Grandparents organise author talks

A local Grandparents Club raised money for two authors to visit Kincumber Public School as part of the Words on the Waves Writers Festival School Incursion initiative recently.

The club formed after a book group discussion revealed that the school had a number of disadvantaged students.

With parents often time poor and financially restrained, a group of grandparents decided to come together to offer children additional opportunities.

The first step was supporting the school breakfast club, established to encourage children to come to school, by growing the existing three day school-run offering into five days a week. 

“With the group’s interest in literacy and supporting children to read and write, funding the incursions was a natural next choice,” Di Osmand, one of the group’s founders, said.

Authors Tania Ingram from Adelaide and Joel McKerrow from Melbourne delivered an author talk and creative writing workshop to eager students from stage 2 and 3, many of whom had never had the opportunity to meet an author or hear firsthand about how books are created and where ideas come from.

Words on the Waves Children and Young People’s Program manager Fiona Lloyd said connecting children directly to creators had proven effects in terms of improved desire to read and write.

“This is invaluable in a climate where literacy rates are falling,” she said.

“With many schools chronically underfunded, opportunities such as these are rare.

“Having grandparents proactively become involved in paying for sessions means students not only receive incredibly important learning opportunities but also unique lasting memories.”

Any group, community club or P&C interested in sponsoring an incursion at a local primary or high school in 2026 should contact schools@wordsonthewaves.com.au