Whyalla is an industrial community situated approximately 250 kilometres from Adelaide CBD. The area covers 1,116 square kilometres. The residential population is 21,417 with 1,752 children aged 0 to 5 years (ABS Census 2006). The community has a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds.
Whyalla commenced delivery of Let’s Read in 2010. Let’s Read is currently being offered at the public library and through the HIPPY program with Uniting Care Westley.
March 2015
In 2014 The Smith Family Whyalla has been working hard to have a greater reach with Let’s Read. This work has meant a new partnership with Gabmididi Manoo. Gabmididi Manoo provides Kindergarten, Occasional Care and Playgroup programs to the local Aboriginal community. They are also a Department of Education and Children’s Services Site.
The other major partner in Whyalla during the year has continued to be the Whyalla City Library. The library this year has delivered over 100 Let’s Read packs.
Between all of the Let’s Read partners in Whyalla The Smith Family delivered 250 Let’s Read packs by the end of August 2014. This is a huge achievement and couldn’t have been done without the support of OneSteel/Arrium Whyalla who provide the financial support for Let’s Read in Whyalla, or the partners who deliver the Let’s Read Program for Whyalla.
The Smith Family along with its partners are now starting to plan for an increased reach across the Whyalla Community in 2015.
Jeremy Head | Program Coordinator, Learning for Life Whyalla | The Smith Family
2012 Children’s Week event
During Children's Week, Whyalla’s Smith Family team participated in an Early Childhood Network. Jeremy Head, Learning for Life Worker and Saver Plus co-coordinator, read stories with children in the reading tent. Stories ranged from the Let’s Read suggested books to classics such as “The Very Angry Bear” and the “The Gruffalo”. Jeremy also enjoyed reading some of his favorite books like “Mr. Gumpy’s Car”.
Approximately 150 people attended the event, including over 40 children who sat and listened to the stories and 15 parents who learnt about the Let’s Read program messages and will be attending the local library for a Let’s Read session delivered by trained staff. This great turn out was an opportunity for increasing community awareness of The Smith Family’s Let’s Read early literacy program along with other literacy initiatives around Whyalla.
Feedback from one child was “Wow you sound just like a Gruffalo!” (“The Gruffalo” by Julia Dohldson). It was also encouraging to see parents clapping in time to the rhyme and rhythm of “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”, a core Let’s Read book. The Smith Family Whyalla is looking forward to an even bigger event in 2013.
Story by Jeremy Head, Learning For Life Worker, The Smith Family.
The Let's Read program in Whyalla is sponsored by The Smith Family.
E letsread@thesmithfamily.com.au