Indigenous literacy champion. Suzy Wilson named Queensland Local Hero of the Year

Suzy Wilson named Queensland Local Hero of the Year
 for ‘her tireless work as an Indigenous literacy champion’

Suzy Wilson has been awarded Queensland’s Local Hero 2014 for her tireless work as an Indigenous literacy champion.
Disturbed by low rates of literacy among Indigenous Australians, bookstore owner Suzy organised the first Riverbend Readers’ Challenge in 2004, raising $25,000 for Indigenous literacy projects.
Determined to do more, Suzy subsequently established the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which provides books and literacy resources to more than 200 remote Indigenous communities around Australia.
A former teacher, education consultant and university lecturer, Suzy is passionate about literacy and the Foundation has become a catalyst that is changing children’s lives through literature.
 In 2013, the Foundation raised nearly half a million dollars, translated dozens of early childhood books into the first languages of Indigenous communities, and supplied 100,000 books to people around Australia.  More than 20,000 students now support the Foundation through annual Great Book Swaps and other fundraisers.
The 53 year old Bulimba resident’s vision for a fair and equal Australia is helping to level the playing field, so that all our nation’s children have the same opportunities to develop a lifelong love of reading.
 http://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/founder-wins-qld-local-hero-australian-of-the-year-award.html