Lady Cutler Award presented to our President

Authors are good with words. And when Di Bates referred to the group of friends and well-wishers who had gathered to celebrate her Lady Cutler award as a family, she had chosen exactly the right word.

How do you celebrate over 25 years of devotion and commitment to children’s literature? With a lot of laughter, plenty of applause and just a few tears. On 18th December CBCA members did just that. We toasted Di - author of 100 books, founder ot two branches of the CBCA and one of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, magazine editor, staucnh industry advocate, mentor, Buzz Words compiler, Radio show host, educator, performer and friend.

Christmas Dinner - 3 December 2008

On 3 December fifty members and friends of the CBCA gathered at the Villa D Oro, Wollongong to celebrate Christmas and a wonderful year of children's literature.
The guest speaker was author, editor, educator, lobbyist and former national CBCA president, Mark McLeod. Mark entertained the gathering with a range of stories, anecdotes and advicebased on his life in the children's book industry.
Mark's latest release Tomorrow (ABC Books) was the subject of heated bidding at the fund raiser auction which followed.
The food was wonderful and the company even better. If you couldn't make it this year, don't miss the 2009 dinner.

Viva La Gong Author Readings

On 11th October CBCA members Di Bates, Bill Condon, DC Green, Sandy Fussell and Mo Johnson (pictured) read from their latest releases in the Crown Street Mall.

Literary Luncheon - 30 July 2008

On Wednesday 30th July 70 local primary school and their teachers participated in the inaugural South Coast Illawarra CBCA Literary Luncheon at the Salvation Army Hall in Wollongong. Guests were entertained by cartoonist Dave Hackett who taught everone to draw 'fish bits'. It's hard to draw when you're laughing out loud!

Authors who shared lunch with us were - Bill Condon (Give Me Truth), Tony Davis (Roland Wright series), Sandy Fussell (Samurai Kids series), Suzanne Gervay (That's Why I Wrote This Song), D C Green (Erasmus James series), Richard Harland (Wolf Kingdom series), Jeni Mawter (Freewheeler series), David Mulligan (Angels of Kokoda),Lisa Shanahan (My Big Birkett), Moya Simons (Walk Right In Detective Agency series)