Visitors to Mitchell thought the town was celebrating a win by the local footy team. In fact, this small outback town had come together to 'Paint the Town Read'. Everyone wore a red; the main street was decorated with red balloons, streamers and shopfront displays; and stories were read throughout town, by shop owners keen to participate in a day designed to encourage everyone to read books. The Maranoa Art Gallery and Library was the meeting place for the final event, a shadow puppet play of the story Jack and the Beanstalk. A Dreamtime story -- created and read by Aunty Irene, an Aboriginal Elder -- concluded the storytelling.
Since this event marks the birthday of Mitchell's Reading Bug (a colourfully dressed 'bug' who arrived in style at the library in the town's fire truck), there was, of course, a birthday cake, followed by the giving out of reading show bags for the children. The community of Mitchell comes together every year to celebrate reading and books. 'Paint the Town Read' is outback Australia at its very best.
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