After every book, you are changed forever.

This week, our school celebrated Book Week and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring our Hundred Acre Rainforest playground, talking with students, and seeing them dressed as their favourite book characters.  

The Book Week parade was a huge success and I would like to thank a few people for making this celebration so special: the library staff for always encouraging students with their own love of reading; Marcia Fisher and the library team for organising the Book Week program and to Kathryn Wilkinson, Paul Anderson, and Rachelle Brutnell for organising the Primary, Prep and Kindy dress-up parades.

This year, I dressed as Winnie-the-Pooh, a character from A.A. Milne's beloved book — one of my favourites. I have many favourite books — almost too many to list as I love reading. I also remember a time when I had no interest in reading at all. My early interests, skills, and hobbies were all focused on maths, science, and sports —literature, books, reading and the quiet of the library were for other kids.

Then something changed. I vividly remember a couple of books — Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon. I was utterly engrossed. My eagerness to find out what happened next as I turned the pages kept me from sleeping. It was the first time I finished a book under the covers, flashlight in hand. It was also the first time I received a detention at boarding school for being awake after lights out. I started boarding school in Grade 5 and at that time, punishment involved standing in the foyer, nose against the wall, in your pyjamas for an hour. The punishment was intended to make you eager for bed and ready to sleep. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to get back to my book.

I have countless favourite books which move me deeply — books that make me laugh, smile, cry, and dream. I once heard that reading is like installing new software in your brain. After every book, you are changed forever.

People who write are people who refuse to forget. My message to our community is this: don’t just read; don’t merely consume literature—become creators of it. You are all at the perfect age and have the skills and talents needed to be authors.

Books are essential tools for preserving memory, transmitting values, and building a strong cultural identity. Without every voice — beyond fake news and social media posts—the truth of this period in history becomes very fragile and possibly endangered.

What an amazing thing a book is. With just one glance, you enter the mind of another person — perhaps someone from hundreds of years ago. Across the millennia, an author speaks clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Authors understand that writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who may never meet, citizens of distant lands and kingdoms. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of creating magic.

When it comes to magic, I’m thankful for the wonderful community and magic we create here at Grammar. I’d like to remind parents about our upcoming Long Lunch event - which is only six weeks away — on Saturday 11 October. It’s the perfect way to bring together our school community and I’m really looking forward to seeing you all there. Tickets are available on Events Online.