Tribute to Matt Richell assists literacy

A generous donation from the Norman Family Bequest, in memory of publisher Matt Richell, will provide the senior girls’ class from Tiwi College on Melville Island, with a unique opportunity to develop their literacy skills.  

The girls, aged 14-18 years old, will travel to Sydney in November to participate in a week-long writing and mentoring workshop.  

This year, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is partnering with Hachette Australia who will work with the girls and one of ILF's ambassadors, to teach the girls how to craft and publish their stories in a book.  

The girls’ first story Bangs 2 Jurrukuk was published in 2013 with the assistance of John Danalis and the team at Allen & Unwin.  Their second book, Tiwi Girl will be published later this year and was written in 2014 with Alison Lester and the assistance of HarperCollins.

“The mentoring and writing workshop is not only a fantastic opportunity for the girls to develop their skills but its a wonderful time of two-way learning where we're all introduced to Tiwi culture and life.  The donation is an enormously significant and generous gift that will open doors for these young women and make it all possible”, said Karen Williams, Executive Director of The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. 

“We are  great admirers of ILF’s work and delighted to support this initiative which we are sure will create exciting, new possibilities for the Tiwi College girls”, said Matt Richell’s father-in-law, John Norman.

 For further information please contact Karen Williams (02) 9280 0655 or email Karen@ilf.org.au

• Posted 02 June, 2015