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A XMAS MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE
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With only a couple of days to go until Christmas, it's time for a well earned rest. Our Schools, Preschools, Child Care Centres and Community Centres are just about all closed, and I'm looking forward to some time with my family and friends after a busy couple of months travelling for Books in Homes.
I recently returned from a mini tour of the Upper Hunter region, where I attended the Community Stakeholders evening of our Sponsor BHP. Held at Muswellbrook Racecourse, we had a very enjoyable night mixing with BHP’s community partners, all of whom do a great job in supporting the people and businesses of the Upper Hunter. For me, it was also a great opportunity to meet and talk in person to people in the Hunter with whom I've been communicating for many years by email and telephone. Take a minute to have a look at the video above and experience the breadth and depth of the community spirit that was present—it was a fantastic experience. Our BHP-sponsored schools were well represented, including long term Books in Homes supporter Sharon Rivers from Martindale Public School, as well as Megan Druitt and Kerri-Ann Brown from Denman Public School and Nicole McKenzie and Erin Butler from Denman Children's Centre. The next day I attended the Denman Public School Book Giving Assembly (refer to the school's Facebook page) and also the Denman Children’s Centre. Thanks BHP and thanks to the Upper Hunter region for a fantastic couple of days.
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Today I returned from the NSW Central Coast where last night I attended Mingara Recreation Club’s Christmas Under the Stars. Thankfully the weather and the air quality was in Mingara’s favour and we all had a great night, despite the end-of-night fireworks being withdrawn due to the current bushfire and air quality situation. It was a great opportunity to catch up with children's author and Role Model Fiona Lloyd, who was there with her family to see her son perform on stage as part of the show. Fiona is a great supporter of Books in Homes and it was a fantastic opportunity to say hello and personally thank her for her support (see photo above). Funds raised from the night go to the Salvation Army Central Coast Youth Program and Books in Homes. For us, those funds will again go to working with the good people of Mingara to support a Central Coast school with our Primary Program.
You may recall my Queensland trip last month—have a look at the video below from Durack State School. It's a tribute to the School; their Sponsor, the Ausenco Foundation; and Books in Homes. Well done!
So thank you everyone for a stellar 2019. Thank you to all our Sponsors, Donors, Role Models, Schools and Supporters who helped us distribute over 100,000 books to children in the Books in Homes greater community.
It's now time to enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year before we return to do it again in 2020.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy your holidays!
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Peter Large
Chief Executive Officer &
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
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The students and staff of Durack State School in Qld, Australia, recently celebrated the value of reading and their participation on the Books in Homes Program by making this thank you video for their Sponsor—the Ausenco Foundation. Each child receives three books a term over three terms a year. For 2019 alone, 1587 books-of-choice were distributed directly to the children, as well as an additional 87 Caught Being Good books, which are provided to the school to give to deserving students, and 144 books that are integrated into the school library. That's 1818 books in 2019 alone... definitely cause for celebration. Thanks to Ausenco for their generous sponsorship.
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Congratulations to children's author and Books in Homes Role Model Georgie Donaghey of Creative Kids Tales, who has just launched the Creative Kids Tales Speakers Agency. This new initiative will enable Georgie to further assist and promote children’s authors and illustrators to a broader audience. Find out more on the website and on the Facebook page.
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ROLE MODEL CORNER CORRECTION
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Apologies to comic book artist, illustrator, and writer Dean Rankine whose Role Model Corner story in the November 2019 issue contained an error. The answer to the following question should have read:
What did you most enjoy about school?
I feel like I should say art. But, honestly, drama was probably the class I enjoyed most.
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MAINFREIGHT CALENDAR – JANUARY 2020
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The January 2020 image was illustrated by Mehnaz Afrin
(Age 6) from Noble Park Primary School.
CLICK on the image above to download the calendar page.
Provided courtesy of Mainfreight.
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