Dancing the Lobster Quadrille*

Some exciting news, gentle readers.

I recently applied for a newly created position, that of Western Sydney Children’s and Young People’s Literature Development Officer. It's a part-time position, funded by Arts NSW and the NSW Department of Education and Training, and the employer is Blacktown City Council.

I learned today that my application was successful, and I will start work on December 10. I will work three days a week in the new position and remain at the department's newspaper (Side by Side) two days a week.

Essentially, this is the job I hoped all those years ago would emerge from my Churchill Fellowship, and at last it has happened, largely thanks to Libby Gleeson, who lobbied tirelessly for the establishment of the position for many years.

I will be working with local schools and arts organisations to develop and deliver literature-based programs to the children and youth of the area. I have about a million ideas as to what I want to do, but there will also be a lot of consultation involved to ensure the programs meet the needs of the local (and very diverse) community. For me, it's an amazing opportunity to bring together my passion for and expertise in children's literature, my teaching experience and my commitment to social justice.

It's a very exciting development for me, and will present an enormous challenge and, I anticipate, great satisfaction!

---

*The title of this post was inspired by my reaction to my friend Karen's email in response to hearing the news I'd got the job: she described my appointment as "the sea is your oyster times are here", which perhaps bizarrely brought to mind Carroll's macabre Lobster Quadrille—Will you won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?

Well, join me!