Families from as far as Sydney, Kangaroo Valley and Batemans Bay converged on the University of Wollongong’s Shoalhaven Campus in Nowra last week, where Andrew from The Shoalhaven Beekeepers Association helped launch Gifted Awareness Week Australia on the South Coast.
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The event was hosted by The South Coast Sub-branch of Gifted Families Support Group Incorporated (GFSG Inc.) who meet monthly in Nowra and Batemans Bay to provide support to local families with gifted and twice-exceptional children.
The children learnt about the various kinds of bees, viewed bees working, assisted in collecting honey and tasted honey straight from the hive.
There were plenty of smiles as the children tried on bee-keepers’ outfits, tested the smoking devices, spun the honey and got sticky as they tried the fruits of their labour.
The South Coast Sub-branch of GFSG Inc has been working with families on the South Coast for almost 12 months.
“Our aim is to provide support for gifted children, their families and educators on the South Coast,” co-ordinator Rebecca Keough said.
“Today we launched a resource library, which was well received by the community.
“This event encapsulates our vision of building awareness and supporting each other through this journey of giftedness.”
Gifted Awareness Week Australia was founded in 2015 by the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT) to raise awareness of the identification, support and learning needs of gifted children and to celebrate the dedication of individuals and educational bodies who are making a positive difference in the lives of gifted children and their families.
“Of course all children are gifts, all children have gifts, but not all children are ‘gifted’ in the sense in which that term is employed in the research literature: having natural ability in the top 10 per cent of their age cohort,” explained Melinda Gindy, President of GFSG Inc. NSW & Vice President of AAEGT.
“Our nation should be endeavouring to nurture giftedness in all domains, ensuring we celebrate intellectual giftedness in the classroom in the same manner that we celebrate athletic giftedness on the sporting field and musical giftedness in the school orchestra,” Ms Gindy urged.
For further information about events or to join the mailing list, email southcoast@gfsg.org.au or visit our website www.gfsg.org.au.
Gifted Families Support Group Incorporated is a not for profit association designed to support families and educators of gifted children. It is run solely by volunteers.
