Storytellers make permanent mark
Former Horsham resident Dale Baker is the first of seven authors to have a book immortalised on a Trees Tell Tall Tales Trail in Horsham.
The author and art teacher will have an interactive plaque dedicated to his book Arty Farty Marty on a river redgum tree at Horsham’s Apex Adventure Island.
The Trees Tell Tall Tales project, created as part of the 2019 Art is… festival, will become a permanent feature to encourage children’s literacy development and outdoor exploration.
Mr Baker, who visited Horsham Library at the weekend for an Art is… storytelling session, said he was honoured by the dedication and opportunity to return to Horsham.
“I grew up in Horsham. I remember coming to the library when I was a child and reading Mr Men books, so it is great to come back and be able to read my book and give back to the community,” he said.
“The whole tree tales project is fantastic. It is great to be part of it. It will be a permanent mark for my book and anything to encourage children to read more is great.
“I can’t thank Art is… and Wimmera Southern Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network enough for organising the whole thing. There is nothing like local community support.”
Art is… festival director Sarah Natali said the trail featured seven plaques spread between Horsham Botanic Gardens, Weir Park and Apex Adventure Island.
Each plaque has a ‘QR’ code, so families and young children walking the trail can scan the code and listen to a reading of a book and also hear information about the specific native tree and an animal that lives nearby.
“This is all about improving children’s literacy in their early years and encouraging children to go outside as well,” she said.
“All the plaques will stay up, and we will add more trees and stories to the trail in the future.”
Mr Baker said his story of Marty the ‘paint-smashing kraken’, released last year, aimed to encourage creativity in children.
“It is an educational book. It includes information on seven famous artists and teaches children the artists’ unique styles,” he said.
“I am all for encouraging children to read more and from an early age.”
And while he couldn’t reveal his next project, Mr Baker confirmed he had ‘something new in the pipeline’.
“Watch this space,” he said.