WCBA Newsletters

WCBA Convenor’s Report July 2009- July 2010

2010-07-30T04:18:00.003-07:00

The past year has been another busy and productive year for your Association.

The following highlights are noted:

We’re now Incorporated!

Thanks to all those members who accepted that incorporation would be advantageous and voted to pass our new constitution. We are pleased to say that we are now the WCBA Incorporated.

A special vote of thanks must go to our Treasurer Pippa Werry, who did all the necessary research and applications to achieve this.

Spinning Gold Conference

The conference venue, historic Capital House located in the heights of Newtown provided an aptly quirky and creative ambience for the event.

A sell-out from minutes after registrations went on sale, the conference proved to be an overwhelming success. The full Spinning Gold conference report is available at tonight’s meeting.

Auckland will host the next Writers and Illustrators Hui, Spinning Tales to be held 25-27 March 2011 (wrapped around Storylines Margaret Mahy Day)

Jack Lasenby Award

The WCBA created and sponsored this award named after our Patron, which is made to the winners of a biennial competition for writers for children and for children who write in the Wellington region.

This past year the award was for Years 7 and 8 students. Our judges, Eirlys Hunter, Fifi Colston and Maureen Crisp examined lots of promising entries.

The winner was Raphael Kidman, aged 12 a year 7 student at Scots College last year. His story entitled “The Big Hairy Monster” impressed the judges with its humour, use of language and reference to several Wellington Icons. Raphael received his trophy, certificate and a cheque from the WCBA for $200 at the end of term Prize- giving on 1 December last year. His school also received a set of books from Longacre Press. His famous grandmother, Dame Fiona Kidman, was very proud. Writing is obviously in the family genes!

The committee is currently organising this year’s competition which will be for adult writers.Details will be on our blog so get writing and submit your entry!

Award News

Kate De Goldi awarded creative New Zealand Fellowship

Wellington writer, Kate De Goldi has been awarded the $100,000 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship to research and write a non-fiction book about children’s literature.
De Goldi’s project will investigate the extraordinary story of New Zealand historian, writer and researcher Susan Price and her efforts to encourage children to read and cherish the great body of 20th century children’s literature in English.

Ann Mallinson Awarded Officer of the NZ Order of Merit

On 28 April 2010, Ann Mallinson, of Wellington, was awarded the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to publishing, in particular children’s literature. She established Mallinson Rendel with her late husband in 1980 and since then it has published more than 170 titles, specialising in picture books for children. The best known author published by Mallinson Rendel is Lynley Dodd whose Hairy Maclary stories have sold more than six million copies worldwide. Other Mallinson Rendel authors include Joy Cowley, David Hill and Fleur Beale. The Publishing House has received numerous awards, including the New Zealand Post Children’s Choice Award in 2005 and the Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book in 2002.Congratulations Ann!

Pippa Werry Shortlisted for publishing company prize

An Australian Publishing company, Text, recently announced its shortlist of five contenders for the 2010 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing.

The five shortlisted titles included How to Talk to Girls by Wellington’s Philippa Werry who is our WCBA treasurer.

Congratulations Pippa!

Christmas ‘Kids’ Lit’ Quiz night for adults at the Southern Cross.

This popular annual event for adult aficionados of Children’s literature was again held at the Southern Cross Hotel’s Lodge room last December. Dylan Owen presided as Quizmaster. Fabulous prizes for the winning team and spot prizes and raffles added to the excitement.

This year we will be holding the event here at Turnbull house on Thursday 9 December at 7.30pm so do put the date in your diary now.

Coming events for Last quarter of 2010

Events on the table for the remainder of the year include:

Book launches.

Fleur Beale’s “Fierce September” to be launched at The Children’s Bookshop Thurs 9 September

Pippa Werry’s “A Girl called Harry” to be launched at Brooklyn Community centre Sat 14 August 4pm

Visit to Susan Price Collection

Sunday 29 August

Spring Storytelling sessions

The WCBA will again sponsor our very own Marie Murdoch for two story- telling sessions at The Botanic Garden as part of the annual Spring festival in September.

Marie will be weaving her magic at the Treehouse on Thursday September 30th at 1.30pm and Thursday October 7th at 1.30pm also. –Details will be listed in the Spring festival Programme which will be available at all libraries.

