April 21, 2021 Event

 

Our second meeting of 2021 was held at Woollahra Library in Double Bay.

 

After our meeting we held our Speakers’ event. The event has exceeded our expectations with almost 20 people attending as well as local librarian Erin, sporting her Sorting Hat earrings!

 

Erin spoke first giving us a run down of library life during and post lockdown and what she saw as key factors in developing a love of reading. Like CBCA, membership is important for libraries and COVID’s silver lining for Woollahra library was a surge in membership following the ease of social distancing restrictions. Then Speech Pathologist and local member Sonica Bestulic spoke about ‘Flourish for Mums’ and its intention to bring inner peace and inspiration to mums. She gave a fascinating insight into the use of language and thus children's books to help develop children's spoken skills as well as their reading. 

 

Next, Liz Ledden of One More Podcast fame spoke about her new book; ‘Walking Your Human’. Hearing how her illustrator was UK based and had worked on the illustrations during Lockdown when her baby was only 8 weeks old drew heart-felt signs of empathy from the audience and when Liz showed us a certain character from the book who sported a green coat, matching hat and was being walked by her Corgi we all had a pretty good inkling who it might be; certainly a few nods to the illustrator’s British heritage!

 

Finally, our key-note and impressive Susanne Gervey with what has been touted as ‘her best yet’: ‘Heroes of the Secret Underground’. I find the hairs on the back of my neck rising even writing the title as I am part way through this compelling fusion of reality, the horror of war, children’s imagination and a writer’s heart and I am completely hooked! Having already heard Susanne speak about this title, I found I was yet again being bewitched and intrigued with the rich narrative she gave, the emotion never too far away in her voice. This tale is one that not only entertains but has a tremendous call to action for those who will listen. As Susanne herself said, ‘Children are the future, they are the hope and they have the power; they just need to see it.’ Heroes of the Secret Underground will give them all that and what’s more a little piece of Susanne’s heart of peace to carry with them into their future.

 

Our speakers all donated a book for our lucky door prize and Maryann Hudson our newest member was the lucky human! Welcome and congratulations Maryann! The event wrapped up as the library closed and our ‘after-party-dinner’ was held at China Diner with conversation, camaraderie and professional sharing carrying on well into the evening.