Speeches
Friday, 04 April 2025
Morning Tea for the Children’s Book Council of Australia SA Branch
I warmly welcome you all to Government House this morning to celebrate 80 years of the Children’s Book Council of Australia in South Australia.
Rod and I are pleased to be chief patrons of the Council, alongside the Lord Mayor and Premier, who are patrons of the 80th anniversary.
As adults, we all remember the books that shaped us as children.
Their stories stay with us throughout our lives.
When we’re growing up, books help us to make sense of the world.
They foster empathy, spark imagination, and expand our concentration spans.
In the age of smart phones, these skills have never been more important.
As parents to four adult children, children’s books played a significant role in our parenting.
Mem Fox, who is here today, is known for encouraging parents to read at least 1000 stories to children before they go to school, for the benefits this has on developing brains.
Luckily this includes reading the same story many times!
Rod and I read to our children from six weeks old.
Possum Magic was a favourite, as were other Australian classics, including Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie.
As children of diplomats, our children attended a number of international schools, and I’m pleased to report they all took part in Book Week celebrations.
I thank the Australian Book Council, in particular the SA branch, for facilitating Book Week every year, as well as the CBCA Book of the Year awards, arguably the most highly regarded children’s book awards in the country.
In 1945, South Australia led the nation by establishing one of the first Children’s Book Councils of Australia, in response to a growing desire across the country for stories which captured Australian life and spoke directly to Australians, including children.
Since then, we have developed a rich culture of children’s literature and storytelling in our state.
We are home to talented authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, publishers and other experts who share their love of words and pictures with our younger generations – something of which we can all be proud.
I thank the SA Branch committee and members for generously volunteering their time, energy and expertise to the Council, contributing to a strong children’s literature community in our state.
By sharing your love of children’s literature with the broader community, you help to ensure South Australian children will continue to enjoy beautiful stories, reflecting their lives and sparking their imaginations, for years to come.