Matilda’s will interview Amy Hetherington in the summer holidays, having impressed The Big Issue Australian editor with her strong community focus and efforts to give young people a voice.

For eight-year-old Matilda, this is an exciting chance to find inspiration for where she could take her magazine next.

The Emmaus Catholic Primary pupil had the idea to launch her own magazine as a way to also help homeless people, but from a younger perspective.

“I saw someone selling The Big Issue in Ballarat and, because I’m such a big reader and like reading new things, I asked mum if I could buy one. Mum explained somethings are not always for kids,” Matilda said.

“The idea popped into my head at school when I was doing the Let’s Get Just program.”

The Little Issue’s first edition with glossy covers sold out, 50 copies at $5 apiece, and remains available in a digital edition for gold coin donations. All money raised goes towards the Ballarat Soup Bus. Matilda said she heard a lot about the Soup Bus at school and thought it was a great way to help the homeless.

Matilda learned the demands of the media industry from scratch.

First, Matilda had to pitch the concept to fellow pupils in the Let’s Get Just program and seek the go-ahead from Emmaus teacher Jo O’Kelly, who leads social justice action at the school. 

The team scheduled an editorial brain-storming session and in between, Matilda got to researching some of her favourite Australian magazines for ideas like Crinkling News, Bravery Mag which features role models for young girls and Wonder Magazine.

Deciding on the feature articles was easy. Matilda knew she wanted Emmaus principal Tony Perkins to submit a letter on what he would say to his younger self.

There was also to be a double-page spread about Ailish Ryan, who The Courier has profiled since, the girl behind the Sunshine Letters campaign to let Ballarat’s homeless population know people care about them.

Then came the hard part to decide which stories made it to print on limited paging.

“There were a couple of unfinished projects I can leave for next time,” Matilda said. “I think the hardest part was deadlines – asking people to meet the deadline and chasing people up.”

Matilda’s work as editor also involved working with a graphic designer, Ms O’Kelly’s sister, to design the magazine logo. The finished result features an outline of Matilda’s hand shadowed with a bigger hand.

There are some things Matilda would tweak if she makes a second issue but overall, she was really happy with the finished product with all the stories coming together.

First copies were sold before an Emmaus morning liturgy, and people have already begun asking about her plans for the next issue. Matilda said she would love to look at expanding the focus outside the community for other children to get involved.

Media publishing experience has definitely made her more determined to keep exploring her writing. And maybe become a ballerina too.

Matilda’s mum Sarah Goodbourn said it was great to see how much Matilda had learnt and evolved in creating the issue, with strong support from the school.

“Lots of kids have ideas but Matilda has really seen it though,” Ms Goodbourn said. “Hopefully as she gets older she can start to take on a little more of the work behind making it all come together.”

The Little Issue’s theme is how you are never too young to change the world. 

Matilda hopes this is what readers take away from the magazine more than anything else.

“I’m pretty happy with this (the print edition),” Matilda said. “What I have liked it how once people buy The Little Issue they can go and buy The Big Issue. I’ve heard of a couple of people who have been inspired to do that.

“That’s great improvement already for helping homeless people.”

To submit to The Little Issue or to enquire about a digital copy, email littleissue.ecps@gmail.com.

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