Feature Week 36: ACT Focus
Katy Gallagher
In week 36 of the National Year of Reading we focus on the National Year of Reading in the ACT and one of our keen supporters, the ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher.
About Katy
The Minister grew up in Canberra, attending local primary and high schools before undertaking a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology at the Australian National University.
Katy has served as the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory since 2011, having been elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly as the Member for Molonglo in 2001.
Before entering parliament, the Chief Minister worked for the Community and Public Sector Union and prior to this in community sector roles supporting individuals with disabilities.
Katy's thoughts on reading and the National Year of Reading
In the following clip, the Chief Minister talks with fellow ambassador Senator Kate Lundy at the official announcement of the ACT National Year of Reading ambassadors. We learn about her reading preferences and her views on the importance of the National Year of Reading.
Katy's reading habits
- Are you a constant reader or are there times when you don't read at all? I constantly read - it is an essential part of my job.
- Which book is by your bedside right now?
'The marmalade files' by Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann.
- What's your perfect holiday read? Something light weight, easy to get into and impossible to put down.
- Print books, ereader or both? I am getting into e-books. It's taken me ages but I'm almost there.
- Do you have lots of books on the go at once, or just one? Just one.
- Do you ever cheat and read the end of the book first? Never.
- At what point do you give up on a book? After three or so chapters if I'm not enjoying it, although this rarely happens.
- Do you have a favourite book from your childhood?
The 'What Katy did' series was pretty cool, especially as they spelt my name correctly.
- Estimate the number of books you own. A couple of hundred.
- Where do you read? On the couch or in bed.
- What book has most influenced you?
Nelson Mandela's autobiography, 'Long walk to freedom'.
Out and about with NYR in the ACT
Here are just a few of the National Year of Reading events taking place in the ACT:
- Canberra's Longest Bookmark - 1 Feb to 31 October
Dickson LibraryThe Dickson Library knitting group have embarked on a giant task - to knit Canberra's longest bookmark to celebrate the National Year of Reading. To find out more about the book mark and how you can contribute take a look at the following facebook page:
- Word Pictures Exhibition - 7 July - 10 Feb 2013
National Gallery AustraliaA picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. Since the early 20th century when Picasso and Braque made their radical breakthrough with Cubism, there has been a flourishing of modern and contemporary art produced with text at its core. Alphabets with their infinite potential for words; the visual form of letters; the art of printmaking with its origins in typography; and the artists' book are some of the themes explored in this exhibition. Word Pictures is the National Gallery of Australia's contribution to the National Year of Reading. This selection of surprising and often humorous works of art reveals the artists' playful connections between our visual and written languages.
- COOL AWARDS - Voting open from Monday 17 September - Wednesday 24 October 2012
The Children's Choice Book Awards in the ACTThe COOL Awards are the annual children's choice book awards made by young readers in the ACT, choosing from amongst the Australian books they have enjoyed reading during the year. To take part in the voting process, go to the Libraries ACT website:
Want to know more?
- If you are interested in finding out more about Katy Gallagher, go to her website:
- If you are interested in other National Year of Reading activities taking place in the ACT, go to the Libraries ACT website:
- If you want to find out about all the National Year of Reading ambassadors, go to our ambassadors page:
- Other featured ambassadors can be found on the ambassador feature week listing:
