Tuesday 10 July, 2012

HUGHENDEN residents will be able to Shake A Leg with multi-talented performer Boori Monty Pryor just months before work starts on a documentary inspired by his book, My Girragundji.

The indigenous author, who has worked in numerous industries including film, television, modelling, sport, music and theatre-in-education, will arrive in Hughenden on Monday July 23 as a special guest for the town’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

In 2011, Monty Pryor received the $80,000 children’s literature prize in the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Shake A Leg, a book about sharing culture through story and dance.

As well as the documentary, to be filmed in Townsville at the end of this year, Monty Pryor's award winning children's book, My Girragundji, has also inspired a feature film and TV series.

The author will spend Monday morning (July 23) in the Flinders Shire Library, with Monty speaking, telling a story and doing some artwork between 9:30am and 11:30am.  The whole Shire is invited to join the party.

During the week he will entertain students from Hughenden State School, Prairie State School, Cameron Downs State School, Stamford State School and St Francis School.

Event organiser and Flinders Shire Library librarian Tracey Edwards said she had been a fan of Monty’s since attending a series of workshops with him about six years ago in Bowen.

``I was approached by Queensland Health to organise a NAIDOC Week event for the Shire but in my role I needed to incorporate an author or involve books,’’ she said.

`` I thought Monty would be great to bring out here.

``We are also looking at holding a community meet and greet on the Tuesday night, so everyone has the chance to meet him.’’

Hughenden Hospital Generalist Health Worker Lynita Hughes, who started as a Trainee Indigenous Health Worker at the hospital in 2010, said she was excited to be involved in NAIDOC Week 2012.

``I had a painting donated from my uncle, Gordon Hookey, which we will raffle off during the week and I will be helping Tracey to organise the community get together,’’ she said.

`` I think a visit from Monty will be great for the kids and community members - I know I will enjoy the week.’’

Monty Pryor was born in 1950 in Townsville.  His father is from the Birrigubba of the Bowen region and his mother from Yarrabah (near Cairns) a descendant of the KUNGGANJI and KUKUIMUDJI.

Monty played Basketball for the Queensland under 18's while studying at Pimlico State High and then went on to play Victorian State championship league for five years. He was the coach for the first National Aboriginal Women's Basketball team. He has played in two World Masters Games in Basketball competition, winning a Silver Medal for Australia in 1994.

Monty is an accomplished didjeridoo player who has performed solo with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra and conducted a didjeridoo workshop for Yamaha which was broadcast nationally on ABC Radio.

For more information contact Flinders Shire Librarian Tracey Edwards on librarian@flinders.qld.gov.au or Communications Officer Alexis Gillham on communications@flinders.qld.gov.au.