this finale for the 2024 Shire of Harvey Literacy Festival will be provided by Harvey Ukulele Group. This event will be held at Harvey Library on Friday, 8 March at 2pm.

 Come and join us for a special rhymetime under the trees outside Harvey Library on Friday, 8 March at 9.30am. There will be songs and rhymes, followed by a small picnic. 

Learn how you can make a difference in your community or for yourself, improve your mental and physical health or simply make new friends and be part of a team!