PROUD MOMENT: Prize winners from the “Poucher and Big Guy’ story writing competition as part of the Jugiong Writers’ Festival.

TOO CUTE: Reagan Manton (wombat) and Jamie Glover (dingo) in their performance of Wombat Stew.

LAST Friday, March 6, 90 students from Bongongo, Brungle, Jugiong, Gundagai South and Wee Jasper Public Schools met to celebrate writing, as part of the Jugiong Writers’ Festival.

The Writer’s Festival was a successful three-day event held from Friday to Sunday.

The aim was to give students the opportunity to meet authors and illustrators, to appreciate their work and to develop skills in communicating their own ideas through reading, writing and creative arts. The day also gave students an opportunity to mix with their peers from other schools.

Students dressed in bush clothes as the theme of the day was ‘Aussie People and Aussie Animals’.

It was a thrill for students to meet ‘real-life’ authors and artists.

The students attended a variety of inspiring workshops with renowned authors, Arthur Charles (Big Guy) and Tarryn Lean, illustrator Kate Anderson, local artist Joan Simpson and local poet Cathie Bragg.

Sessions included reading, discussions, story generating, 3D Art, water colour techniques, writing limericks and formula poems and making books come alive.

One of the highlights was the story writing competition, based on Arthur Charles book ‘Poucher and Big Guy’.

Students wrote and published their own adventure story based on the two characters.

They produced some amazing stories which were professionally judged by Judy Pigram. Winners from all schools received books kindly donated by Wombat Books and Arthur Charles.

Thanks is extended from all involved to each of the presenters who generously donated their time, the Jugiong P and C for providing food for the day and Jugiong Public School for the excellent venue.

The story ‘Write On’ at Jugiong Small Schools Writing Day first appeared on Cootamundra Herald.