Top 5 Books Challenge 2023 winners revealed

Acclaimed children’s author Sue Whiting was delighted to share her passion for books and writing recently with this year’s winners of the QSuper Top 5 Book Challenge.

The challenge is part of the annual Premiers’ Reading Challenge and this year more than 200 Queensland students from 57 schools nominated their favourite books for the chance to win big for their school.

Inspired by the hundreds of passionate submissions that demonstrated a love of reading and writing across the state, the team at Australian Retirement Trust, has continued the support of the QSuper Top 5 Book Challenge.

And the winners are…

This year the overall winners of the competition were Year 6 student Lachlan from Boondall State School in Brisbane, and teacher Ray Godwin on behalf of his Year 2 to 6 students Mia, Pearl, Rocky, Zeyad and Shayleigh in a combined effort from McDonnell Creek State School in Cairns.

Both Lachlan and Mr Godwin’s group scored writing workshops for their schools, conducted by Ms Whiting. In the workshops, which were held in October, Ms Whiting (pictured above) took classes through interactive sessions designed to hone the students’ writing and storytelling skills.

Fostering a love of literacy

Ms Whiting is the author a of wide variety of children’s and young adult books, including the bestselling Missing, the acclaimed The Book of Chance, and a number of Children’s Book Council of Australia notable books. Her latest works include Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan and Tilda.

As a storyteller, workshop leader and schools performer Ms Whiting has informed, inspired and entertained thousands of kids across the country. Before becoming an author, she was a primary school teacher.

“Sharing my love of books and passion for writing with groups of children is always a great delight for me,” said Ms Whiting. “There are few things I enjoy more.

“I’m grateful to Australian Retirement Trust for encouraging young people to foster a love of reading.”

Inspired by words and collaboration

One of the major prize winners, Lachlan, nominated Ms Whiting’s The Book of Chance as his favourite book. “The reason I like this book is because it makes you feel like you’re actually in a crime investigation show,” Lachlan said. “It also produces imagery in your head by using highly descriptive adjectives that make the settings feel dull and gloomy.”

Mr Godwin’s group nominated a range of entries that were all very inspiring, but the competition judges were especially impressed by the great collaboration they showed in coming together across different year levels in a very small school in Far North Queensland to submit their entry.

Eight runners-up prize winners, who received a $550 voucher to purchase news books for their school, were also announced. They were:

• Hugo Dohnt (Camooweal State School)
• Siddarth Prabhu (Sunnybank Hills State School)
• Lucy Rodda (Clermont State School)
• Salma Qatawnen (Islamic College of Brisbane)
• Ella Bilston (Boyne Island State School)
• Zara Watson (Newmarket State School)
• Lachlan Bailey (St Mary’s College, Toowoomba)
• Sharmali Green (Palmwoods State School).

Partnership built on shared beliefs

CEO of Australian Retirement Trust, Bernard Reilly, said the strong partnership that existed between the team at Australian Retirement Trust, and the Premier’s Reading Challenge was driven by a shared belief in the importance of supporting literacy skills development in Queensland schools.

The opinions expressed and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Trustee. No responsibility is taken for the accuracy of any of the information supplied and you should seek advice for your circumstances.