2017 Champions of Champions!

The judging panel which consisted of volunteers from the Dyslexia Community and our special guest judge Freelance Journalist Cat Rodie, have...

The judging panel which consisted of volunteers from the Dyslexia Community and our special guest judge Freelance Journalist Cat Rodie, have been overwhelmed by the entries again in 2017. The stories of your champions have been heartwarming and also inspiring. (Note: please see earlier blog in regards to Jackie French being unable to assist us with judging due to post surgery complications).

We thank you all for taking part again this year.

The Overall Champion this year is 9 Year Old Jack Kennedy who wins the Sailors with disABILITIES 'Sailing with Champions Prize'. 

Congratulations Jack! Your entry is fantastic. 

Jack will have the opportunity to take along his family and friends to a fantastic afternoon of sailing on the Sydney Harbour! Watch Jack's entry below!


While all entries were wonderful this entry from our Adults Category deserves special mention. Thank you to Eleanor for this wonderful song. We have been told that Eleanor has only performed it live once before as it is such a raw and emotional song that it has been too difficult to perform live again. This brought the judges to tears. 





All age category winners are listed below with the link to their entry! Congratulations to all who have won a prize and to those who have entered this year you are all champions.

Thank you for supporting our Campaign & Competition, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with you all on this.

Julie Hermansen
Finder of Champions


2017 My Red Letter Champions of Champions
Sailing with Champions Winner
Overall WinnerJack Kennedyhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e029-jack_25.html
Age Group5-8yrs
1stMillie Schulzhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/11/my-red-letter-2017-e085-millie.html
2ndLuke Bakerhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e028-luke.html
3rdJack Pritchardhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e019-jack.html
CommendedZara Taylorhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e076-zara.html
CommendedLuka Carberryhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/11/my-red-letter-2017-e094-luca.html
Age Group9-12 yrs
1stSeren Davieshttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e057-seren.html
2ndSophia Lesliehttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/11/my-red-letter-2017-e109-sophia.html
3rdAlexa Zimmerlinghttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e056-alexa.html
CommendedSam Newmanhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e053-sam.html
Age Group13-18 yrs
1stBailey Meareshttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/11/my-red-letter-2017-e099-bailey.html
2ndAlyssia McDonaldhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e067-alyssia.html
3rdLewis Squadritohttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e027-lewis.html
CommendedTaylah Isaachttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e061-taylah.html
Age GroupAdults
1stEleanor Gardner http://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e016-eleanor.html
2ndJan Barsonhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e013-jan.html
3rdSarah Golehttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e038-sarah.html
CommendedSarah Gurrinhttp://www.myredletter.com.au/2017/10/my-red-letter-2017-e001-sarah.html



2017 My Dyslexia Champions

In order to organise a national competition without any kind of budget, you need to be a little bit nimble. So when our special gue...




In order to organise a national competition without any kind of budget, you need to be a little bit nimble.


So when our special guest judge Jackie French informed us recently that she was dealing with complications after knee surgery that may require another round of surgery, we wished Jackie the very best for her recovery and nimbly found a new special guest judge.

We approached Freelance Journalist Cat Rodie to help us out with the judging (Cat is also proud to be dyslexic, although she still wonders why it has to be such a tricky word to spell!) . Cat responded very quickly with a yes, and she has since judged the four age categories for us (more on that soon).

But before we move on here are some words from Jackie about the My Red Letter Competition and Campaign:


'A complication after knee surgery meant I was unable to judge this year, and I am delighted and grateful that Cat Rodie was able to step in.  I've been watching as entry after entry came in, and every single one was superb. Many many congratulations to everyone. I am so looking forward to next years' competition.'






 And from Cat: 'It was a huge honour to judge the red letter competition. Your entries brought back so many memories and perfectly articulated what it's like to be a kid with dyslexia. There is a shift happening - people are starting to see that dyslexia represents a different way of thinking or seeing the world. One day, people will celebrate being dyslexic - parents with a dyslexic kid will feel like they won the lottery. That day is coming, and by sharing your experiences, all of you helped forge the way.' 






My Red Letter 2017 - E110 - Amelia

Entry:  E110 Name:  Amelia Age:  9 Champion: My Mum, Dad and Tutor Victoria   My super hero is three people, my mum, dad and Victoria. ...

Entry: E110
Name: Amelia
Age: 9
Champion: My Mum, Dad and Tutor Victoria 

My super hero is three people, my mum, dad and Victoria. 

