Author Event: Robin de Crespigny March 21st 2013

The Mount Gambier Library will be hosting an Author Event this Thursday!

Robin de Crespigny will be at the library at 7 pm.  

The author spent three years with an Iraqi refugee and Abu Ghraib survivor,  Ali Al Jenabi.  He became a ‘people smuggler’ to save his family, and is known as the "Oskar Schindler" of Asia. This book is his story.

Find The People Smuggler on Amazon, take a look at reviews

July 2012

AGM 5th July 2012

Patricia Reed is the new President of Friends of the Library Mount Gambier
and Barbara Wardley has joined the committee with responsibility for Bound by Books, the book discussion group.

President’s Report 2011-2012

Our Mission is to support Mount Gambier Library and its concept of
Learn – Connect – Explore.

 
I’ve been thinking about our endeavours  in the last year and I’m happy to say that we have achieved our aims which are:

• to promote the Library within the community and encourage use of its resources
• to undertake recreational activities and organise events
• to raise funds to enable the expansion of cultural and educational projects
• to seek additional support, sponsorship and funding.

The committee has had a smaller number of members this year, all of whom have worked well to further those aims.

 President - Helen Boomsma; Vice-President – Julienne Feast; Secretary – Lee Cranwell; Treasurer - Nelda Earl; Events Co-ordinator - Patricia Reed; Membership Officer - Cynthia Richardson then Louise Rockne; Young Friends - Chris Lloyd; committee members – Heather Zeck; ex-officio – library manager Cathryn Harris.

Our patron is Don Pegler MP.

 Thank you to all committee members for their hard work during the year.

 Our events have brought people into our wonderful Library and as a satisfactory side effect have raised funds to enable projects to expand.

 Bound by Books meets roughly every three months and has changed its format to more of a venue for book discussions rather than a forum for book groups. Diana Wiseman is an enthusiastic and efficient chairman who has guided  various panels in discussions of Mawson and other heroes of the Antarctic and Leaving the Ship, a discussion of the Titanic literature  and last year Caleb’s Crossing and The Education of Little Tree. Our own Louise Rockne has been a big hit on these panels.

 The Floral Art Workshop in October brought a different group of people to the Library all of whom learned lots and turned out beautiful floral arrangements under the guidance of the Famous Alethia Quick.

Several people have told me that the talk by Sophie Thomson of ABC’s Gardening Australia was the best event the Library has held: she came accompanied by son Beau and interesting gardening prizes for those quick off the mark to answer her questions.

 We have catered for various events throughout the year in spite of our determination not to be just coffee and cake providers. I think we are too good: everyone prefers Julienne’s homemade sausage rolls to the bought variety – so we have made a rod for our own backs!

 The Jewellery Raffle brought in about $500. We sold all our bears and have yet to think of a suitable replacement.

 We have run a cloakroom for the Blue Lake Boral Fun Run and escorted Father Christmas wearing the Library’s suit to a staff party at Woolworths, both of which will be recurring events.

 Julienne Feast has undertaken the delivery of Library books to residents of Resthaven.

 
In February we held a Chocolate event in conjunction with Friends of the Riddoch Gallery at which Alister Haigh, CEO of Haigh’s Chocolates, spoke about his company’s origins in Mount Gambier and took us through the manufacture of chocolate.

 The Big Book Sale was its usual success in spite of only running for one day – but the committee agrees one day is enough!

 The money we have raised throughout the year has been used for a Sony Digital Notetaker for our secretary to use in committee meetings, an electric urn for catering, a badgemaker for the Cave Club, keyboards for the print-disabled, $1000 worth of picture books and a laptop as prize for the most improved student in the Finding My Place programme.

My two year term has come to an end and now it’s someone else’s turn: good luck to wthe new President and may you have as an enjoyable time as I have had.

 
I move my report be accepted.
 

Helen Boomsma, President 2011-2012

 

 The Big Book Sale took place on Saturday 30th June, one day only and raised $1200. There are still some books for sale at the Library on the trolley just inside the front door.

The Library's programme Finding My Place culminated with a graduation ceremony on the 27th of June when 20 high school students received certificates and prozes for their participation in the programme.
Friends of the Library donated a laptop for the student most improved which was won by Zac Kells-Slaven from Grant High School.

Helen Boomsma of FOL, Terasa Nearmy convenor of Finding My Place, Bryon Harfield Deputy Mayor and Zac Kells-Slaven with his prize.

