IRC News
Book Week 2024
Book Week at our school is always observed as a wonderful celebration of books and stories, and there is something special about being able to share stories, promote social interaction amongst staff and students, and enjoy the festive event with the whole school community.
It was a delight to commence this year’s Book Week Celebrations with a Book Character/Multicultural Dress Up Day Competition and the staff morning tea in the IRC. It was so wonderful to see our staff and students dressed up in their Book character/Multicultural costumes to support the fundraising event. Proceeds from this event were donated to both Cancer Council Victoria and National Heart Foundation Australia.
The week-long spectacular celebration was full of fun with the theme “Reading Is Magic”. The IRC staff organised a range of activities and competitions such as: the inter-house quiz and spelling bee, creative writing competitions, henna designing, kindness messages, guess-the-number of chocolates in the jar competition, what staff and students are reading, musical performances, and Bollywood dances.
Apart from all the competitions, we welcomed two well-known Australian authors as Writers-in-Residence during the week. Alice Pung, who spoke to our Year 10 students on her experiences of growing up as a migrant in Melbourne, and Danielle Binks, spoke to all Year 9 students on her writing inspirations for creative writing, as well as conducting three workshops for selected students from all year levels.
Overall, it was a resounding success. Staff and students actively participated in events with lots of excitement and enthusiasm. Students are already looking forward to the Book Week Celebrations for next year. I would like to thank all the Library Leaders and Assistants for assisting the IRC staff in the preparation of the displays for our Annual Book Week Celebrations.
Kalpana Lal
Library Manager
Students' Reflections
The year 9s were lucky enough to be presented with a lecture by Danielle Binks during the Book Week Celebrations. Danielle Binks is a literary agent, author, and proud fan fiction (aka fanfic) writer. She entertained us with tales of her relationship with literature, from having her “love of reading ruined by exams,” to writing a whopping 400,000-word fanfic database. She then went on to explain her unusual career path, from teaching at RMIT, to becoming a literary agent, to finally writing her own book (of which she now has four). Her story was both entertaining and inspiring, and showed just how much she loves what she does.
After the lecture, some students (for which I was lucky enough to be selected) also attended a workshop with Danielle. The workshop comprised of a few writing strategies to combat writer’s block, as well as some general tips to improve both story plots and setting. One of the most enjoyable activities we did was when Danielle pulled a random word out of a bag and asked us to draw the most creatively related objects to it. Finally, she ended the session by telling us the background of the greatest short story ever — ‘For sale: Baby shoes, never worn’, by Ernest Hemingway.
Overall, Danielle Binks's two speeches were equally enlightening and enjoyable, and I very much look forward to putting into practice her lessons in my writing.
John Attia
Year 9
As a part of the celebrations for Book Week, on Wednesday 21 August, all Year 10 students were treated to a lecture by author Alice Pung. During the session, Alice Pung shared many inspirational stories filled with hope and resilience. Some of the most memorable ones were about her family's journey from Cambodia to Australia, her childhood experiences and her parents' lives and occupations. What made the lecture truly remarkable was not only the depth of emotion conveyed but also Pung’s ability to infuse her stories with delightful humour. This blend of seriousness and light-heartedness deeply connected and resonated with us, creating an experience that was not only unforgettable but also highly impactful.
Shreya Nemane
Year 10
John Gardner posited that in every story, a hero goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town. On 22nd August, stranger Ms Danielle Binks came to Nossal amid Book Week celebrations to teach myself and selected members of the Creative Writing Club about stories. It was immediately clear to all what a creative and delightful writer this stranger was - if not from her ideas, from her sharp sense of humour. As a veteran author and wordsmith, Ms Danielle Binks offered us unique insight into narrative structure. She not only cited John Gardner’s theory, but invited us to challenge it (why must the men always go on journeys while the women wait around for strangers?). We were each tasked to consider how and when we should conform to narrative rules and when we should break or twist them. Basically, to think outside of the box. Additionally, we each had the opportunity to engage in numerous workshop activities. My favourite of these was to write a six-word story- reminiscent of Ernest Hemingway’s famous six-word piece (For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.). Overall, Danielle Binks’s workshop was a wonderful addendum to a wonderful Book Week. Myself and my peers all walked out of the JRC as more learned writers thanks to the efforts of Ms Danielle Binks, and the supervising teachers of the Creative Writing Club (the incomparable Ms Lee-Ack and Dr Schroor) and our wonderful IRC Director, Ms Lal.
Megan Phoon
Creative Writing Club Leader
Year 11
Students from years 9 to 12 were immersed in a rich array of insights and practical guidance during the writing workshop led by Danielle Binks, which inspired and empowered us to elevate our writing skills. Her storytelling expertise was evident as she instructed us on the nuances of story creation, encouraging everyone to think creatively to develop more engaging and relatable narratives. Her advice on writing authentic dialogue and structuring various story acts was not only enlightening but also easy to apply, enhancing our writing experience and making it more enjoyable.
Beyond honing our writing abilities, attendees also received important perspectives on the publishing landscape. Danielle openly discussed the path to publication, offering valuable tips on navigating relationships with literary agents and publishers, while highlighting the underrepresentation of women in the industry. The workshop's interactive nature fostered an environment for personalised feedback, allowing writers to present their work and receive constructive critiques. As a result, many participants departed feeling more confident and prepared to pursue their writing goals.
Nadeeja Rajakaruna
Year 12
