HIGH profile author Peter FitzSimons will inspire school students during a writers festival in September.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The author of 25 books, columnist and former Australian rugby player is one of the guests at the Heritage Christian School Spring Writers Festival from September 1 to 5.
The line-up also includes The Simpsons and Futurama comic Dean Rankine, former Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott, who released his memoir in May, television and film scriptwriter Steve Worland and HSC listed poet Peter Skrzynecki.
The school's senior teacher junior high Luke Taylor said the festival offered something for everyone regardless of their academic ability.
"It's not just for students that are great at English or great at writing, it's for anybody that's interested," he said. Mr Taylor recognises the festival's role in inspiring students and showing them just where the written word can lead. "If we can engage the kids who read comics with Dean Rankine, and they develop that interest and see where writing can take them," Mr Taylor said, for example. "That is the great side of this."
Students looking to get a start in the workforce will also get a boost with a session on resumes and job applications with human resource specialists.
There is an open invitation to other Port Macquarie schools to take part in the festival.
"The opportunities are fantastic," Mr Taylor said about the festival.
"It is creating the awareness and it is opening up their eyes."
This is the second annual festival at the school and there are already plans to expand its reach to the wider community. The school, which also runs a writing competition with cash prizes, aims to increase the awareness of literacy in every genre and guise. Contact Luke Taylor on ltaylor@heritage.nsw.edu.au for more information about the festival.