Chocolate and Ice

forthcoming events for FOL are found at

 http://folevents.blogspot.com.au/

A highlight of March was a panel discussion at the Library for Bound By Books, a get-together of Mount Gambier's many book groups.

What is a Hero?

Discussion by the panel of Sir Douglas Mawson

with reference to Peter Fitzsimons' new book Mawson

and other Antarctic explorers

Supper by Santiago Book Group

The panel, led by Diana Wiseman, had done much research and there was lively discussion with the audience joining in.

The Panel: Rex Clark, Ewan Grant, Diana Wiseman, Louise Rockne, Barbara Wardley

In February we were delighted to have a visit from Alister Haigh, CEO of Haigh's Chocolates which has a shop within the Main Corner.

Alister in the Mount Gambier shop, holding an antique Haigh's cinema tray

Drinks in the foyer was a pleasant beginning to the evening, a joint event hosted by Friends of the Library and Friends of the Gallery.

A relaxing drink and nibbles before the talk

Alister talked about the beginnings of Haigh Chocolates in Mount Gambier and detailed the subsequent history of the company with retail outlets all over Australia and overseas.
He told us how chocolate is made and  showed samples of the raw products and we tasted the finished products.
Supper was icecream with Haigh's Chocolate Sauce - very delicious on a warm February evening.

Christmas Lunch

Forthcoming events can be found at http://folevents.blogspot.com/

 

Friends of the Library met for Christmas lunch and celebration of a successful year.

Deb Agnew of OPAL (Obesity Prevention and Learning) presented President Helen Boomsma with a certificate of appreciation from the Boral Fun Run 2011
for volunteer assistance throughout 2011 and on the day of the event

and a donation of $1000.

Deb and Helen

The jewellery raffle made $400 and the winning tickets were drawn on 11th December by the new CEO of Mount Gambier City Council, Mark McShane.

First prize of a jet, coral and mother-of-pearl necklace
donated by Clockwise Jewellers went to
Lou Thompsell.
Second prize of a Pulsar man's watch
donated by Henry Post Jewellers went to

Malcolm Redford.
Third prize of a belly button ring
donated by Ian Buck Jewellers went to
Julienne Feast.

Visit by Sophie Thomson

Friends of the Library Forthcoming Events are here: http://folevents.blogspot.com/

Sophie Thomson, author of gardening book From the Ground Up, presenter on ABC Television's Gardening Australia and columnist for the Sunday Mail was in Mount Gambier to present a talk at the Library.





The S.E. Branch of the Rose Society of South Australia mounted a stunning display of roses throughout the Library.
Betty McKee, Jane Hood and Barbara Lightbody worked for two days collecting and arranging roses, many of which were supplied by Wagner's Rose of Kalangadoo.



In the foyer - with bikes removed for the evening

 

  Sophie, who was accompanied by her 7-year-old son Beau, spoke entertainingly and interestingly about the need to Love Your Soil, enlarging on the theme in her book.

We all need to add organic matter to improve water-retention and grow healthier more disease-resistant plants. It was necessary to pay attention - as Sophie had questions for the audience, the prizes being generous supplies of Neutrog organic fertilisers and Fiskar digging trowels.



Sophie answers questions, with Sue Briffa of the Library staff

 After her talk Sophie answered questions from the audience and signed copies of From the Ground Up.

Max and Barbara Lightbody with pink rose display
designed by Betty McKee



Jane Hood and Barbara Lightbody with their supper room creations

Roses and audience examining Sophie's hand-outs

Sophie Thomson appeared courtesy of Neutrog Fertilisers and Friends of the Library.


Floral Society Workshop with Alethia Quick

forthcoming events are here:
http://folevents.blogspot.com/2011/09/october-and-november.html



Friends of the Library and the Floral Society of Mount Gambier combined to present a workshop on Floral Art in the Multi-Function Room.

 Alethia Quick, well-known throughout Australia for her stunning designs, made several  wonderful arrangements before letting her students loose on their own designs using their own materials.

Alethia at work on a waratah arrangement assisted by Beryl Feast

Alethia's designs

note the cunning use of silver beet

Heather Zeck and Julienne Feast at work



Alethia views the students' arrangements



Jan Ashby and Jane Pellen-Philps

instant expertise!

AGM and President's Report

The 1st Annual General Meeting of Friends of the Library Mount Gambier took place on Thursday 14th July 2011

Sue Briffa took the chair for the election of officers.

