SPOILER ALERT! Cast takeover month continues as Abby, Harry, and Payton interrogate— I mean interview bestselling author Amy Barry about her latest release and our July book club pick, Seven Brides for Beau McBride! Learn what Harry REALLY thinks about this book, why Abby fantasises about getting stuck on fences, and whether or not Payton is a brown-noser, this week on Amy &.

Mentions:

• The McBrides of Montana by Amy Barry
• Frontiers of the Heart by Tess Lesue
• Someone Else’s Bucket List by Amy Matthews
• 'Entangled: The Exegetical Process of a Romance Author' by Amy Matthews
• ‘The Wicked Problem’ developed by Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber in the 1973 article, ‘Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning’.

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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis speaks remotely with Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza from North Mandurah Primary School in Western Australia. Kendall Lange, the principal, and Wendy Tregenza, leader of the school’s Specialised Learning Programs for Autism (SLP-A), share real-world strategies for supporting autistic students and fostering inclusive school communities.

Kendall and Wendy explore how schools have shifted from one-size-fits-all methods towards personalised support that embraces every student’s strength. They offer insights into recognising invisible disabilities, setting individual education plans (IEPs), and building a culture where all students feel happy, connected, and successful.

The conversation covers the complexities of autism diagnosis, emphasising collaboration between schools, families, and medical professionals. Kendall and Wendy highlight how tools like visual timetables, break cards, and token economies help autistic students transition into mainstream classrooms. Their program focuses on guiding students to full participation, using a strength-based approach and neurodiversity-affirming strategies.

Listeners will hear how North Mandurah’s model influences broader educational practice, including reverse integration programs in high schools and sharing inclusive practices with other schools. Kendall and Wendy stress that passion and mindset matter more than specialisation when building teaching teams—creating adaptable, compassionate learning environments.

Whether you're a principal, teacher, or parent, this episode with Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza offers actionable advice on creating truly inclusive schools. Their experience shows that inclusion is not just about programs or policies; it’s about relationships, flexibility, and always seeing the person behind the challenge.

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Brian Castro's “The Chinese Postman” is a meditation on old age with a central character whose life mirrors his own. The story strays into fiction when the protagonist, Abe Quin, begins a correspondence with a woman seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine. This acclaimed work of autofiction is short-listed for this year’s Miles Franklin Award.

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In Bronwyn Rivers’ menacing thriller “The Reunion” five friends meet for a weekend on a lonely property in the Blue Mountains. Ten years earlier they were amongst a group of six who went hiking in the area …only five returned. Now the survivors are being stalked by someone who wants to know what really happened to their friend Ed – it seems everyone has something to hide.

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Our very assiduous random reader, Lesley, is currently reading “Pompeii” by Robert Harris and “Under the Banner of Heaven” by Jon Krakauer. She’s listening to the audio version of “Limberlost” by Robbie Arnott. Piled on her tsundoku are “The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See, “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach, The Shardlake Series by CJ Sansom and “Kairos” by Jenny Erpenbeck.

Guests

Brain Castro, author of “Chinese Postman”

Bronwyn Rivers, author of “The Reunion”

Other books that get a mention:

Brian mentions a poem by TS Eliot, “The Waste Land”

Bronwyn mentions inspirational crime writers Agatha Christie and PD James

Sarah mentions the DS Walker series of thrillers by Patricia Wolf

Annie is reading Charlotte McConaghy’s “Wild Dark Shore”

INSTAGRAM
@giramondopublishing
@hachetteaus
@bronwynriversauthor

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