Proud mum ... Broadband Innovation, Lego Club and Tim Winton

… you can skip this post if you are here for the library tech. This one fits in the “balancing and being mum” bit of the blog tagline.

I’m insanely proud of my family this week.

BROADBAND INNOVATION AWARD

My husband, Stewart, was instrumental in developing  the software for discerning unusual patterns in video surveillance footage for the Icetana company, which grew out of his research group at Curtin University. Last week the company pitched to over 400+ potential investors, mentors, entrepreneurs and customers at the Tech 23 event in Sydney – and won $25 000 from the New South Wales Government for the “Broadband Innovation Award”.

(Of course, I can bring librarianship into this one – check out another one of the finalists – readcloud , which claims to be “the world’s first social ereading software”. It uses the ebook itself as the platform for social discussion about the book’s content. This Australian firm is not to be confused with Copia, which claims to be “the first social eReading experience designed so you can discover, connect and share what’s meaningful” – but they do this by integrating a website and a their own ereading device )

LEGO

Then today my Mr12 came second in his school’s Lego club “Science Fiction City” building competition. He instigated the group last year and it has been a source of many, many hours of joy for him and his mates at lunch times. The support teachers are in on the act and buy ridiculously attractive large Lego sets as prizes that whip the kids up into a frenzy of creativity. Mr12 let on that they have a “Greenhill Award” in the club for each term’s competition – for whoever “shows spirit and never gives up”.

WRITING

Libraries again… Last night Mr7 had his turn to shine. The family attended the Tim Winton Award for Young Writers’ Ceremony at Subiaco Library – complete with canapes and a string quartet. Mr7 was a finalist in the Junior Primary Category. In another show of great support from the kids’ school, the Head of Junior School attended to be there for Mr7.  The competition received 1634 entries in five categories. I was very, very proud when Mr7 was awarded Second Prize in his category for his story “North Goes on Holiday”. Mr7 was very, very thrilled to read the congratulations that were tweeted from my friends on Twitter and I’m not sure he’s stopped grinning yet…

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