THE next chapter in the story of Paint the Valley REaD has begun, following the long-awaited “hatching” of Ptunarra Child and Family Centre’s magic egg last week. From April to August, the egg grew bigger as it was read to, talked to, sung to and played with by students, teachers, parents and carers across the Derwent Valley community.
On Monday last week, children and parents assembled at Ptunarra to wait in anticipation as the egg began to hatch. On the advice of parent and doctor Robbie Luelf, the egg was carried into the child health nurse’s room, from where a giant platypus emerged a short time later. Named Larila (a Tasmanian Aboriginal word for platypus), she was welcomed by Legislative Councillor Craig Farrell who then read her the same story he read aloud the day the egg was found at Ptunarra earlier this year: I Know a Rhino.
Far from finished, Paint the Valley REaD will continue its campaign to improve educational outcomes for children, especially in the area of literacy and communication. “Larila the Platypus will be living in the riverbanks of the Derwent Valley for the next few years,” Ptunarra centre leader Katie Beamish said.”She will be spending as much time as possible encouraging everyone in the community to take an active part in reading, talking, singing and playing with babies and young children all around the Valley.”
Follow the ongoing story at the Paint the Valley REaD page on Facebook.
