Greek Australian author Will Kostakis receives the 2020 Maurice Saxby Award

·

Greek Australian author Will Kostakis has been announced as the recipient of the 2020 School Library Association of New South Wales Maurice Saxby Award.

The Maurice Saxby Award recognises service to children’s and/or young adult literature by an individual, team or organisation that has displayed excellence and passion in promoting reading and/or writing for young people in NSW. 

Will’s passion, excellence, and commitment to the promotion of reading and children’s literature are evidenced by his roles as an ambassador for the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge and Australia Reads, and as a mentor of children and young adults as both readers and writers.

“One early morning in November, I was contacted by a teacher librarian eager to nominate me for this award. That meant a great deal, to win is an honour, and to keep doing this work, visiting schools and inspiring the next generation of readers and writers, is the reward,” Will Kostakis said on Twitter.

Kostakis is an author highly familiar with the Greek community in Australia. His debut book, The First Third, was written as a way to show a new perspective on what it’s like growing up as a Greek-Australian teenage boy.

“In that novel, I centred love, I centred a bit of familial affection, and it’s either something that people have lost or something that they yearned for or something that they had,” Will said to The Greek Herald in an interview earlier this year.

Will Kostakis with his novel, The First Third. Photo: The Greek Herald

“I think that’s what keeps the novel in the public conscious, even today it’s still being read and still being shared.”

In 2020, Will launched Line by Line, a virtual writing club for established, emerging, and aspiring storytellers as part of his response to the limitations of connection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ MORE: TGH Exclusive: Author of ‘The First Third’ Will Kostakis reveals the positive impact of his yiayia on his work

He has devoted considerable time, energy and expertise in engaging young readers and writers across NSW, often waiving fees, offering free virtual sessions, and self-funding regional tours in hard-to-reach schools, to ensure students have the experience of exposure to, and connection with, a real-life author.  

This award will be presented at The Laureate & The Literacy Leader Professional Learning Summit on March 13th, 2021.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

John Stamos explores his Greek heritage in emotional documentary

In a new documentary, Hollywood actor John Stamos embarks on a personal journey to uncover his Greek ancestry.

Actor Adam Demos opens up on his exciting new role

Australian actor Adam Demos, takes on a new challenge in Rescue: HI-Surf, where he plays lifeguard Will Ready on O‘ahu’s North Shore.

Bauhaus-inspired revival for Athens’ Faliro Bay waterfront

The European Commission has approved €370 million in funding for the Faliro Bay Metropolitan Park in Athens.

Expansion work set to begin at Athens International Airport

Preliminary construction for the expansion of Athens International Airport is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Study ranks Greece among world’s scariest places to drive

According to a recent survey by Scrap Car Comparison, Greece ranks among the most nerve-wracking places to drive in the world.

You May Also Like

Message at 2024 NSW teachers conference: AI is threatening to destroy languages

Hundreds of teachers of community languages in New South Wales have attended and annual conference at Sydney University. Read more here.

Greek Australian Nicolas Pozoglou joins basketball team in Greece

Greek Australian athlete, Nicolas Pozoglou, has signed with Koroivos, a professional basketball club based in Amaliada, Greece.

Sydney launches Greek Festival with dinner event

The Greek community of Sydney will be able to attend a Greek Festival over the coming weeks, after the event was officially launched last night.