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Congratulations to the 2025 Make Your Own Story Book Awards Winners! Author and screenwriter Kathryn Lefroy and CBCA WA Branch Committee members welcomed 20 excited winners and their guests to the WA State Library for the Make Your Own Story Book Awards Ceremony on Sunday August 17.
Grandcarers WA is the recipient of the 2025 CBCA WA Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund. Grandcarers WA is a peer-led, not-for-profit association dedicated to supporting grandcarers, ie. grandparents who have taken on the exceptional responsibility of raising their grandchildren in their own home. Grandcarers WA provides information, practical support and a unique sense of belonging for grandcarers and their grandchildren. In July, committee members Jenny Botje and Denise Robins presented books to the value of $1250, bought through the Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund, to Loryn Cummings, General Manager of Grandcarers WA. Added to the collection were a number of books donated by committee members.  Presentation of the books Jan Standen, Jan Kenyon, Jenny Botje, Loryn Cummings, Carolyn Sackville and Marion Campbell-Smith These books, most of which are suited to children aged 12 years + will be a valuable addition to the establishment of a library. In her letter of thanks, Loryn said, “On behalf of everyone at Grandcarers WA, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks for the generous donation of books we recently received. We are truly honoured and absolutely thrilled to be the recipients of the 2025 Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund. This donation will make a real and lasting difference in the lives of the grandchildren we raise. You have made a special effort to focus on our older children, as they often miss out, and with the rising cost of living, contributions like yours are more meaningful than ever. Thanks to your generosity, a dream we have held for some time has now become a reality. We are setting up our very own little library. These beautiful books will be enjoyed not just by one child, but by many, offering joy, inspiration, and learning for years to come. Your support has brought so much happiness to our community, and I can’t wait to see our little library in full swing. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. Your kindness has touched us all and will continue to bring joy and knowledge to the children in our care.”  From left, Carolyn Sackville, Alan Hoffman, Jenny Botje, Loryn Cummings and Marion Smith at the Book Week Dinner We were delighted that Loryn, together with President Alan Hoffman, Carolyn Sackville and Marion Campbell-Smith were able to join us at our annual Children's Book Week® Dinner this year.
In the talk Alan and Loryn gave, they provided an insight into Grandcarers WA and how the donated books will bring joy into the lives of their grandchildren and grandcarers CBCA WA is proud to be extending the availability of literature to children of varying ages by way of the Penny Hutchens Memorial Fund. An Afternoon with Kelly Canby and Karleah Olson was a most enjoyable event attended by 16 people on a wintery day. Both authors have books shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. Kelly’s A Leaf Called Greaf is on the Picture Book of the Year Short List, while Karleah’s debut novel, A Wreck of Seabirds, is on the Book of the Year: Older Readers Short List. It’s no surprise that both books are also shortlisted for the Premier’s Book Awards.  Karleah Olson and Kelly Canby Even though Kelly and Karleah hadn’t met before, the ‘in conversation’ format made for a relaxed atmosphere in which they responded generously to each other’s questions as well as to those from the audience.
The audience were enthralled as both creatives shared honest and entertaining insights into their writing process including the highs and lows, their schooldays and their paths to publication.  Jan Nicholls, Kelly Canby and the audience This event was enabled by Writing WA and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.  Thanks to the ongoing generosity of our WA artists, plus donations from Fremantle Press and The Literature Centre, the WA Branch has six original pieces to offer via Silent Auction. All pieces are offered unframed. Each piece is signed by the artist. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and do not do full justice to the works. Measurements are approximate. The Silent Auction opens at 9.00am WST on Tuesday 1 July and the final bid must be placed by 8.00pm WST on Friday 15 August. The reserve price for each piece is $80.00 and bids will be accepted in $10 increments. The winning bidders will be announced at the WA Branch CBW Dinner on Friday 15 August. The Silent Auction is open to everyone throughout Australia, but all freight, delivery or collection costs are the responsibility of the winning bidder.
