January - Kalbarr Project Launch
Our latest Kalbarr: Schools and communities project aims to connect primary schools in the Maribyrnong Council area to those in remote communities.
Pictured are students of St Johns Primary School participating in the project, councillor Catherine Cummings MP, Ms Daniela Deluca (St John’s Family Engagement Co-ordinator) and Books n Boots Co-founder and Chair John Harding. Thank you Maribyrnong City Council for supporting the project.
February - Boots to Borroloola, NT
In February, we were honoured to send some football boots to the Borroloola community through the John Moriarty Foundation.
0ver 1000 books were also sent to the Borroloola School and childcare centre for redistribution. The books and boots were donated during the Melbourne Covid lockdown of 2021 and kept in storage until restrictions were lifted. Thank you to everyone involved in the massive effort.
March -Aunty Joan on her book run for the children of Cherbourg (QLD)
In May we sent 500 books to the children of Cherbourg Aboriginal Community. (QLD) .
Pictured is Aunty Joan from Bundjalung Country, doing her book run, with a boot full of books kindly donated by the Churches of Christ Burleigh Op Shop.
This would not have been possible without our Aunty Joan. Thank you Aunty 🖤🖤🖤
April - Launch of the Aunty Eleanor Harding Tutoring Program
We launched our Aunty Eleanor Tutoring Program! The program provides support to First Nations children across Naarm.
The service is FREE thanks to our wonderful volunteers. Children receive one-on-one sessions for literacy, maths and general support with homework. The sessions incorporate cultural activities and children's literature written by Blak authors.
Sessions take a relational/ mentoring approach with the intent of building confidence and strong and proud cultural identities for our Booris ❤💛🖤Meet Ellie, one of our volunteer tutor!
May - First shipment to Western Australia Noonga Boodja
In May, 700 picture books left Naarm and were shipped to Noonga Country (WA). This is the first time for Books n Boots! A big thank you to our board member Tammy, who individually distributed these books to the communities across WA
June - 1000 books sent to Katherine, NT
We delivered another 1000 books to the booris in and around the Katherine area, NT. KICS are doing the ground work and taking them to 17 isolated communities as an addition to their remote mobile playgroup work. Each blue bag contains booksnboots books. Just look at those faces 😁. Thank you to Mandy, Tiffany and Sophie for your incredible work
July - Hello Palm Island (QLD)
Look what happened during NAIDOC week - the booris on Palm Island got some books!!
500 books were collected, sorted and sent to Lucinda from Naarm, and shipped via a barge to Palm island. The Palm Island Project was proudly supported by the Morris Family Foundation. Thank you to Amy Huva from the foundation for the incredible support. Look at the smiles :)
August - Kalbarr again!
West Footscray Primary School donating over 1200 books to Books n Boots as part of the Kalbarr Program. Thank you to Teacher Daniel Whiting and the the grade 4 students for your deadly work!
September - 300 books to Parnngurr Community School (WA)
With the support of Clayton Murray-Mitchell who works at the Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation, we connected with Parnngurr Community School. 300 books were individually hand picked to meet the needs of the booris.Parrngurr Community is 370km from the nearest town Newman, located in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
October -Over 1200 books to Naarm booris
We would like to acknowledge the wonderful staff at Bubup Wilam Child and Family Centre for their warmth in welcoming us this year. This is our first partnership with an First Nations controlled community and child care centre in Naarm. We were able to stock their library and send books home to the booris.
Pictured is Shar Shar during this year’s Childrens Book Week. She brought home the best costume award! The first ever face of Books n Boots at aged 4. We are so proud of you little Shar Shar 🖤💛❤️👏👏👏👏
November - Boots up to Alice Springs
In November, we connected with the Richmond Institute in Naarm and sent up 20 pairs of boots to Alice Springs. This is the first of many shipments as we start our journey with the communities in and around Alice Springs. The combined effort began when Luke Murry from the Richmond Football Club contacted us requesting support for the children and young people in Alice. A big thank you to Michelle (Richmond Institute) for picking up the boots and co-ordinating the logistics.
December - One deadly year
We are very proud of our achievements in 2022. In total, the Tiny Treasures program has delivered 7600 picture books to 11 communities/areas. We delivered our first shipment of 400 books to a Youth Justice Centre and covered 4 states and Territories.
We launched the Kalbarr Project and the Aunty Eleanor Tutoring Program while making waves in strategic planning and welcoming three deadly First Nations female board directors (Marla, Lisa and Tammy) from three states.
All of this was achieved while we mourned the loss of Uncle Archie and Uncle Jack; rest in peace and dreaming.
We would like to thank our volunteers, donors, and sponsors. The endless conversations are all part of the Impact we have achieved and will continue to achieve.
We are glad to have our flag back. Always was, always will be.
