The 19th Annual Great Debate Gala was truly an unforgettable evening!

We were thrilled to celebrate with our community and shine a spotlight on literacy's life-changing impact on children in need across Australia.

Thanks to the generosity of our incredible donors, we raised $370,000—funds will directly support our mission to provide brand-new books to children who need them most.

And, of course, it wouldn't be the Great Debate without a little spirited competition! This year's topic—"Audiobooks Don't Count as Reading"—brought the house down as our debaters battled it out with humour and heart. With your help, we crowned the winning team: the Affirmative!

A huge thank you to our brilliant debaters: Mark Sutton, Osher Günsberg, Peter FitzSimons, and Zoë Norton Lodge, led by our amazing Team Captains; Adam Spencer and R.A. Spratt. Their quick wit and passionate arguments lit up the stage.

A heartfelt thank you to our special guest, Hani Zahra, Principal of Blaxcell Street Public School, who shared a moving reflection on the impact of our programs in his school. And to our excellent MC, Kylie Gillies—thank you for bringing warmth, humour, and heart to the evening.

Together, we're making a meaningful difference in the lives and literacy of Australia's most vulnerable communities. We're already looking forward to the 20th Annual Great Debate Gala—and we hope to see you there!