The new committee is:

President - Helen Boomsma

Secretary - Lee Cranwell

Treasurer - Nelda Earl

Events Co-ordinator - Patricia Reed

Membership - Cynthia Richardson

Young Friends - Chris Lloyd

Committee - Julienne Feast, Louise Rockne, Heather Zeck.

President's Report

Friends of the Library Mount Gambier has got off to a good start with the formation of an enthusiastic committee which has been in operation for just over a year and can chalk up many achievements.

Any committee is only as good as its members and ours have been great!

President - Helen Boomsma; Vice-President - Betty Manifold; Secretary – Sue Briffa until she left us for a job on the Library staff then Glenys Mitchell; Treasurer - Nelda Earl; Events Co-ordinator - Patricia Reed; Membership Officer - Cynthia Richardson; Young Friends - Chris Lloyd; committee members - Nora Smibert, Kelvin Smibert, Cheryl Tilley, Marian Thomson, Jane Pellen-Philps, Jayne Stacey, Lee Cranwell; ex-officio – library manager Cathryn Harris.

Our patron is Don Pegler MP.

 

Thank you to all committee members for their hard work during the year.

 

Our Mission is to support Mount Gambier Library and its concept of

Learn – Connect – Explore.

Our Aims are:

• to promote the Library within the community and encourage use of its resources

• to undertake recreational activities and organise events

• to raise funds to enable the expansion of cultural and educational projects

• to seek additional support, sponsorship and funding.

The events undertaken in the last year have all worked within those guidelines.

We have promoted the Library in lots of ways, one of them being the establishment of Bound by Books every three months where members of Mount Gambier’s book groups come together to discuss their activities, listen to a panel discussion on a selected book and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea catered by the committee. This has been so popular that there are now four new book groups.

We have held Master Classes in cheese (3 life-sized painted cows took up residence in the Library during the lead-up to this event), cake-decorating, river cruising with Gambier Coachlines, Do-It-Yourself Workshop with Mitre10 and Bridge in the Library during Senior’s Week 2010 plus we organized 250 Bendigo Bank piggy banks to be given away during the Library’s first birthday celebrations.

The film Eat Pray Love starring Julia Roberts was a great night when we served pizza pre-movie, filled the Oatmill Cinema and raised over $1000.

Young Friends have held a successful Friday Fright Night with pizza and formed their own book group under the guidance of Chris Lloyd.

 Very Young Friends had a Teddy Bears Picnic in the Park with fruit and water supplied by OPAL after a storytelling session with Library staff. Libeary, our soft cuddly teddy (a bargain at $5!) was launched at this event and has been a steady seller, raising over $1000. Committee members, local primary school children under the guidance of Patricia and Boandik Lodge ladies have all been involved in knitting red scarves for him.

We have run a cloakroom for the Blue Lake Boral Fun Run and escorted Father Christmas wearing the Library’s suit to a staff party at Woolworths.

The bookends of my presidency have been the Big Book Sales: July 2010 raised $2500 and July 2011 raised $2900. The Wheelbarrow Raffle organized by Cynthia Richardson raised $2600 – useful sums to add to the Library’s available funds.

We have supplied supper for Meet the Author Events – Peter Goldsworthy, Peter Fitzsimons, Peter Rymill (I thought 2010 was the Year of the Peters), Dee Nolan, Fiona Palmer, Anna Lanyon, Nicole Alexander, Fiona McIntosh and thoroughly enjoyed meeting these interesting people.

We have tried not to be a catering organisation but our afternoon teas are so good we keep being invited to cater which we did for a talk by Julian Burnside on human rights, an event which outgrew the Library and had to transfer to the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, taking us with it; and for Birds on the Brink, a photographic exhibition in the Library which also grew in numbers from the expected 60 to 170.

Cynthia and I attended the State Forum for Friends of the Library in Adelaide and were pleased to discover that our activities are well up there with other libraries, in fact they wanted to know more details. Similarly we came away with new ideas.

Funds raised have gone towards the purchase of more audio books for the library – this is a high priority - also e-books from Bolinda, a bicycle for the City Bikes programme and a Friends’ noticeboard which is in place by the front door.

What happens in the next year is up to the new committee: already there a few interesting events in the planning stages. I would like to see more involvement by those Friends who are still just names on a mailing list – how can we lure them to the Library events? I am sure there are people out there waiting to help in some way. There is great community acceptance and pride – even love – for the Library so we must tap in to that.