Mum helps me with my homework, Victoria's and school, and when I need a lucky charm she is there. 

My dad helps me with cheering me up and saying how lucky I am. When he was a kid he got none help with work, so he helps me as much as he can and he is dyslexic too. 


And the last of all is Victoria, she is my tutor she teaches me new things after the class and before. She has so much niceness in her, she is a 5 out of 5. She taught me running writing and more. 

Click on the below links for more information
List of My Red Letter 2017 entries
Competition details and prizes

Entry Form
Sponsors
Terms & Conditions

My Red Letter 2017 - E109 - Sophia

Entry:  E109 Name:  Sophia Age:  10 Champion: Mum My dyslexia hero is my mummy.  She helps me through all of my spelling mistakes an...

Entry: E109
Name: Sophia
Age: 10
Champion: Mum

My dyslexia hero is my mummy. 


She helps me through all of my spelling mistakes and all the things that go wrong but she also compliments me and encourages me on all of the things I do well, like drawing and writing. 

I chose to draw myself surrounded by letters that represent the spelling mistakes that I make.  It is like drowning because everyone else seems to be able to spell so easily except me.   



The dragon represents my mummy saving me from the words.  She helps me by teaching me how  to spell the words I get wrong and by making me split words into syllables, which help me to spell the words easily.  Mummy got me an iPad and showed me how to use assistive technology to write all of my novels.  I write a lot, lot, lot, lot, lot! 

It would be harder if Mummy didn't help me and I would probably give up on my writing. 

The Dragon
The dragon has powers over life and death.
Where you cannot reach, the dragon can.
When the dragon tries, it tries with all its mighty power 
And it does this because of love.
The power pushes evil away with the power of the heart.


Click on the below links for more information
List of My Red Letter 2017 entries
Competition details and prizes

Entry Form
Sponsors
Terms & Conditions

My Red Letter 2017 - L108 - Elle

Entry:  L108 Name:  Elle Age:  14 Champion: Jackie French & Mum Click on the below links for more information List of My Red Lett...

Entry: L108
Name: Elle
Age: 14
Champion: Jackie French & Mum
Click on the below links for more information
List of My Red Letter 2017 entries
Competition details and prizes

Entry Form
Sponsors
Terms & Conditions

My Red Letter 2017 - L107 - Anita

Entry:  L107 Name:  Anita Age:  Adult Champion: Code Read Dyslexia Network Champion - From Medieval Latin <campio> meaning fighte...

Entry: L107
Name: Anita
Age: Adult
Champion: Code Read Dyslexia Network

Champion - From Medieval Latin <campio> meaning fighter. “One who fights on behalf of others, one who undertakes to defend a cause.”

I’ve been working really hard to find a way of expressing this sentiment without it sounding like a cliche but the fact is I can’t decide who my ‘dyslexia champion’ is. I have too many. So I am going to group them all together under the banner of Code Read Dyslexia Network; the newly created NFP that burst to life on Saturday October 14th 2017 with a TV appearance on Channel 9.

When you scratch the surface of this new group you will find its slightly battered and bruised heart : a band of fiery women (mostly mothers of dyslexic children) and a sometimes grumpy but eternally passionate old bloke. These people who are bound by the same heartbreak, the same battles and the same joys, have become my safe harbour. They are my inspiration, my confidantes, my friends. They are, all at once, a soft place to fall, a lightning rod to galvanise me into action and a sounding board for all the fun, frustrations and fears this life with dyslexia brings. 

I don’t know what I’d do without them. They are the very essence of what it is to be a champion. 

Code Read Dyslexia Network are fighters and I stand proudly beside them as we go into battle. 


Anita - mother of a dyslexic child, wife of a dyslexic man child, Structured Literacy Therapist. 
Click on the below links for more information
List of My Red Letter 2017 entries
Competition details and prizes

Entry Form
Sponsors
Terms & Conditions

My Red Leter 2017 - E106 - Evan

Entry:  E106 Name:  Evan Age:  11 Champion: My Family   My name is Evan and I am 11 years old. My dyslexia champion is my family. My fa...

Entry: E106
Name: Evan
Age: 11
Champion: My Family 

My name is Evan and I am 11 years old. My dyslexia champion is my family. My family are my mum and dad. They help me when I don’t understand something and they take me to all the activities I enjoy. When I am sailing or doing karate I feel good about myself and it doesn’t matter that I am dyslexic. 

Click on the below links for more information
List of My Red Letter 2017 entries
Competition details and prizes

Entry Form
Sponsors
Terms & Conditions