After studying librarianship, Nola worked with the Education Department and in public libraries. At this time, she first joined the Children’s Book Council of Australia WA Branch, climbing the stairs to Haddon’s Bookshop, and meeting similar minded colleagues who have become lifelong friends. Throughout her 39 years’ distinguished service, Nola was Branch Secretary for ten years, and National Secretary for two; she worked on the Programme Committee for the CBCA National Conference held in Perth in 2002 and she judged the Eve Pownall Award for non-fiction books. Nola moved to the State Library of Western Australia (SLWA) as a Children’s Services Librarian, joining a team which curated a list of newly published books enabling public libraries to regularly select books for children from birth to 18 years with confidence. Nola’s knowledge of the best of children’s literature was shared generously with local government staff state-wide. An informal partnership between CBCA WA and State Library enabled the Bookworms Club for 6-10, year-olds to flourish. The highlight was an annual lunch where one hundred members could meet WA and interstate authors and illustrators. Nola edited the Club’s newsletter and accompanied visiting book creators on regional tours. Nola’s passion for ensuring that all children in this vast state have access to programs promoting the best in children’s literature has seen her voluntarily assist in writing successful grant applications totalling close to $900,000 over the past 15 years. Around 2003 at the State Library, Sue North and Nola worked together to scope and devise a program that would ensure that every baby born in Western Australia would receive the gift of a book and an invitation to join their local library. The multi-award-winning Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program began. Over one million families have since received a yellow bag with a booklist and other supporting resources from their community child health nurse. It’s impossible to imagine Better Beginnings without Baby Ways. At the time when Nola led its development, writing and publication, there were a mere handful of photographic books showing the diversity of Australian babies. Baby Ways continues to be a hit with families from Karratha to Kojonup, and was recently translated into Noongar for a bilingual edition. Nola’s extraordinary contributions at State Library saw her receive the James Hammond Award, and being made a Fellow of the Library Board of Western Australia in 2017. Since leaving SLWA, Nola’s skills have been in demand as a consultant leading community publishing projects in local governments throughout Perth. Booksellers, reviewers, parents and librarians continue to seek her views about Australian children’s literature through her regular contributions to the iconic Magpies magazine. Nola has also contributed to databases developed by the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature (NCACL). Her distinguished work – paid and unpaid - bringing children and books together over many decades makes Nola Allen a worthy recipient of the Muriel Barwell Award. Gail Spiers Convenor Muriel Barwell Award for Distinguished Service to Children’s Literature  Muriel Barwell OAM and Nola Allen taken in 2022 shortly after Nola received her award.
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AWARDS FOUNDATION BENEFACTORS
Allen & Unwin CBCA NSW Branch Inc Laurie Copping OAM Margaret Hamilton AM Maurice Saxby AM Scholastic Australia Thyne Reid Trust No. 1
Major Donors
Australia Post • Jill B Bruce • Sandy Campbell • CBCA ACT Branch • CBCA SA Branch • CBCA VIC Branch • CBCA WA Branch • Era Publications • Five Mile Press • Libby Gleeson AM • Bob Graham • Hachette Children’s Books • Hardie Grant Egmont • HarperCollins Publishers • Ipswich District Teacher-Librarians’ Network • The James N Kirby Foundation • Kinross-Wolaroi School • Koala Books • Library Board of Queensland • Dr Robin Moncrieff Morrow AM• Angela Namoi • Northern Territory Government • Parents & Boys of Sydney Grammar Edgecliff Prep School • Penguin Books • Random House • Emily Rodda (Jennifer Rowe) • Gillian Rubinstein • SA Dept of the Arts & Cultural Development • Gail Spiers • Myrtle Spiers • Cathie Tasker • University of Queensland Press • Julie Vivas • Walker Books • Margaret Wild • Sue Williams
Major Donors in Memoriam
Jean Chapman • Max Fatchen • Beryl Moncrieff Matthews • Christobel Mattingley • Jill Midolo • Narelle Oliver • Jan Ormerod • Eve Pownall • Marion E Robertson • Gregory Rogers • Sebastian Walker • Cassandra Weddell • Maisie Williams, Garah, NSW
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