Page 8 - NLN Nov18

Wakakirri Announces National

Story of the Year Winner…

Mango Hill State School Takes the Primary Title!

Mango Hill State School in Queensland
has claimed the top award in the biggest
performing arts festival for schools in
Australia! Wakakirri is Australia’s largest
performing arts event for primary and
secondary schools. This year’s search for
the Story of the Year saw 240 schools hit
the stage at 40 events at professional
theatres around the country.
Mango Hill State School took out Story of
the Year with their inspiring performance
‘What About the Children?’, in which a
young boy discovers a way to make a
difference when he learns about children
who have been left homeless after a
hurricane in Haiti. This was the school’s
fifth year participating in Wakakirri and
their first time winning Story of the Year.
Mango Hill showed everyone that they
too can become a “helping hero” in a
performance the Wakakirri National Panel
called “visually and creatively sensational”.
The students also became real life helping
heroes, dancing for donations just like
the characters in their story and donating
money raised to the Save The Children
Foundation.
Big stories about big issues have been at
the forefront of Wakakirri this year. Popular
themes explored by students have
included reconciliation, environmental
conservation and mental health.
Wakakirri provides a platform for
thousands of students to tell stories
that explore their thoughts, ideas and
aspirations through dance and drama.
Other national winners in Wakakirri’s
Primary Challenge include Carranballac
P-9 College, Seaforth Public School,
Sacred Heart Primary School Thornlie,
St Philip’s Christian College Gosford,
Torrens Primary School, Enoggera State
School, Jells Park Primary School, Rose
Park Primary School and Richmond North
Public School.
In the Secondary Challenge, New South
Wales school Tuggerah Lakes Secondary
College Tumbi Umbi Campus took
out Story of the Year for their stirring
interpretation of John Marsden’s ‘The
Rabbits’ .
The Wakakirri Story Dance Challenge will
return in 2019. Registrations open now,
see website for details:
www.wakakirri.com