The Johnny Warren Room at the Jamberoo Hotel was the setting for a special launch of three new children's books on Thursday that included the original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page being greeted by the NSW Rural Fire Service.
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Page collapsed on stage at the end of a fundraising concert for bushfire victims at the start of the year and told the Jamberoo firefighters how he was grateful to still be here and able to provide his voice to new books that cover so many important issues, including the fires.
The Little Twig stories for children written by Chris Beaven take in events that impacted Australia and the world in 2020. COVID-19 features prominently in one.
Shellharbour mayor Marianne Saliba spoke of how important books are for children's literacy skills and how reading the new books will help children understand more about what the community has gone through this year.
Mrs Beaven said the books are in print form as well as online where Greg Page invites children to read along with him. She said the stories are supported by illustrations by Balgownie's Adam Murphy which come to life in the interactive and animated versions.
Scott Radburn, Leo Lagana and Page all star as firefighters. Leo said he has always wanted to be a fire fighter and his favourite job was rescuing koalas.
Broadcaster Alan Jones is a farmer whose family fight the bush fires together in and around the 'village in a valley' where the stories are set. The village is surrounded by trees that engage with Twiggy and help guide him through his growth to understand life.
Page said he has known Mrs Beaven for many years and continues to work with her because they both have a similar passion for children and the important role entertainment and literacy plays in education.
"The best way you can educate people is when they are entertained. What I love about these books is there is the traditional hard copy book that you can hold in your hands and turn the pages. But you can also read it online and it is being streamed."
Page said also loves the content in the books
"2020 has been a bit of a horrible year for the world and personally for me it got off to a bad start when I suffered a sudden cardiac arrest," he said.
"I survived that experience because people around me where there to make sure I wasn't walking alone. You'll never walk alone and community is one of the messages of the book."
Page said the book about dreams coming true was something he has lived all his life. His dream was always to become an entertainer.
"Don't ever be told your dreams can't come true. They can."
Page said he could also relate to the book about never giving up. Because that is a key ingredient in realising your goals.
"We are here as a community. We are learning and we are growing. We have been through a lot in 2020 and the messages in these books embody life. That is what we need to pass on to children. We need them to understand the history of who we are and how we got here," he said.
"But not just that. We need to unlock the key to the future for children so they can be literate, so they can read, so they can have a sense of history, a sense of purpose and a sense of self. And that will be the future."
Mrs Beaven said she had already written some unpublished books prior to 2020. Including one many years ago inspired by Johnny Warren.
Looking through them it reminded her how books can teach us so much about life and how important that is for children. Especially after a year like we have just had.
Mrs Beaven said The Little Twig books are stories about what the the tiny twig learns while growing into a tree. And how many in the village guide him along the way through events such as bushfires and COVID-19.
Last summer Mrs Beaven sent a copy of the first book to the Queen and within two weeks got a reply saying how keen she was to read the next two books about the fires and the coronavirus.
Others who have supported the books include Bev Corfield, Alex Sturman, Meg Loft, Salt Media, Paul Erickson, Print Media, Sean Keaveny and Flagstaff Print, Mail and Digital which is helping distribute the books nationally.
Flagstaff chief executive Roy Rogers said the social enterprise was only too happy to be involved in something driven by Mrs Beaven who was so passionate for children, people with a disability and the community.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
