World Letter Writing Day

Could the humble pen be making a comeback in Australian classrooms? NSW wants students to put down their keyboards and return to handwritten writing tests.

Pen and Paper Are Making a Comeback: NSW Wants Handwriting Back in NAPLAN

November 3, 2026

Could the humble pen be making a comeback in Australian classrooms? NSW wants students to put down their keyboards and return to handwritten writing tests. After years of moving education online, the NSW Government is pushing to bring pen-and-paper writing assessments back to NAPLAN for students in Years 5, 7 and 9 from 2028. Currently, only Year 3 students complete their NAPLAN writing tests by hand. Older students use computers. The proposal follows concerns about declining writing skills among Australian students, with education experts arguing that handwriting plays an important role in learning, memory and literacy development. Have We Become…

by Jay

Gifts, Inspiration

Looking for a Screen-Free Activity for Kids? Discover OYLA Science Magazine

October 29, 2026

Are your kids spending too much time on screens? You’re certainly not the only parent asking that question. With smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and streaming services competing for children’s attention, many families are searching for ways to reduce screen time without sacrificing entertainment or learning. But finding activities that genuinely capture children’s interest away from screens isn’t always easy. Books don’t appeal to every child, and parents don’t always have the time to organise activities or keep everyone entertained. What if there was something that could spark your child’s curiosity, encourage independent learning and keep them entertained without a screen…

by Jay

Communication, Slow Living, Trends

Could Bringing Back the Landline Phone Bring Us Closer Together?

October 28, 2026

Remember when the phone rang and you had absolutely no idea who was calling? Someone would shout, “I’ll get it!” Footsteps would race down the hallway. There might be a brief negotiation over who the call was actually for, followed by a voice calling through the house: “Mum! It’s for you!” The family landline phone had a way of making a conversation everyone’s business. There were tangled cords, scraps of paper covered in messages and strict instructions about how long you could spend talking. Privacy sometimes meant stretching the handset around a doorway and hoping nobody needed to walk past….

by Jay

Cafe's, Destinations, Letter writing, New Zealand, Road Trips, Slow Travel

Astro Café Lake Tekapo: Coffee, Mountain Views and a Red Letterbox Above the Clouds

October 23, 2026

Discover one of New Zealand’s most scenic cafés, perched high above Lake Tekapo at Mount John Observatory, and why it’s the perfect place to slow down, enjoy the view and write a postcard. There are cafés you visit for the coffee, cafés you visit for the food, and then there are cafés where the location itself becomes an unforgettable part of your journey. High above the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, on New Zealand’s South Island, sits the remarkable Astro Cafe, a mountain-top café surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. Located at the summit of…

by Jay

Australia, Community, Inspiration

Stories Worth Remembering: Discover 113 Years of Bondi Lifeguard History

October 19, 2026

An inspiring local history exhibition and storytelling experience at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Every place has a story. Some are written in books, others preserved in photographs, newspaper clippings and treasured objects. And some of the most remarkable stories are kept alive by the people who were there to witness them. At Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most recognisable coastal landmarks, more than a century of professional lifeguarding has created a remarkable collection of human stories — tales of courage, community, changing traditions and everyday life beside the ocean. From 28 October to 1 November 2026, visitors are invited to…

by Jay

Community, Inspiration, Sydney

Beyond the Screen: How Bondi Books & Ideas Weekend Celebrates the Art of Slowing Down

October 12, 2026

In a world of endless notifications, scrolling feeds and instant messages, there is something wonderfully refreshing about sitting down to listen to a story, explore an idea or enjoy a meaningful conversation. This November, Bondi Books & Ideas Weekend invites us to do exactly that. From 20 to 22 November 2026, Sydney’s iconic Bondi Pavilion will become a gathering place for writers, readers, thinkers and storytellers as the Bondi Books & Ideas Weekend celebrates literature, creativity and human connection. Set beside the Pacific Ocean at Bondi Beach, the three-day festival offers an opportunity to step away from everyday distractions and…

by Jay

New Zealand, Travel

The Blue Pub, the Brown Pub and the Soul of Methven: A New Zealand Town That Knows How to Socialise