The WCBA committee looks forward to hosting more Children’s Book events for Wellington members and the public next year. Where possible we like to keep members informed of events by e-mail and through our blog. This is proving extremely useful and we have created links with other literary/book sites as a free alternative to a website. If you, as a member have a book launch or children’s book related news you would like to share with the wider community, please let us know and we will post it on the blog for you. If you have a blog yourself, we can link it to ours too.

How to find us

Blog details

http://www.the-wcba.blogspot.com/

Contact us: E-mail: the.wcba@gmail.com

I wish to thank our wonderful, good humoured and vibrant committee who have worked so hard again this year in a fabulous spirit of creative cooperation and thanks also to you, our members for continuing to support our events and initiatives.

Here’s to another exciting and productive year ahead! As convenor I will only be standing for another year so a successor needs to be identified to take over the reins.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our events in the near future. Do email us if you have suggestions, ideas or queries about children’s literature and we will be delighted to discuss them with you.

In the meantime keep reading, writing and blogging as time permits.

All the best for a creative year ahead!

Louise Davies

WCBA Convenor

November 09

2009-11-25T15:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first newsletter from your new WCBA Committee.

At the AGM on 17 August 2009 at Turnbull House, our Association convenor, the irrepressible and multi-talented Fifi Colston stood down after a highly successful and productive three year term. Warm thanks to Fifi for her contribution during this time. Her creative energy and ability is evident in a number of roles as author, illustrator, comedienne, TV presenter, crafts person and events organiser and we have been fortunate to have her on board. Fifi will remain on the committee where her talents will continue to be put to good use.

Highlights from the Convenor’s report for 2008 can be read on our blog at http://www.the-wcba.blogspot.com

Who is your WCBA Committee?

Convenor: Louise Davies

Community co-ordinator, parent and sporadic poet and song writer. Member of WCBA committee since 2000 and past co-convenor. Storylines festival committee member for 3 years.

Secretary/ membership: Johanna Knox

Freelance writer, editor, researcher, and reviewer who home schools her two children. Guest on Radio New Zealand's This Way Up, chatting monthly about wild food foraging.

Treasurer: Pippa Werry

Published writer, contributor to School Journal and other educational
publishers, WCBA treasurer

Maureen Crisp

Teacher, parent and published writer. Ten years as WCBA committee member- three as Convenor. Organiser of Spinning Gold conference.

Fifi Colston

Author, illustrator, poet, occasional columnist and multiple Wearable Arts finalist. Regular arts and crafts presenter on the Good Morning show on TV1. Past Convener of WCBA and a Wellington committee member for the Storylines Festival. Judge for the NZPost Children’s’ Book awards in 2008.Co-organiser of the Spinning Gold Conference 2009.

Fleur Beale

Former teacher Fleur Beale has written over twenty novels for teenagers. She has won several awards, the latest being The 2009 Esther Glen Award for her popular young adult novel Juno of Taris (Random House). A member of the Writers in Schools programme.

Margaret Cahill

Wellington editor with a passionate interest in children's writing and publishing. Past convenor of the WCBA.

Holly Gooch

Fledgling writer, mum and teacher

Adele Jackson

Professional designer, illustrator and event coordinator. Wellington Co-ordinator for the Storylines Festival in 2008 and 2009. Member of the organizing committee for the Spinning Gold Conference.

Marie Murdoch

Ex schoolteacher. Librarian for WCC at Kilbirnie for 10 years and Librarian at Marsden Collegiate School for Girls for 5 years. A storyteller for 9 years. Takes a story and music session at The Children's Bookshop every Friday morning.

Jenni Carlton

Fledgling writer with a creative background in craft and design.

Ruth and John McIntyre

Owners of the award winning Children’s Bookshop in Kilbirnie. John has a regular Friday slot as a reviewer of children’s books on Radio New Zealand’s “Nine to Noon Show”.

Spinning Gold conference

This marvellous event wove its magic over three days in Wellington from 18-20th September. A dedicated team led by Maureen Crisp and Fifi Colston organised what was the first ever National Conference for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in New Zealand. The conference venue, historic Capital House located in the heights of Newtown provided an aptly quirky and creative ambience for the event.

A sell-out from minutes after registrations went on sale, the conference proved to be an overwhelming success.

