Alison Lester Gallery
12.30pm for Official Opening, Acknowledgement of Country & 10th Birthday Celebrations
Alison Lester AM is an Australian author and illustrator who has published over 25 children's picture books and two young adult novels; The Quickstand Pony and The Snow Pony. In 2005 Lester won the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year for her children's book, Are We There Yet?: A Journey around Australia. Her books have been published worldwide. Alison won the Dromkeen medal in 2016 and is also Australia’s First Children’s Laureate awarded alongside Boori Monty Prior.
On the Rail Trail
Real Pigeons
10.30am & 1.30pm on the Rail Trail
Meet the Real Pigeons
Join Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood – the creators of Real Pigeons and Hello Twigs – as they tell stories, do live drawing and party like pigeons!
Andrew and Ben will talk about their creative journeys and demonstrate how they collaborate to create funny and heartfelt books about the unlikeliest characters. Perfect for kids aged 5 to 12 but be warned – this event may contain traces of bread and nonsense.
Workshop with Andrew and Ben
Join the creators of Real Pigeons and Hello Twigs as they lead kids through a series of writing and illustrating activities.
Andrew and Ben will share their best creative tips in this fun, interactive workshop. Come along and learn how to draw hilarious pigeons, create surprising characters and make your own awesome comics. It's going to be super coo!
Check out Andrew & Ben’s Youtube Channel Here!
Andrew McDonald
is the author of the Real Pigeons and Hello Twigs series (illustrated by Ben Wood). He loves writing books that make kids laugh, gasp and wonder about the world.
His books have been shortlisted for prizes such as the Australian Book Industry Awards, the Readings Children’s Book Prize, and the YABBA, KOALA and KROC children’s choice book awards.
Andrew lives in Naarm/Melbourne and is a passionate advocate for books, reading and engaging kids through creativity.
Ben Woods
Ben Wood is the illustrator of best-selling crime-fighting series Real Pigeons with Andrew McDonald, which is currently being adapted by Nickelodeon for the screen. He has illustrated over fifty books for kids, which include the popular graphic novel series Hello Twigs, and picture books Give Me a Home Among the Gumtrees and Blast Off!
His books have been shortlisted for many awards, including the Australian Book Industry Awards, Children’s Book Council of Australia, and the Readings Children’s Book Prize. He lives in Naarm/Melbourne.
Luigi Zucchini Magician Workshop
2.30pm on the Rail Trail
With 25 years of professional performances under his hat Luigi Zucchini’s name is synonymous with magic in Melbourne. He was a founding director of the Australian Institute of Magic and has been a magic consultant for film and TV. Magician, Magic Tony is a role he has played on Kids WB a popular Channel 9 kids show for the last 9 years. He has enchanted individuals and audiences worldwide and clients have included Al Gore, Tony Blair David Beckham
He is the leading magic mentor at the Melbourne Magic School of Confidence.