October 8, 2026

There are towns you visit for their scenery, towns you visit for their history, and towns you remember because of the people you meet. Methven, a small alpine village on New Zealand’s South Island, manages to combine all three. But perhaps its most memorable feature is something surprisingly simple: two old country pubs standing opposite one another at the town’s main crossroads. One is blue. The other is brown. And between them, they tell much of the story of a community that has spent generations bringing farmers, travellers, mountain adventurers and locals together. In an age when so much of…

by Jay

Education, Letter writing, Schools & Communities

Is Handwriting Making a Comeback? NSW Pushes to Bring Pen and Paper Back to NAPLAN

October 3, 2026

As schools embrace digital learning, a renewed debate about handwriting is raising an important question: have we been too quick to put down our pens? For years, computers and tablets have been transforming Australian classrooms. Students type assignments, complete online assessments and increasingly rely on digital devices for everyday learning. But could the humble pen and paper be making a comeback? The New South Wales Government is pushing for NAPLAN writing tests to return to handwritten assessments, arguing that strong writing skills are fundamental to learning and academic success. The proposal has attracted support from education researchers who believe handwriting…

by Jay

Trends

Why a New Generation Is Choosing Old Cars and a Slower Way of Living

October 2, 2026

When 27-year-old Emma first started thinking about replacing her perfectly reliable hatchback, she couldn’t really explain what she was looking for. There was nothing particularly wrong with the car she already owned. It was economical, comfortable, easy to park and had all the modern conveniences she needed. It connected to her phone, the air conditioning worked beautifully and it rarely gave her any trouble. The problem was that she didn’t particularly care about it. That changed when she spotted an old Mitsubishi Pajero parked near a café while spending a weekend on the NSW South Coast. The short-wheelbase four-wheel drive…

by Jay

Travel, What to do, World Letter Writing Day

September: The Perfect Month to Write to Someone You Met on Your Travels

September 11, 2026

Travel has a wonderful way of bringing people into our lives. Sometimes it is someone we meet for only ten minutes. Sometimes it is a person we spend several days travelling with. It might be the owner of a little café who remembered our coffee order every morning, a family we met at a campground, someone sitting beside us on a train, a fellow traveller on a walking tour, or an old friend we finally managed to visit after years apart. Then the trip ends. We fly home, unpack the suitcase, return to work and everyday life, and many of…

by Jay

Pen and Paper Are Making a Comeback: NSW Wants Handwriting Back in NAPLAN

Stories Worth Remembering: Discover 113 Years of Bondi Lifeguard History

Beyond the Screen: How Bondi Books & Ideas Weekend Celebrates the Art of Slowing Down

The Blue Pub, the Brown Pub and the Soul of Methven: A New Zealand Town That Knows How to Socialise

The Rise of “Slow Communication”: Why Vinyl Records and Letter Writing Are Defining a New Cultural Movement

Book a Letter Writing Workshop for your School

About World Letter Writing Day

Welcome to World Letter Writing Day

Join World Letter Writing Day Pen Pals

Pen and Paper Are Making a Comeback: NSW Wants Handwriting Back in NAPLAN

Looking for a Screen-Free Activity for Kids? Discover OYLA Science Magazine

Could Bringing Back the Landline Phone Bring Us Closer Together?

Astro Café Lake Tekapo: Coffee, Mountain Views and a Red Letterbox Above the Clouds

Stories Worth Remembering: Discover 113 Years of Bondi Lifeguard History

Beyond the Screen: How Bondi Books & Ideas Weekend Celebrates the Art of Slowing Down

The Blue Pub, the Brown Pub and the Soul of Methven: A New Zealand Town That Knows How to Socialise

Is Handwriting Making a Comeback? NSW Pushes to Bring Pen and Paper Back to NAPLAN

Why a New Generation Is Choosing Old Cars and a Slower Way of Living

September: The Perfect Month to Write to Someone You Met on Your Travels

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