Allison Falzon has scored $1000 for her son’s school as one of five winners across Australia in a national writing competition.
Ms Falzon, whose son Mason goes to St Anthony’s Primary School in Melton South, entered the competition for fun after seeing it pop up on her Facebook feed.
The nation-wide competition, run by pen company Bic, surveyed teachers and parents about how they encouraged fun handwriting.
The campaign “Fight for your write” was aimed at raising awareness of the falling rate of literacy and to highlight the importance of handwriting.
Five winners were announced last week, including Ms Falzon, from Mount Cottrell, who received a $1000 cheque for St Anthony’s Primary School and $150 of Bic stationery for sons Mason and Jakim.
Ms Falzon said she was very surprised by the win and happy to help Mason’s school.
Her winning entry highlighted what she and her family did to encourage fun handwriting in their home, in less than 25 words.
Ms Falzon said she and her husband and sons made up stories by adding a few words each. The boys would then copy what had been written and draw pictures to complete the story.
“It gets very interesting and creative and very funny,” Ms Falzon said.
She and the school will now discuss how the money can contribute to the literacy program.
Yasemin Talat