Mascots | Paint the Town REaD

Two New PTTR Communities

By Barbie Bates | 18 May, 2019

54 days of the Paint Australia REaD Book Relay have passed in a whirl of excitement and invitation, children’s delighted faces as they enjoy reading together and meeting new communities keen to work together to give their children a better start in life .

This week, the Relay team was present for the hatching of two new mascots…two new communities that have chosen to take the Paint the Town REaD pathway to increase the literacy levels amongst their children. Welcome Dhinawan the Emu for Lightning Ridge NSW, and Gracie Guy-a-wan the Shark for Taree NSW. Both mascots have been chosen by local Elders. As totems of Gamileroi and Biripi nations respectively, these mascots will be front and central, in supporting children to be introduced to the love of reading from birth.

Dhinawan, the baby emu hatches at an early morning community gathering in Lightning Ridge this week.

Children’s Week 2018 Celebrations

By Barbie Bates | 2 November, 2018

Across Australia, PTTR communities celebrated Children’s Week including hatchings of new mascots in Armadale, Gosnells, Rockingham (WA), Gin Gin, Childers and Bundaberg (Qld), birthday parties for mascots (Shoalhaven NSW) and the honouring of Vivi Martin in NSW as Summer Hill’s Granny of the Year, especially for her work with heading up Paint Marrickville REaD. http://www.localnewsplus.com.au/article.php?st_story_ID=141222&ratio=Landscape

2018 – REaDy, Set, Go!

By Barbie Bates | 15 January, 2018

Paint the Town REaD groups across Australia are off and running, and especially Librarians, who are including children under school age in their Summer Reading Challenges at their local libraries. It’s a great way to give children starting school that final boost, and for younger children to model from older siblings is always a super opportunity. And you might even bump into your local PTTR mascot there as well.

Rooby Roo and Blacktown Council’s Children’s Librarian Lee Castledine enjoying a book together. And Poppy Possum is at Cumberland Library getting her books read too!

Four Birth Announcements

By Barbie Bates | 11 November, 2017

Paint the Town REaD is proud to announce the births of four new mascots over the past four weeks: Berky the Brush Turkey, Paint Mackay REaD (Qld), Parker the Platypus, Paint the Central Coast REaD (NSW), Agi the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo, Paint Shoalhaven REaD, Black and Yellow (NSW) and Lizzie the Lizard, Paint the Westside REaD (SA).

Berky wants to play the didge — Berky the Brush Turkey

Platypus mascot in deck chair reading — Parker the Platypus

Lizzie the Lizard with friends — Lizzie the Lizard with her friends Parker and Di from Paint the Parkes and Gardens REaD

The crowd gathered for Lizzie’s hatching at Woodville Town Hall, Adelaide

Last Days to register for the Conference amidst a busy month, where we welcomed Paint Shoalhaven REaD

By Barbie Bates | 26 April, 2017

With our 6th National Conference on next week, you only have a few days to go to register. So use the links to the right, to take you straight to the registration page!

And whilst everyone is preparing for the Conference, the Aboriginal Elders in Shoalhaven NSW have been busy giving their mascot egg to the children, supported by Mayor Amanda Findley. Children in Moree NSW are also reading with their egg and Parker Pelican in the Parks and Gardens in Adelaide has celebrated his first birthday, with a huge party of about 400 people, where there was lots of singing and families reading together in the local community park.