 The inaugural Peppermint Grove Retreat ended on 14 June with a celebratory afternoon tea and a relaxed presentation from the writers, Renee Treml, Maria Alessandrino, Renae Hayward and Louisa Mitchell. From Louisa’s Acknowledgement of Country to the presentation of my beautiful flowers from the writers, it was a heartwarming afternoon with 27 people in attendance. Here are some comments from the writers about their experiences:  I wrote the dialogue for an upper Middle Grade /early Young Adult graphic novel and made revisions to the entire story. I started with a fully plotted storyline and detailed scene synopses. I also spent some time thinking about picture books. We had excellent workspaces and a variety of places to choose from. So many great books around for inspiration too. I loved getting to know my house-mates. The house itself is immaculate and comfortable, in a great location. Every meal was a fun social event and we all assisted with the planning, prepping, cooking and cleaning. I loved that we attended a few literary events and had a few evenings out. No one minded if we went for a walk or a coffee or had to run to a drs appointment or visit family. No feeling of being judged or watched, just supported and encouraged. Renee Treml  My time at the retreat gave me the opportunity to review the first draft of my Middle Grade fantasy novel, The Rock Children. The time here has given me the space I needed to develop the story and has also given me inspiration for other projects. Coming together as a group at lunch and dinner helped me take a break from writing and stopped me getting too lost in my own thoughts. It was also great to learn from the other creatives, hear about their projects and discuss difficulties etc. It also gave us a chance to unwind and recharge for the next day. I also enjoyed our literary outings, getting the opportunity to mix with the broader community and gain inspiration from various places. Thank you, Gail for such a wonderful couple of weeks. It has been such a privilege to do a writing residency in your beautiful home and I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity. Maria Alessandrino  During the retreat I redrafted a Junior Fiction novel based on WA Wildlife consultation and recent feedback from an agent (at Kid Lit Vic conference), submitted a query letter to a publisher for an early childhood picture book, spent time thinking and taking notes on possible future projects, including a possible short story collection in collaboration with WA Wildlife and promoted my work, the retreat and CBCA via 4 Instagram posts. Literally everything about this retreat was amazing. I loved being able to go for walks along the river. I loved having my own space for both day and night time (and have these be different spaces!). Being located so centrally was great for being able to duck home to visit my family, attend events like the Fogarty Awards, and visit WA Wildlife. Roderick House is truly beautiful and it is such a gift to have Gail share it with WA children’s book creators. Renae Hayward (Week One)  This was my first writing retreat ever and it was a real privilege to be given the time and space to work on my first children’s picture book, Gently, Gently. I also started writing down ideas for other future children’s books that were inspired by my time here. Being with other writers, particularly with different backgrounds/strengths and at different writing levels, enabled everyone to learn something different from each other – I particularly benefitted from having an experienced children’s author in the house who generously gave me feedback. Being allowed the time and space to write was incredibly motivating and inspiring, with a nice mix of socialising with everyone for lunch and dinner to talk through ideas. Playing a game after dinner was a lovely way to end the day with a laugh. Louisa Mitchell (Week Two)   Sincere thanks to CBCA WA for their contribution of funds in getting this exciting new initiative in support of WA creators of Children’s and Young Adult Literature up and running.
Gail Spiers The annual Children's Book Week ® Opening and Dinner will be held on Friday 15 August to celebrate the announcement of the winners in the CBCA Book Of the Year Awards and to open Children's Book Week® in Western Australia.  The mission of the CBCA is . . . to connect, communicate, celebrate, and advocate for the value of stories. (The Children’s Book Council of Australia). Those who attended this presentation were able to listen to in depth discussions of the books in each category by four of the Book of the Year Award Judges - Nola Allen (2024-2025) Early Childhood, Sophie Helfgott (2025-2026) Younger Readers, Maria Alessandrino (2024-2025) Older Readers and Annika Kononen (2025-2026) Older Readers. The venue was the delightful Mel Maria Catholic Primary School Library in Attadale, which was perfect for such an event. Lots of the participants were thrilled to see a beautifully maintained library with many commenting that they had an idea or two to take back to their own school or public library. Entries in the 2025 Book of the Year Awards totalled 730 💛 Older Readers 58 💛Younger Readers 150 💛Early Childhood 153 💛Picture Book 232 💛Eve Pownall 81 💛New Illustrator 47 Each judge discussed aspects of the judging process including criteria and working in a team of judges to read, report on and collaborate to identify their Notable Lists, select 6 titles for Shortlists and make their final selections: the winning and honour books to be announced on Friday 15th August. Books were thoroughly examined and aspects such as language, characterisation, setting, plot, theme, illustration, design elements and age appropriateness were discussed. Audience members received a booklet containing judges’ summaries and details of shortlisted books in each of the categories. Following the presentations, a delicious afternoon tea was served, and participants had the opportunity to speak with the judges, take a thorough look at the books on display and network with like-minded colleagues. Thank you to CBCA WA committee member and coordinator Tracey Willis who planned and managed the event. Thank you also to committee member Charmaine Faulkner who organised the venue at her school Mel Maria and to the library staff who supported her. A huge thank you to Nola, Sophie, Maria and Annika for sharing their expertise, commitment and passion. The event provided the audience with an opportunity to learn a little more about the judging process, thoroughly