2019 Wakakirri Story of the Year awarded to…
Wakakirri, Australia’s Largest Performing Arts Event for Schools, each year encourages thousands of students to create Story-Dances that promote thoughts, ideas and aspirations. Pan Macmillan is delighted to support a great Aussie initiative that encourages creativity and storytelling in the next generation. The winners of the Wakakirri prizes in 2019 are:
National History Category Award & recipients of Pan Macmillan Book Packs
Fitzgerald State School, QLD and Mount Annan Christian School, NSW. Fitzgerald State School based their Story-Dance on the story of three sisters who lived in the era of the Industrial Revolution when children were used as child labour and led a terrible existence. In 1883 with the help of the Earl of Shaftesbury, a law was passed to reduce the number of hours that children worked. Mount Annan Christian College’s story celebrated the richness of an aged person life; from young people serving their country, to finding love, the complexities of family, to retirement. Sadly, society often forgets them.
Primary – Berwick Primary School, VIC
Berwick Primary School in Victoria has claimed the top award in the biggest performing arts festival for schools in Australia! Berwick Primary School took out Story of the Year with their amazing performance ‘Jack and the Giants’, a re-telling of the fairytale classic we follow Jack into a magical kingdom where friendships blossom and family is found.
Secondary – Hoppers Crossing Secondary College, VIC
Hoppers Crossing Secondary College, Victoria has claimed the top award in the biggest performing arts festival for schools in Australia! Hoppers Crossing took out the top award for their impactful performance ‘Be Careful What You Whisper’, a story that recognises the negative impact rumours and the digital world can have on individuals’ reputations. Hoppers Crossing’s story explored the alternative, more positive behaviours that young people could display instead. Wakakirri’s National Panel said the performance “had energy and life” and was “so enjoyable to watch”.
Berwick Primary School, VIC from Wakakirri Official on Vimeo.