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June 6, 2026

Famous children’s author drops in on Byron school

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L to R: Byron Bay Public School principal Linda Trigg, Ballina MP Tamara Smith and acclaimed local children’s author Jesse Blackadder with the StoryBoard bus. Photo supplied

Byron Bay Public School students yesterday had a visit from author Jesse Blackadder, as part of the Byron Writers Festival’s mobile creative writing program, to talk about how she writes books for children.

Year 5 children at the school heard about Stay, a guide dog-shaped donation box taken to Antarctica, 12 Kimberley brumbies taken to Dubai to become racehorses for a sheik and about koalas near Byron Bay. This final story later became the book Dexter the Courageous Koala.

Local MP Tamara Smith (Greens) who also popped in for a visit said it was a great experience and a tribute to Byron Writers Festival.

‘All of these were experiences that Jesse has had or researched. She then talked about how she developed these ideas and events into stories for children.

‘The students at Byron Bay Public School were engaged throughout and learnt about how writers work, how stories are told and how books are written,’ said Ms Smith.

‘It was a wonderful event, courtesy of the Bryon Writers Festival and my thanks go to Gabby Le Brun, the Project Manager of StoryBoard, Byron Bay Public School Principal Linda Trigg and author Jesse Blackadder.’

More information about StoryBoard can be found online at byronwritersfestival.com/storyboard

 



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