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#33 - Koalas, Kangaroos, and Kindness: The Ultimate Aussie Remedy with Christopher Williams & Ann Victoria
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What happens when creativity meets compassion? In this heartwarming episode, we discover how a poem written during Australian bushfires has transformed into a nationwide movement supporting children with special needs.
Meet Christopher Williams and Anne Victoria, the creative force behind Karey & Kareful – a series of illustrated storybooks featuring a wheelchair-using koala and his kangaroo mate. Christopher shares how his lifelong experience with disability and a wheelchair journey through drought-ravaged NSW sparked the original story. Anne reveals how her artistic vision brought these uniquely Australian characters to life, creating books that special needs teachers describe as "essential reading for all children."
The conversation explores how their foundation aims to provide every special needs child in Australia with their own five-book set – approximately 400,000 children nationwide. We hear how major Australian businesses, such as IGA and Bendigo Bank, have joined the mission, focusing particularly on supporting regional communities where resources are often scarce.
Beyond the books themselves, Christopher and Anne detail innovative programs, such as their Celebrity Readers initiative and the Reading Appreciation Forum, which encourages volunteers to commit to reading with children with special needs. Their vision extends to developing animated cartoons through emerging AI technology, potentially bringing these beloved characters to an even wider audience.
This episode powerfully demonstrates how Australian values of mateship and inclusion aren't just nostalgic concepts but living principles that continue to shape communities. Through Karey & Kareful's journey, we're reminded that simple acts of storytelling can create profound connections, foster resilience, and build a more inclusive future for all children.
Want to be part of this movement? Visit the Karey and Kareful Foundation website at https://www.kareyandkarefulfoundation.org.au/our-story-so-far or call their "Bush Telegraph" on 0433 125 561 to learn how you can volunteer, sponsor book sets, or help with distribution to schools across Australia.
Thank you for listening!
Chapters
1. Introduction to Kerry and Careful (00:00:00)
2. Origins of the Storybooks (00:09:42)
3. Special Needs Teaching Experience (00:16:40)
4. The Mission and Foundation (00:22:29)
5. Australian Characters and Future Books (00:24:52)
6. Mateship and Community Support (00:29:40)
35 episodes
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