League star and award winning book lift language and literacy
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
An Indigenous language children’s storybook produced by a south-east Queensland council has won a Reconciliation Award.
Scenic Rim Regional Council launched Jarjum Gurema last September, championed by local rugby league star Jamal Fogarty, now with the Canberra Raiders.
The book has been recognised in the Community category of the Queensland Reconciliation Awards.
Scenic Rim Council CEO, Jon Gibbons, said the award recognised important work to encourage early literacy and revive the Yugambeh language in the region.
“The vibrant original illustrations and online resources celebrate the local Mununjali dialect and encourage families with young children to share the language through story, song, and dance.
“It’s a tribute to everyone involved in the project, which has brought the wider community together through the sharing of stories, cultures, and values.
“It’s testament to the valued friendships we share and what can be achieved when we work together for our community.
“My thanks to Jamal Fogarty for his contribution to the project and for being such an excellent literacy champion.”
Mr Fogarty is a Mununjali man from Beaudesert, who was playing for the Gold Coast Titans when he signed up to be community literacy champion for the Scenic Rim in 2020.
He attended many events and made a series of videos promoting the book and the early literacy message.
Scenic Rim libraries have distributed 1500 free copies of the book to families with children under five years old, through sporting clubs, playgroups, early education facilities and family support services.
The book will be used by libraries, schools, and family support centres in the Scenic Rim for years to come.
