What a year! So much has been happening across our region from professional days, weekend retreats, craft days, events with the industry, SCBWI critique groups, get-togethers from big to small. There has been a huge number of awards and books published by our SCBWI authors & illustrators and more to come. I am so incredibly proud of how SCBWI supports campaigns and charities such as Room to Read, Premiers Reading Challenge, Books in Homes, Students Need School Libraries Campaign. I am so proud of how we work with schools, bookshops, CBCA, Australian Society of Authors, libraries and each other.
Our central committee is a powerhouse of generosity and talent with Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (ARA), Sarah Davis (IC), Deborah Abela (RA), Margaret Roc, Sue Whiting and Jodie Slowgrove-Wells. That is the engine room for our ezine, website, blog, online critique groups, brand, programs, connection with SCBWI worldwide and more.
It’s time to celebrate our incredible chapter leaders – Caz Goodwin Victoria, Sheryl Gwyther Queensland, Frances Plumpton NZ, Deborah Abela NSW, Nicole Godwin ACT, Kelly Hibbert SA, Anne Morgan and Christina Booth TAS. But that is only the tip of the iceberg with generous committees and leaders of sub chapters.
Next year is our major international SCBWI Conference in Sydney. It’s for all of us, if you can attend or if you can’t. There will be blogs and social media updates, led by Dimity Powell, our head Rover of the Roving Reporters. There are international distance critiques now open to all of you.
As the year closes with new friends and old, our SCBWI community connects us all and friendships grow.
Thank you for being such an incredible community.
Susanne