Helen Boomsma, President 2010-2011

Big Book Sale Sat & Sun 9th & 10th July 2011

There was an amazing response to the Friends' request for books to be donated to the Big Book Sale with cartons and bags of books, DVDs, CDs, videos, magazines and jigsaw puzzles arriving at the Library for days before the sale. The committee worked hard the night before getting set up in the Library foyer.

Nelda Earl in the calm before the doors opened.

There were plenty of early-birds looking for bargains - and finding them, as most books were priced at $1, with rare and nearly-new books slightly more.

First through the doors

Barely room to move!

Day two was less hectic but at the end of the weekend all the books were gone, except for a few left on a trolley inside the front door for those who missed the sale. Profit from the sale came to $2900 which will go towards purchasing more audiobooks for the library and special computer keyboards for those who are print-disabled.

At noon on Saturday, Don Pegler MP was on hand to draw the raffle for the wheelbarrow raffle. The raffle was the brainchild of Cynthia Richardson who walked Mount Gambier streets seeking donations from local businesses and met with such success that we then had to buy a wheelbarrow to put all the goods in.
Friends of the Library took it in turn to sell tickets at the Library with Sue McNelly in particular putting in an enormous amount of time.

Sue McNelly watches as Don Pegler draws the winning ticket

 The lucky winner was Lee Coulson of Mount Gambier.
Profit from the wheelbarrow raffle was $2,500.

Watched by Sue McNelly and Don Pegler,
Lee Coulson prepares to wheel away his prize.

Donors for the wheelbarrow raffle were:

Banner Hardware—electric sander, multi-tool, electronic flyswatter
Barbara & Max Lightbody—orange Tuff Tuff
Barry Mac—microwave recipe book
Bunnings—Ryobi electric drill and drill bits
Camping World—Coleman jug
Chapmans—shoe deodorant
Cocky’s Autocare—car care products
Conboys—slow release fertiliser
DJ Interiors—stainless steel mixing bowl and stand
Eddies—2 steel & metal birds 80cm & 60cm
Fascination—$25 gift voucher
Finer Details—cocktail vase, plaque
Holiday Design—skin care products
She’s Apples—nuts and sweets
Mitre 10—Stanley screwdriver set
Murray T. Martin—Clarins hand and foot cream
Neds—clock, 2 vases
Radio Rentals—Morphy Richards steam iron
Rubber & Plastics—back pack
Samsons—large beige vase
Target—plush throw and child’s toy
Toy Stampede—2 small puzzles
UFS—$20 gift voucher
Yoeys—Yoey’s produce
Youngs Men’s Store—pack of 4 sports socks

Clockwise Antiques, Henri Post Jewellers and
Ian Buck Jeweller also donated items of jewellery which will be raffled separately in October.
 
Friends of the Library thanks all these generous donors!

Meet the Author Fiona McIntosh Thursday 7th July 2011

Another fascinating author has visited us at Mount Gambier Library and entertained us with her humour and lively mind. Fiona McIntosh held a large audience enthralled as she described how she took up writing, her modus operandi and hints for other authors, with many fascinating side-trips like how her family nursed an injured bird - a crow named Ricciuto.

Fiona is unique in that she writes in four different genres - fantasy, crime, historical fiction and children's. Fields of Gold is her latest, a work of faction as she likes to call it, set in India and featuring an Anglo-Indian family based on her own great-grandparents.

Fiona McIntosh signing a book for a fan.

Meet the author Nicole Alexander Thursday 2nd June 2011

What a great speaker and nice person!

An appreciative audience heard Nicole Alexander talk about her book
The Bark Cutters and its sequel The Changing Land, Australian rural fiction that switches from modern-day to historical times.

Unusually for a new author, Nicole hit the best-seller lists quickly and has remained there with her second book.

Nicole Alexander signs copies of her books for fans.

 future events for Friends of the Library at
http://folevents.blogspot.com/

Big Book Sale

The Big Book Sale will run over 2 days at the Library

Saturday 9th July—Sunday 10th July 2011
opening at 9am.

New stock will be available for Sunday

We're accepting donations now -

bring us your unwanted books, cds, dvds, magazines, jigsaws.

There will be a BIG RAFFLE drawn on Saturday 9th July.

Many generous donations from local businesses have resulted in a wheelbarrow full of surprises - over $1000 worth!

Get your tickets at the Library
$2 each
Friends of the Library will be in attendance most days to sell tickets:
we want to raise money to buy more audio books on CD.

