With all that’s going on in the world, let me bring your attention back to Lismore for a moment …
Just look at that enormous pile of soggy books being chucked out the window of Lismore City Library. I was shocked when I saw this picture. It’s heartbreaking.
But that’s just the books.
When Lismore was hit earlier this month by the worst flood in living memory it wasn’t just the books that were destroyed. People’s homes, schools, livelihoods … their galleries, community groups, and infrastructure … their pets and livestock. People’s lives.
All of it was affected. Much of it was totally destroyed.
Yet, with everything else we’re being bombarded with on the news right now, it’s easy to move on (when you’re not there living with the clean-up) and to forget that this community is still suffering and the restoration is likely to take months.
So I’d like to highlight a way you can help. For some — those who’ve seen the Facebook posts — this will be a reminder, but for others, it will be news. Either way, we’d love you to get involved.
Award winning children’s author and Lismore resident Zanni Louise has set up a charity auction to raise money for the flood recovery of her city. AND THE BIDDING IS STILL OPEN UNTIL SATURDAY 2ND APRIL!
Wherever you are, you can contribute by bidding on a huge selection of wonderful books, artworks and creative services, contributed by authors, artists and creators from all over Australia.
The proceeds will go to the restoration of Lismore — to the libraries, galleries, and other cultural and community groups who need our support.
You can get some real bargains too.
I mention this because I’ve donated a class set of Marlow Brown: Magician in the Making (with accompanying teachers’ notes) and at the moment the highest bid is sitting at just over half the RRP. I’d love them to go for more, Lismore desperately needs them to, (and they’re not bad books, if I do say so myself! 😉)
So please, get on in there and place a bid. You don’t have to be a teacher or a teacher-librarian (although it would be great if you were). You could simply be a person with a lot of 7- to 10-year-olds to buy birthday presents for this year! (There are 10 books in the Marlow Brown pack. Go halves with a friend if it’s too many.)
But don’t stop there. Please do have a look around at the rest of the items too. The picture below will take you to the right spot. There’s some really lovely stuff and it’s all going to a very worthwhile cause.
So let me finish with Zanni Louise’s words: Thank you for giving generously and helping lift spirits. Together, we are stronger.
Kesta xx
PS Those of you who have been following and read previous posts of mine may remember my mentioning the charity 123Read2Me which supplies books to children in need across Australia. Well, a short time ago I received a text from founder Melinda Shelley telling me that they have 10,000 children’s books going to the flood affected areas, generously shipped up from Melbourne free of charge by Glen Cameron the owner of Glen Cameron transport. She was also most excited to tell me that the 3AW news room just rang her about it so she’s done an on-the-spot interview for the news. Go Melinda!
