Byron Writers Festival 2024

Primary Schools Day

Anton Clifford-Motopi | Kate & Jol Temple

Join us for the renowned Byron Writers Festival Primary School Sessions, held at the festival site in Bangalow. These popular educational events showcase some of Australia’s most beloved children's authors to foster a passion for reading and writing – and to produce the writers of the future.

Meet novelist Anton Clifford-Motopi and award-winning dynamic duo Kate & Jol Temple.

Learn about how to become a writer with Kate and Jol Temple, the internationally awarded authors of over 26 hilarious books for kids, from smash hit picture book series Bin Chicken to action-adventure graphic novels like Frog Squad and The Underdogs! Kate also writes her own dark fantasy series, The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat.

Explore identity, family and friendship with Anton Clifford-Motopi and his debut novel To and Fro, which follows a young boy learning to understand what it means to be black in this cheeky and funny Australian story.

Students will enjoy their own Byron Writers Festival experience, with learning resources made available before the festival, books available to buy, as well as food and drink options.

Learn among the trees at the Bangalow Showground for Byron Writers Festival’s Primary School Sessions, tailored for primary school students of any grade level.

Secure your spot for Schools Day now! Simply book and pay with your credit card.

Pricing

Students - $18 per student (plus booking fee).
Teachers - Free (1 per 10 students).
Additional Adults/Parents - $25 (plus booking fee).

If you need to make any changes, you can cancel any unwanted spots by emailing info@byronwritersfestival.com until 7 June. Please note, after 8 June, we won't be able to process refunds.

Schedule - Wednesday 7 August

10:15am - 11:00am	Arrive at Festival
11:15am - 12:00pm	1st Session
12:00pm - 12:30pm	Lunch break
12:30pm - 1:15pm	2nd Session
1:15pm - 2.00pm	Book signing and buses depart Festival

Meet the Authors

Anton Clifford-Motopi

Anton Clifford-Motopi enjoys writing stories that make children laugh. His stories explore themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendship, drawing from his experiences of being mixed race, growing up in a large adoptive family and raising four children. Anton first became interested in writing for children while teaching Health & Physical Education and English at a High School in Mount Isa. At the moment, Anton's other job is a health researcher at a university. The job involves a lot of thinking, reading and writing, but his passion is writing funny and thought-provoking stories for children. To and Fro is his debut novel.

Kate & Jol Temple

Kate and Jol Temple are the internationally awarded children’s authors of over 26 hilarious books for kids and counting! Their picture books include the smash-hit ‘Bin Chicken’ series and the highly awarded backwards-forwards book Room on Our Rock, which has been translated into over 20 languages and was the recipient of the Charlotte Huck Award for outstanding fiction with the potential to transform children’s lives.

Kate and Jol are also the authors of the new hilarious junior fiction series Frog Squad about a team of rescue frogs that don’t just eat flies, they eat danger! Their other graphic novels include The Underdogs which has been turned into a ‘True Crime’ podcast for kids. Kate also writes the dark fantasy middle-grade series, The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat.

Key Information

Program designed for primary school students
Gates open at 9am
On-site bus parking available (weather permitting)
Dedicated seating, students will remain in the same marquee for both sessions
No supervision provided by festival staff, teachers are responsible for their group
Authors available for book signings and books are available for purchase from the book shop
Food and beverages available for purchase, however we suggest you have the children pack snacks
Stay hydrated with our free water station; bring your water bottle!

We want to make sure everyone can be part of the Byron Writers Festival fun, no matter what. If you have questions about accessibility, funded placements or just have general questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@byronwritersfestival.com or 02 6685 5115.