The Big Book Sale Raffle

Donors include: 

Banner Hardware, Barbara & Max Lightbody, Barry Mac, Bunnings, Camping World, Chapmans, Cocky’s Autocare, Conboys, DJ Interiors, Eddies, Fascination House of Gifts, Finer Details, Holiday Design, She’s Apples, Mitre 10, Murray T. Martin, Neds, Radio Rentals, Rubber & Plastics, Samsons, Target, Toy Stampede, 

UFS Pharmacy, Yoeys, Youngs Men’s Store.


Friends of the Library South Australia

Helen and Cynthia represented Mount Gambier at the 9th State Forum held in Adelaide at the State Library.
There was an opening address by Alan Smith Director State Library SA
and a presentation by Peter Zajicek of the Conservation Dept.

After morning tea the various FOL representatives reported on their recent activities: Adelaide, Murray Bridge, Unley, Prospect, Barossa, Salisbury, Willunga/Aldinga, Stirling and Mt Gambier.

Cynthia and Helen with Peter Zajicek

Meet the Author Fiona Palmer

Future Events for Friends of the Library at

http://folevents.blogspot.com/

Fiona Palmer, author of The Family Farm and Heart of Gold, travelled from her home in rural Western Australia to talk to us about how she came to write her books.

Before Fiona's talk we were entertained by local folk-singers Christy and Jason and their dancing Ruby.

Fiona sat and chatted informally and gave a delightful talk.

There's hope for those of us who can't spell!

Fiona Palmer lives in the tiny rural town of Pingaring in Western Australia, three and a half hours south-east of Perth. She discovered Danielle Steele at the age of eleven, and has finally written her own brand of rural romance. She has attended romance writers' groups and received an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for her first novel, The Family Farm.

She has extensive farming experience, does the local mail run, and was a speedway-racing driver for seven years. She currently works two days a week at the local shop in between writing her next book and looking after her two small children.

Fans gathered around to have her sign their books.



Fire and Song by Anna Lanyon

Future Events for Friends of the Library at
http://folevents.blogspot.com/

 Visit of Anna Lanyon

Anna is the author of Fire and Song, an epic historical novel based on the life of Luis de Carvajal, his mother and his sisters, who died together in Mexico City in 1596, exploring his determination never to lose heart, and to cling to his Jewish faith and cultural identity - the Law of Moses.

Anna, who now lives at Portland,  described how she discovered a treasure trove of inquisition transcripts in Mexico and the long time it took to translate them from the original Spanish and write her book.

Anna Lanyon

Pat Hussey played the guitar for our enjoyment before and after the talk.

Saturday 9th April 2011

A seminar with guest speaker Julian Burnside QC on the subject of Human Rights in Times of Stress was to have taken place at the Library but had to transfer to the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre due to a large enrollment.

Friends of the Library supplied afternoon tea.

Members of the Probus Walking Group volunteered to help prepare food.
L-R: Raelene, Marie, Nora, Ruth, Patricia and Chris.

Afternoon tea in the foyer of Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre
(Sir Robert's birthday: he would have been 102)

 

Barbie's wardrobe, made by Ethel Gleed, was raffled by the Friends at March and April's Arts & Crafts Markets.

Ethel was on hand to draw the winning ticket and the lucky winner was
Glenys Hughes of Mount Gambier.

Betty, Caroline, Ethel - drawing the ticket - and Nora

Bound by Books Sunday 27th March 2011

Forthcoming events are at http://folevents.blogspot.com/

Book groups in Mount Gambier and Districts met for a quick overview on what they have been reading - all extremely varied including a trip to the theatre - before moving on to the book under discussion by the panel. 

The book for discussion was The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver which proved to be a very meaty choice with lots of points for discussion, ranging through art, politics, newspaper reporting, homosexuality and the McCarthy-era witchhunts.
The central part of the book  features the lives of Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and Lucia Pichler, Director of Riddoch Art Gallery, brought along reproductions of some of their artworks.

Panel members: Louise Rockne, Marg Kaethner,
moderator Lucia Pichler
Diana Wiseman and Sonya Meznic

Not everyone liked all aspects of the book but it certainly gave rise to some interesting concepts and all agreed the ending is wonderful.

Marg Kaethner makes a point.

The usual delicious afternoon tea was supplied
by Friends of the Library committee.

Mary Leech was the winner of the raffle, a copy of The Lacuna.
The panellists' copies have been returned to stock in the Library and are available for loan.