MELBOURNE held its annual ‘Read Like a Demon’ Gala Day at the MCG on Tuesday.

150 students from the City of Casey area participated in the event, including students from
Berwick Primary School, Courtenay Gardens Primary School, Milwarra Primary School, Officer Specialist School and Cranbourne Primary School.

Members from the Casey-Cardinia Library and Monash University were also in attendance.

The Gala Day is the culmination of the RLAD program where the Reviewers of the Month, Reviewers of the Year and the Read Like a Demon Writer of the Year are announced.

This year, Darcy Hume from Courtenay Gardens Primary School won the Writer of the Year award and will get his very own book, “Skateboard Trickster” published. Arin Sidu from Berwick Primary School also won the Reviewer of the Year award. The awards were presented by RLAD Ambassadors Colin Garland and Lynden Dunn.

The students were involved in a wide range of activities on the day starting with a visit from Danny Katz, known author of the award winning children’s book series, “Little Lunch”,” which has been adapted into a television series. Katz is also the author of the books Spit the Dummy, Dork Geek Jew and the A Little Election. Author Katz facilitated a fun and interactive writing activity with students.

Students then worked together in small groups to make a book for each of the Melbourne RLAD Ambassadors, which were presented to the players who congratulated the students on participating in the program.

The day concluded with a visit to the MCG’s National Sports Museum and a footy clinic with RLAD Ambassadors Max Gawn, Jack Grimes, Christian Salem, Tom Bugg and Cam Pedersen.

For further information about Melbourne’s RLAD program, visit: www.deezone.com.au.