Regular events
QBWA on the Radio
Listeners to Radio 4RPH in South-East Queensland have been able to enjoy QBWA's informative monthly interview and discussion segment which is part of a weekly 15 minute news and information program called "Look Around". Tune in to 1296 on the AM band on the first Monday of each month at 1.30 pm or on the following Wednesday at 7.00 am.
Braille Literacy Challenge
QBWA's annual braille reading and writing competition is held each Spring, usually in September, and encourages participation from all school aged braille-using students from beginner to advanced levels, including entrants by correspondence. It is always a most successful and enjoyable morning, affording a unique social opportunity for students, teachers and QBWA personnel to get together. All participants receive a braille book of their choice and winners in each category are awarded a small monetary prize. The schools select material for the Challenge that is relevant to their students. This is challenging for the blind adjudicators, but also helps to provide a rich and interesting variety of reading passages for the competition entrants.
Veronica Maguire Remembrance Award
Veronica Maguire was a treasured and vibrant member of the blind community, a teacher and a keen promoter of Tactual Literacy. She championed the Literacy Challenge and in her memory QBWA gives an annual award – the Veronica Maguire Remembrance Award, which was presented for the first time in 2005. The trophy, a carved wooden kookaburra, is presented at the Competition to a student who displays a positive attitude to life and learning, particularly in relation to the acquisition of braille reading skills. The student does not necessarily have to be a proficient braille reader and writer, but must display genuine determination, a love of learning and the tenacity to "never give up".
Braille Club
QBWA is pleased to support the Queensland Forum of the Australian Braille Authority (ABA) and its recent initiative to start a Braille Club for all interested braille-using school students. The club seeks to encourage students to use and develop their braille skills in lots of different and less formal ways, with a focus on fun and sharing, recreation and practical skills.
The inaugural Braille Club meeting was held at Braille House on 5 November, 1:00-3:00 pm, with five students across a wide age range in attendance, along with parents and grand-parents, some siblings and teachers. The plan is to conduct the club meeting at Braille House each school term and we anticipate that it will provide a wonderful opportunity for students to increase their appreciation and use of braille and touch reading, and for families to meet, share experiences and resources, and learn from each other as well as from the Department of Education teachers, QBWA tutors and ABA members involved with the club.