Our Story So Far

We've quickly evolved in 3 years. Firstly from the initial positive reaction to our first book, ‘How We Met’; to the 5 book set of the Karey & Kareful Storybooks now given to over 1000 Special Needs Students in Special Needs Schools in Sydney and in the Central Coast via our Karey & Kareful Reading Program by year's end 2023.

As now 1000 NSW Special Needs Students (including all 800 Central Coast Special Needs Students) have access to their own 5 book set, we will begin our next phase in 2024  - we have signed and returned an Engagement Agreement with Minter Ellison Lawyers. 

They will, pro bono, formalise Karey & Kareful Foundation as a not for profit company limited by guarantee. They will handle all aspects, including tax exemptions,  gift recipient status, etc. We will continue and strengthen our relationships with all our Central Coast partners. We have reduced our printing and associated costs. The cost now is $25 per 5 book set of the Karey & Kareful Storybooks, offered to Special Needs Students in the Karey&Kareful Special Needs Students Reading Program. 

But, back to the beginning…

The story of the Karey & Kareful Special Needs Students Reading Program and the Karey & Kareful Storybooks is a story of successful collaboration. I created Karey & Kareful in a lyric poem nearly 20 years ago.

In 4 years, from 2006 to 2010, myself and a team of volunteers rolled a wheelchair around New South Wales, providing donations to charities in the bush, which needed help during time of severe drought and bushfires. I had the idea one day of writing about the entire experience. I came up with the lyric poem - 'The Adventures of Karey and Kareful’ - they came to life.

In 2010 I had them in starring roles in 2010 when producing a documentary for Tourism NSW, designed to highlight mobility issues and tourism opportunities for 'wheelies' and others with disabilities.

‘Rolling out the Red Carpet‘

My soul mate Annie has been an art teacher of kids from kindy to year 6 for over 20 years. In August 14 of 2020, I shared stills from the documentary with her. She immediately related to Karey and Kareful, their travails and their story of camaraderie, looking out for a mate and helping out when one is doing it tough. It was 'love at first sight'. Her talent as an illustrator brought them to life.

3 days later, on August 17, she sent me the famous image that has become our ambassadors. We knew we had something special and wonderful. The Karey & Kareful Storybooks were conceived. She read the  the first book, 'How We Met',  many times to her classes, when it was published in May, 2021. In those classes were kids with special needs. She observed that they very quickly developed an affinity with Karey and Kareful, their disabilities and their mateship and caring for one another. 

One of my old mates, and Board Member, Senior Constable Peter Hughes, is the Central Coast Police Youth  Liaison Officer. He came down to Sydney when we launched the 1st book  in May of 2021. He said to me, "You're not going to believe this, but I had a call last week from Chertsey Special Needs School on the Central Coast and they've asked me to introduce a Police reading programme.  Could I use this book and would you come up and read it with me?"

I, of course, said yes.

One of my other good mates, Ian,  has a son Alex, who is autistic. I've known Alex for many years and nearly every time I'd speak to his father, I'd ask, "How's Alex?" Getting Alex to concentrate when reading has always been a challenge. However, when Ian began reading 'How We Met' to Alex, Ian found to his surprise that Alex enjoyed the story and the characters. "Can you read it again Dad?", 

Alex asked for the first time in his life. Further, he was happy to read it with his father, and on his own, time after time - a remarkable turnaround.

I related these experiences to Susie, who has been a special needs teacher for 25 years. Her first words when she starting reading 'How we Met' were - "I can see how this would be so helpful. I think this is not only fantastic for our special needs children at Cromehurst, but for school children in all primary schools as well." We came to the realisation that if it is helpful to Alex and some other little ones with disabilities and special needs, perhaps it will be a boon for many many more with special needs and help us achieve our aim, which over 5 years is to make the Karey and Kareful books available, free of charge, to all 200,000 special needs kids in Sydney, then New South Wales and Australia. 

Due to fantastic support from supporters, we were able to provide over 400 Special Needs Students with their own 5 book sets.

200 are Special Needs Students on the Central Coast. Firstly it was all 80 students and their teachers at Cromehurst Special Needs School in time for Christmas 2021. Next, in collaboration with the Gosford Police School Reading Program, we provided 40 students at Chertsey Special Needs School with their 3 book sets, also in time for Christmas. In 1st term 2022 we provided all new students at all the schools their own 3 book set. Then, in March 2022, we provided, via our wonderful supporters, 30 3 book sets to the Special Needs Section at Rose Bay Secondary College. 

The enthusiastic response from students, teachers and parents at all schools was most gratifying and encouraging. On September 7, again in collaboration with Gosford Police, Alex presented 20 Special Needs Students with their 3 book sets. Central Coast Special Needs Schools at Woy Woy (65 students) and Ettalong (35 students) received their books before Christmas. Now over 500 Special Needs Students in Sydney and on the Central Coast have a 5 Book set, free of charge, thanks to our wonderful supporters. By the end of 2023, we provided all the estimated 800 Special Needs Students on the Central Coast with their own 5 book set.

Now, more than 1000 Special Needs Students in New South Wales have their own 5 book set of the Karey & Kareful Storybooks. By the end of 2025, we will have 5,000 more Special Needs Students on our Reading Program.

LIVE SHOWS

We premiered The Karey & Kareful KONCERT4KIDS at Cromehurst Special Needs School in NSW on December 1, 2023.

In 2024 we are producing our 1st music video - ‘G'day G'day’ - featuring The Founder Members of Karey Kangaroo and his mate Kareful Koala.

In 2025 we will produce a short music video - ‘5 Bushie Mates from Wombat‘ - featuring Karey Kangaroo on Lead Guitar & vocals,

Kareful Koala on Vocals, Kranky Kookaburra on Guitar, Headdie Emu on Keyboard, Wobbly Wombat on Drums

In 2025 we will introduce our Karey & Kareful YouTube Channel, hosted by our Karey & Kareful Foundation Special Ambassador - Angus Hammill. Angus will introduce Features including our CELEBRITY READERS PROGRAM, where Guest Celebrities will read their favourite Karey & Kareful Storybook LIVE in the Karey & Kareful Wombat Studio. There will also be demonstration videos by our

Karey & Kareful Storybooks Author Christopher Williams and Illustrator Ann Victoria, and regular updates from our founder, members, directors and supporters.