By Pam Kiriakidis
Broadford Secondary College’s year seven and eight students last week received a visit from children’s book author Felice Arena.
Mr Arena engaged students about his most recent work, displaying historical pieces and videos that served as background for his new book, ‘The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan’, a story set during World War Two when women’s football was played to raise money for troops.
“It was only by chance that I read that article on the train about women in sport and I thought ‘let’s do some research on Aussie women playing sport,” Mr Arena said.
Soon after the presentation, a few students gathered around Mr Arena to sign his crowd-favourite ‘Specky Magee’ – a book he co-wrote with AFL legend Gary Lyon. He was then interviewed by a students in the school’s library.
The visit also gave Mr Arena a chance to spark an old relationship with a former teacher now teaching at Broadford.
“Hopefully some of them are inspired but I go out to entertain and inform, and if I inspire them that’s a bonus,” Mr Arena said.
“For them to write their own or even pick up a book, which is getting harder these days, but if not my book, someone else’s [is the aim].”
Broadford Secondary College library manager Michelle Slater said the session was an extension of Book Week, allowing students to meet an author they had been exploring this year in their classrooms and library.
“We had lots of activities in the library but this is bigger and bit more special. Having an author come here of books they’ve read makes them realise that authors are just normal people. It’s getting them to hear his stories,” she said.
Ms Slater said inviting Mr Arena to speak about his research inspired students to consider their own reading and writing skills as they approached the senior levels of their schooling.
“It’s just anything that encourages to read and write because they need those skills for the rest of their lives,” Ms Slater said.
“I’m hoping that they understand that everyday life is where a lot of stories come from.”
