PHONE. Keys. Wallet. Book?
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University of Newcastle student Alex Parkes set himself a challenge at the start of the year to carry a book in his hand or pocket every hour he is awake each day - except when swimming or showering.
He's piled groceries on top of a textbook in Woolworths and soaked a copy of The Plague after being caught in a downpour walking his dogs.
He has carried a book when driving, cooking, hiking and even while photographing a wedding.
"It's a conversation starter but I am also thinking about the constant access I have to my own language, which is more than I can say for other languages," Mr Parkes said.
"I'm flooding myself with access to my own language to raise awareness for cultures that don't have that access.
"It's been frustrating, but that is one of the more unexpected but important lessons I have learned: I should not be frustrated or in any way ungrateful for having access to my own language and our history and culture and arts."
Mr Parkes - a fourth year arts student majoring in French studies and linguistics - is hoping to raise $10,000 for the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation's First Language literacy program, which provide people in remote Indigenous communities with access to resources to document, conserve and learn their languages.
He said at the time of Australia's colonisation there were at least 250 Indigenous languages and about 800 different dialects. But he said there were now only 13 being acquired by children.
"It's because of the stolen generation," he said.
"That link to be able to pass down and teach language was completely destroyed when kids were taken away from their parents.
"The way they passed down their history and culture was severed as well.
"Being able to speak in your first language is really important to having a sense of community and identity and ultimately belonging.
"It's a means to be able to participate in your culture and understand where you came from."
Mr Parkes said he had received support from Indigenous friends, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp and Greens councillor John Mackenzie for the project.
He said he wanted to be a "good ally" to Indigenous Australians.
The United Nations has declared 2019 as the Year of Indigenous Languages.
To share or donate: gofundme.com/languagepreservation