An AFL football star, a BMX gold medallist and the Three Little Pigs were among the characters to steal the show at Tongala Primary School’s Book Week parade on Monday, August 19.
The theme for Book Week this year is Reading is Magic and when it comes to Tongala’s most famous recent football product, Harley Reid, there has been plenty to read about.
So heavy was the focus in the pages of the West Australian that Reid’s sponsor, Puma, bought the back page and simply wrote the words “A back page without the pressure . . . Good luck mate” prior to Reid making his AFL debut.
It’s a little removed from the likes of fairytales and Harry Potter books, but it didn’t stop one student from donning the now highly recognisable number nine jumper and the associated head band to portray his football hero.
The presence of “Harley” at the parade also prompted an announcement from principal Rob Hogan, who informed the students that the real Harley Reid would be at the school for the final day of term three — which is dedicated to Football Colours Day.
Reid’s older sister Hollie, who is on her way to becoming a fully qualified teacher, has been gaining valuable career experience by working at Tongala this year.
Alongside the student kitted out in West Coast Eagles colours was a helmetted BMX riding student portraying Paris gold medallist Saya Sakakibara.
Complete with a makeshift golf medal and the number 77 bib which was a salute to her brother Kai — who incurred a brain injury after a World Cup crash four years ago — the student was also picked out for a quick door stop interview with the principal.
As for the Three Little Pigs, well they proudly led their students on the parade ground to celebrate the annual salute to books and reading.
Tongala Primary School students were among thousands from throughout the region who took on the personalities and appearances of characters from books which that have inspired them in the classroom.