It featured 23 key note speakers, workshop presenters and panellists and representatives from all of the major New Zealand publishing companies. More information about the conference as well as some of the marvellous pictures taken during the weekend can be seen on the Spinning Gold Blog: www.spinninggold09.blogspot.com .

Conference highlights listed in the Conference Report based on participants’ feedback included presentations by Kate De Goldi, Martin Baynton, Lawrence Green, Fleur Beale and Dylan Owen.

Several favourable mentions were also made about

* the workshops, in particular the Finish IT workshop

* Pitch slams

* Hands on stuff

* Publishers’ panel

* Flexibility/vibe

We are already looking forward to the next conference in a year or two which Auckland delegates have kindly offered to host.

Jack Lasenby Award

The WCBA created and sponsored this award named after our Patron, which is made to the winners of a biennial competition for writers for children and for children who write in the Wellington region.

This year the award was for Years 7 and 8 students. Results have just been announced by our judges, Eirlys Hunter, Fifi Colston and Maureen Crisp.

The winner is…. Raphael Kidman, aged 12 who is a year 7 student at Scots College. His story entitled “The Big Hairy Monster” impressed the judges with its humour, use of language and reference to several Wellington icons. Raphael will receive his trophy, certificate and a cheque from the WCBA for $200 at the end of term Prize- giving on Tuesday 1 December. His school will also receive a set of books from Longacre Press. His famous grandmother, Dame Fiona Kidman, must be very proud. Writing is obviously in the family genes! For more details see our Blog.

Christmas ‘Kids’ Lit’ Quiz night for adults at the Southern Cross.

Thursday 3 December 7.30pm.

This popular annual event for adult aficionados of Children’s literature will again be held at the Southern Cross Hotel’s Lodge room this year. Dylan Owen will preside as Quizmaster. Tickets are $10.00 (available at the door) and include delicious platters of nibbles. Drinks available at the bar. Fabulous prizes for the winning team and spot prizes and raffles will add to the excitement.

WCBA becoming an Incorporated Society

At present the WCBA is a not-for-profit organisation, but not an incorporated society. Some of you may already belong to other organisations that are incorporated. There are a number of advantages, such as:

1) The members of an incorporated society are not responsible for any of the society's debts

2) It can sometimes be easier to get funding grants if you can show that you are incorporated.

3) You can apply for an income tax exemption from the IRD.

About ten years ago, a draft WCBA constitution was drawn up and attempts were made to apply for incorporated status. This wasn't quite carried through so this year we have decided to have another attempt.

We talked about this at our March meeting, and the new draft constitution was discussed at our AGM and subsequently voted on and passed. However, we still need to show that a majority of our members have approved it.

So - here is what you can do to help: please could you take a few minutes to email Pippa Werry, our Treasurer who will send you a copy of the draft constitution. (werry@paradise.net.nz) Copies will also be available at the Christmas quiz night for you to uplift. If you are happy with it, could you take another very short moment to email us at our WCBA email address: the.wcba@gmail.com

Suggested wording is: ‘I have read and approve the proposed WCBA draft constitution.’ and please include your name and address.

(If you were at the AGM and signed the sheet, you don't need to reply again.)

Being an Incorporated Society doesn’t mean we need to get audited accounts, because we haven't specified that in the constitution.

The clauses in the constitution are quite general. They describe what we can do, not what we have to do every year.

We would really appreciate your help, so please do take the time to reply!

Coming events for 2010

Events on the table for the first quarter of next year include a Story telling workshop and an authors’ panel discussion as well as some exciting Book launches.

The WCBA committee looks forward to hosting more Children’s Book events for Wellington members and the public next year. The cost of postage is a concern and where possible we would like to keep members informed of events by e-mail and through our blog. This is proving extremely useful and we have created links with other literary/book sites as a free alternative to a website. If you, as a member have a book launch or children’s book related news you would like to share with the wider community, please let us know and we will post it on the blog for you. If you have a blog yourself, we can link it to ours too.

How to find us

Blog: http://the-wcba.blogspot.com/

Contact us: E-mail: the.wcba@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you at one of our events in the near future. Do email us if you have suggestions, ideas or queries about Children’s Literature and we will be delighted to discuss them with you.

In the meantime keep reading and writing when you can!

Best wishes to all for the festive season!

Louise Davies

Convenor

WCBA