Famous faces read for Book Week

ELEVEN “famous faces” from Brisbane read their favourite books to 485 excited students from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School, Darra during last week’s Book Week celebrations.
The school welcomed author Richard Newsome, Brisbane Catholic Education executive director Pam Betts, rugby league great  Darren Lockyer, Brisbane Lions player Daniel Merrett, Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge, former student and actress in Grease the Musical Franny Cain, Constable Emma Yates, Councillor Milton Dick, newsreader Tash Jobson from B105, Australian basketball player Emma Langford and Member for Oxley Bernie Ripoll.
OLSH principal John O’Connor said the first-time program, called Real Role Models Read, was created to “show that reading is enjoyable”.
The students were unaware which “famous face” would be reading to them during the week.
Mr O’Connor said the focus of the day was to inspire the students to read through the example of influential Australians.
 “We wanted to have real role models come and read the books that they enjoy, and explain how reading is important in their life and in their job,” Mr O’Connor said.
 “It’s been a bigger success than we anticipated.”
Mr O’Connor said the school had begun several initiatives to encourage students to read more books during school hours.
After lunchtime in August, the entire school body, including the groundsmen and staff and volunteers at the tuckshop, are encouraged to “Stop and Read” for 15 minutes.
“The Australian Curriculum for English focuses on reading for enjoyment and it is our hope to inspire children to be life-long readers,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Reading and promoting reading and the love of reading isn’t just a one-week exercise – it’s a 52 week exercise.”