Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival to welcome John Marsden, Dr Richard Harris

In the age of the iPhone and social media, the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival is working to get kids reading again. Read how.

In an age of iPhones, Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival manager Tracey Gurdler hopes to get children back into reading.

She reckons her festival will do just that.

“We’re hoping they’re going to put down their iphones and pick up a book and actually start to read,” she said.

“Every year we achieve that.”

The festival, held at the Whitsunday Anglican School, boasts a range of authors and workshops across July 13-15 all designed to keep kids reading.

John Marsden, author of Tomorrow, When the War Began, will host an educator’s forum on the Thursday evening.

Other authors such as Lucas Proudfoot, Jack Heath, Melina Marchetta and Peter Carnavas will also feature.

James Cook University will park a caravan at the oval to showcase everything the university has to offer.

Dr Richard Harris has written a children’s book about his dog Alfie called Alfie the Dog. The Australian of the Year was a key member of the cave-diving team that rescued the Wild Boar soccer team in Thailand. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Dr Richard Harris OAM, the diver who played a leading role in the Tham Luang rescue in Thailand, will speak to high school students on the final day of the festival about courage.

One of the Thai cave boys with his full mask on supported by members of the cave diving team including Chris Jewell, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen. Picture: Richard Harris

“He’s a very humble, wonderful man,” Mrs Gurdler said.

“He was put in a difficult situation and he didn’t give up.”

Dr Harris, an anaesthetist, rescued 13 people trapped in a cave in June and July 2018.

He was named an Australian of the Year in 2019.

He is also a children’s author, penning Alfie the Brave in 2019 about his staffie dog Alfie.

Tickets are now available.