Burdekin Catholic High School

I wish to formally express my support of the Burdekin Readers’ and Writers’ Association’s (BRWA) valuable cultural initiative, Ignite Your Mind Burdekin Readers’ and Writers’ Festival.

Over the past four years, I have been privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the festival and associated initiatives. As an Academic Leader (English) I was fortunate to be able to immerse my students in a unique cultural experience, exposing them to a world of literature and authors which they would otherwise not have the opportunity to engage with.

Annually, feedback from the students who attend the Festival and participate in workshops is hugely positive. For many students, this is their only involvement in such activities. The festival has been a catalyst for many school-based initiatives including the establishment of a literature club, students writing narratives in their own time and the introduction if new texts worthy of classroom study.

As students from a rural setting, opportunities like this are unobtainable without the initiative of community groups like BRWA. Hosting the Ignite Your Mind Burdekin Readers’ and Writers’ Festival within our local community promotes inclusivity and ensures that students in rural and regional communities are helped to overcome the disadvantage they suffer because of their geographical location.

On a personal note, I relish the opportunity to engage with our community members in supporting this wonderful event. It is my sincerest hope this festival will continue to ignite the minds of young readers and writers alike, within the North Queensland region
Kelli Loizou – English Academic Leader