From Roving Reporter, Sandy Fussell
When Susanne Gervay formally opened the 5th bi-annual SCBWI Australia and New Zealand Conference she put into words what had been happening since the first attendees arrived at the Hughenden on Saturday – “a lot of hugging and fun and not much evidence at all of any serious work.”
Everyone laughed. The spirit of community, fellowship and friendship that has become synonymous with SCBWI was a visual presence in the room.
Susanne introduced and thanked the hardworking “faculty” of SCBWI Assistant Regional Advisors, Illustrator Co-ordinators, team members and special guest publishers and editors including Connie Hsu (Pan Macmillan USA) and Shirin Yim Bridges (Goosebottom Books USA). She acknowledged the generous support of CAL, the ASA and the Hughenden.
It was a warm beginning on a cold afternoon. The time had come for the serious work with the initial events of the Conference program (and it was still fun with a lot of hugging).