Yass Lions, parents and teachers celebrated with the winners of this year's Yass Lions Club Literacy Program on Thursday August 21. Dr Stephanie Owen-Reeder, a published children's author, came to Yass last March to run workshops for 100 students from Years 5 and 6 who came from Berinba, Bowning, Mt Carmel, Rye Park and Yass Public Schools. Stephanie explained to the students where to get ideas from, such as historical photographs and paintings and from speaking to older members of their family and the community. She even included special links to Yass during her sessions.
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The students had a short time to write a piece and have it submitted for judging. All entries were sent to a publishing house in Victoria; there they were read, judged and returned to the Yass Lions Club. Every school that entered either had a winner or an encouragement award.
Lion Cherie Hobart, who organised the event said: "The standard of the work received was remarkable and the publishing house had some difficulty in deciding the winners".
Clare Flick of Rye Park was the winner with her story entitled - "Muster at Montrose". Mikaela Allen, from Bowning came second with a story entitled - "The Blazing Fire" and Bryce Battye from Mt Carmel came third with the story - "War is Hard". All winners received their award certificate, autographed books and a cheque from the Yass Lions Club on Thursday night.
Yass Lions Club president, Fiona Dowling, told the meeting "the project was a great success and Yass Lions Club will host the literacy program again next year".
The Childrens' Literacy Project commenced in Victoria, as part of the Childrens' Charity Network. Lions adopted the program as one of their Australia-wide projects which now enables all clubs to participate. The Lions Club of Yass was the first club outside of Victoria to run the project in 2012.
If you are interested in this and other Yass Lions Club projects, or you would like more information about joining the Lions Club, contact Geoff Hobart on 0411 414 678.