engage with this year’s shortlist titles via the knowledge and empathy of the judges and connect with CBCA WA, as it continues to promote quality literature for children and young adults. Liz Allen CBCA WA committee  Teacher Librarian Jan Pocock and her staff welcomed guests, both presenters and participants to this inaugural CBCA WA regional event at Lishman Library, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School (BCGS). Our stars were fourteen WA literary creatives; authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult stories who introduced themselves, presented current titles and shared insights into their writing worlds. The audience was educated and entertained in a variety of ways – from Gabriel Evans drawings to Jasmine Berry’s Q & A chart, to Ash Harrier’s Ghostlings’ dolls, to the strong link between the setting of south West WA in nearly all of Deb Fitzpatrick’s books, to Dianne Wolfer’s whip (you had to be there!), to Sally Murphy’s analogy between brussels sprouts and poetry (yes, she displayed a bag of brussels sprouts purchased on the way to the event!) and even Cristy Burne’s op shop outfit which she had purchased due to washing, ironing and then leaving her clothes in Perth! Some of the presenters were new to this type of event and all of them presented with a genuine love of their craft and were thankful for the opportunity to present to an audience represented by teachers, librarians, library technicians, primary and secondary students and interested literary folk. Renée Treml, who recently moved to WA was presenting at her first event here. What we did learn from her was her erudite explanation of What is a thylacine? One of the new presenters commented that she loved watching and learning from the more experienced presenters. Quite a few had not met each other before. Jasmine Berry and Sally Barton were pleased to meet and share ideas and a signing table. WA Branch President, Kris Williams made closing remarks, and the raffle prizes were drawn. The Branch thanks James Foley for two limited edition prints from his award-winning book Stellarphant. James shared a secret about nonfiction and fiction follow ups to this amazing work.  The afternoon concluded with book sales from WA Branch supporting bookshop Dymocks Busselton. Thank you to Beth Herbert for this support. Presenters then had an opportunity for book signings, meeting audience members and having some photos taken by keen supporters. A delicious afternoon tea was served allowing networking opportunities to continue in a relaxed atmosphere.
Thank you to CBCA WA committee member Jan Nicholls, who worked with Jan Pocock and Beth Herbert to plan and manage ATWOS. Thank you to committee members Denise Robins, Gail Spiers, Jenny Botje and Liz Allen who travelled from Perth and assisted with the smooth running of the afternoon, especially Denise who ably stepped up into the MC role when ill health prevented Jan from attending. The event coincided with the beginning of National Volunteer Week 2025 under the theme Connecting Communities and linked beautifully as it helped us: 💛 connect WA creatives with readers and educators 💛 connect authors and illustrators in regional WA 💛 connect CBCA WA with an audience which promotes quality literature for children and young adults. Liz Allen CBCA WA committee What better way to end the working week than with A Night with our Stars! The presenters were phenomenal and showcased the breadth and depth of our West Australian Children’s lit community! ANWOS had it all from costumes, a rap, UV posters, a meditation to books about word play, learning about our wonderful natural world, concerns over the lack of education around the tooth fairy, filling gaps in the books kids read and then finishing off with quiet time – even a few Mills and Boon references! Books were presented for all ages, from struggling readers with dyslexia, those learning the alphabet, graphic novels for YA, middle grade school stories, romance, murder, fairies, working dogs, whales and kids struggling with real world issues – I could go on. It just shows how talented our West Aussie creatives are and just how varied a 3-minute presentation can be. I brought my cousin along for her first ANWOS and she marveled at how supportive and loving our little community is. As a pre-primary teacher and reader she turned to me and said at one point that she just wanted to buy all of the books to support every one of our creatives. I felt the same. She did end up buying three from the WestBooks pop-up shop and got them signed by the authors for her class. Those little readers are going to feel so special! There were some absolutely stellar prizes to be won (including the Shaun Tan art, which neither of us won – unfortunately) and a copy of every book presented on the night (we didn’t win that either!). The food was great as always too. The committee put in a fantastic effort volunteering their time on the night to serve drinks, sell raffle tickets, take photos and generally make sure no-one felt left out. Jan as our host was an absolute star as always. I imagine hearing that little toy buzz saw terrifies presenters every time they hear it! I will finish with something that our president Kris said in her introduction (paraphrased): it is up to us to make books more than about learning which symbol means what, to bring the fun to reading, to read to children of all ages. Based on what we saw at ANWOS, I think our kids are in safe hands. Claire Kierath CBCA WA Committee Member |
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AWARDS FOUNDATION
We dreamt of funding prizes for Winning and Honour Books in the Children’s Book of the Year Awards to reward their creators. Your generous donation was part of that dream. You can make our dream a reality. GIFT FUND Your donation to the CBCA Gift Fund will help fund programs that enrich young lives through Australian stories and create a thriving creative world. Support our mission to connect, communicate, celebrate and advocate stories across Australia. |
AWARDS FOUNDATION BENEFACTORS
Allen & Unwin • CBCA NSW Branch Inc • Eddie and Dina Coffey • 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 QLD Branch • CBCA VIC Branch • CBCA WA Branch • Era Publications • Terry Fahy • 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 • John Moffat • Narelle Oliver • Jan Ormerod • Eve Pownall • Marion E Robertson • Gregory Rogers • Sebastian Walker • Cassandra Weddell • Maisie Williams, Garah, NSW
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