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Paint the Bridge Read with Peter Coombe this Saturday

A very special egg is about to hatch at Murray Bridge Town Hall.

Peri Strathearn

May 29, 2023 — 3 min read

This sponsored post is brought to you by the Rural City of Murray Bridge.

Peter Coombe and a very special egg will cross paths at Murray Bridge Town Hall this Saturday. Photos: Rural City of Murray Bridge.

The Paint the Bridge REaD program is thrilled to announce the launch of its mascot at a reading day event this Saturday.

The Murray Bridge community nurtured the egg by reading, rhyming and singing over the past few months.

The program’s mascot will hatch during the event, which will begin at 10.30am at the Murray Bridge Performing Arts and Function Centre (Town Hall).

In addition to the mascot’s debut, the event will feature a special guest appearance by beloved children’s singer/songwriter Peter Combe and a variety of fun activities including a roving magician, face painting, music, barbecue and reading opportunities.

“More than 20 per cent of Australian children arrive at school without the skills necessary to make the most of their education,” Paint the Town REaD program executive director Barbie Bates said.

“Paint the Bridge REaD has helped increase the amount of reading undertaken by families with children 0-5 years, improving the chances that these kids have during their schooling years and the years beyond.”

After being read to and having various adventures around Murray Bridge over the past eight months, the mysterious egg is about to hatch. Photos: Rural City of Murray Bridge.

Local Government Association president Dean Johnson said Paint the Bridge REaD was another success of the Local Government Early Childhood Community Innovation grants program.

“We’ve been delighted to be part of this grants program, which is helping deliver local and community-led programs to reduce childhood development gaps,” he said.

Paint the Bridge REaD was one of a dozen projects to receive a Local Government Early Childhood Community Innovation grant, to deliver local and community-led programs in response to local needs identified through the Australian Government Australian Early Development Census.

The project encourages communities to read, talk, sing and play with children from birth to help develop the skills necessary for reading and writing.

The network brought together the council, Murray Bridge Library, the Tinyeri Children’s Centre safer family services, Murray Bridge Community Centre and AC Care Communities for Children Murraylands to encourage literacy within the community.

Register for the launch event: www.eventbrite.com.au.
Read more: Paint the Bridge Read: How an egg-citing literacy program will help local kids

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