Library News

Hugh Morton’s North Carolina

Thank you to the 40 educators from North Carolina who visited our school through the Go Global NC’s Teachers Program and presented the school with an inspiring edition of Hugh Morton’s North Carolina for our library collection.

Published by The University of North Carolina Press, Hugh Morton’s North Carolina gathers hundreds of photographs from a sixty-year career, a large part of that as a news photographer. As the collection reveals, Hugh Morton was on the scene for some of the most important events in the history of twentieth-century North Carolina, and he always carried his camera with him.

The collection is divided into three sections. “Scenes” from the coast to the mountains. “People and Events” featuring state and national politicians, educators, and media figures. And the “Sports” section reflecting Morton’s passion for athletics, basketball, and football.

As William Friday describes in his forward, Hugh Morton’s North Carolina is a fascinating and thoroughly entertaining book with Hugh’s personal commentary enriching each picture in an authentic photographic record of the last fifty years devoted to North Carolina.

A bear unafraid of humans…."The way the bear embraced this wildlife scientist after he had come back to visit a year later proves to me that a wild animal, the same as a faithful dog, can love a human friend”. Hugh Morton.

Morton’s favourite picture of the bald eagle, America’s emblematic bird.

Jennifer Down wins Miles Franklin at 31

Melbourne author Jennifer Down has won the 2022 Miles Franklin literary award at the age of 31 for her novel Bodies of Light, becoming one of the youngest authors ever to take out the $60,000 prize.

Bodies of Light examines the impact of childhood trauma on a person’s life. The novel tells the story of a woman who suffered systemic abuse growing up in state care in the 1980s, and who moves to Canada under a new identity.

Ms Down began writing the book in 2017, reading accounts from parliamentary inquiries into systemic abuse and conducting interviews with survivors.

Bodies of Light is the author's second novel, and her third book — after her 2016 debut, Our Magic Hour, and her award-winning 2017 short story collection, Pulse Points.

2022 Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize – shortlist announced

The Australian Book Review (ABR) has announced the shortlist for the 2022 Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. The shortlisted stories and their authors are:

• ‘Dog Park’ by Nina Cullen
• ‘Natural Wonder’ by Tracy Ellis
• ‘Whale Fall’ by C J Garrow.

Worth a total of $12,500 in its 12th year, the prize received 1338 entries from 36 different countries. The all-Australian shortlist was chosen by judges Amy Baillieu, Melinda Harvey and John Kinsella.

The three shortlisted stories will be published in the August 2022 issue of ABR, and the winner will be announced at a Zoom ceremony on Thursday, August 11. Camilla Chaudhary won the 2021 Jolley Prize for her story ‘The Enemy Asyndeton’.

Read the judges’ comments on the shortlisted stories and view the full 2022 longlist on the ABR website.

Premiers’ Reading Challenge

Well done to our students who have been busy reading and logging books online for the Premiers’ Reading Challenge. A reminder to all students that there is not long to go now as the challenge finishes on the September 2. If you are looking for book recommendations speak to your Communicate and Relate teacher, Niamh in the library or Ms Aimee Shattock.

All students who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers and go into a draw to win prizes. To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information, visit www.education.vic.gov.au/prc. 

CBCA 2022 Book Week

THE CBCA 2022 Book Week takes place from 20-26 August and the theme is ‘Dreaming with eyes open…’

We are excited to feature books relating to this theme in our school library, inspiring our students to imagine and dream.

Niamh McPhelimy 

Library Manager