Friday, November 12, 2010

Friday FrightNight and Bound by Books


See future FOL events at:
http://folevents.blogspot.com/



Friday FrightNight 29th October 2010

a free event for Young Friends - teens and anyone who enjoys a little bit of spookiness.

Jess Foster as The Mummy, Patricia Reed and Chris Lloyd

From 6 till 8 Young Friends had the Library to themselves with help from Library staff and FOL committee members Chris Lloyd and Patricia Reed. Patricia looked fabulous... dressing the part as Vampire Lady.
There were 45 young people and a good mix of ages.

Jess Foster was a real hit with her Ted Hughes reading which went for about 15 minutes and they were all mesmerised.

Library staff who came were brilliant, especially Cameron.

Shakira won the prize for best costume.

Everyone loved the pizza.

Requests from participants for a repeat event included playing board games - something which doesn't seem to happen much these days with smaller families.


Bound by Books Sunday 31st October 2010

A get-together for members of book groups in Mount Gambier and districts.

This meeting was a panel discussion on 2 books
Solar by Ian McEwan
Animal Farm by George Orwell
adjudicated by Selina Green

Chris Lloyd, Ann Ashworth, Diana Wiseman, Barbara Wardley
Selina Green

32 people attended.

Selena and panel members were excellent - interesting and well informed.

Lucia Pichler has offered to be the 'Jennifer Byrne' at the next Bound by Books and others have volunteered to read the books and be on the next panel.
Marg Kaethner won the raffle which most fittingly was a book entitled Tea at the Library.



Afternoon tea supplied by the Friends was enjoyed by all.


Lots of positive comments at the end and a friendly atmosphere.
One comment was:
"This is the best day I've had since I moved to Mount Gambier - some intellectual stimulation at last!"

Friday, October 8, 2010

Film PremiƩre - Eat Pray Love starring Julia Roberts

Future events can be seen at http://folevents.blogspot.com/

Friends of the Library hosted a film evening at the Oatmill Cinema with 150 people attending.
The film stars Julia Roberts and is based on the book Eat Pray Love written by Elizabeth Gilbert.


Just like Julia - before the film we ate delicious pizza which was kindly donated by Valley Lake Pizza.
 Only a few seats were left vacant as the large crowd settled down to a delightful Girls' Night Out.



Some enthusiastic reviews afterwards:
"Best film I've seen in 20 years!"
"I'm coming to see it again!"
"Great pizza - any left-overs?"
(No.)

Monday, October 4, 2010

Travel Talk with Gambier Coachlines


See forthcoming events at http://folevents.blogspot.com/

Max and Sue Seebohm of Gambier Coachlines recently hosted a travel talk at the Library with  Jennifer Page of APT talking about European River Cruising.
Gambier Coachlines' frequent travellers and others were interested to hear about 2011's 24 day trip Prague to Amsterdam ending in Paris 12th April to 6th May. Other trips discussed included one in Russia in 2012 on a new boat the AmaKaterina which includes time on the Trans Siberian Railway. All-luxury of course - and Max and Sue take care of all the details.

Denise Hann spoke about her experiences travelling with Gambier Coachlines and how easy it all it, plus what fun going with fellow-Aussies and friends from Mount Gambier.


A delicious afternoon tea was catered by Friends of Library - we are gaining a reputation for our afternoon teas!
Gambier Coachlines has kindly donated a Talking Book to the Library: we will look for one about travel.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Meet the Author - Peter Goldsworthy

forthcoming events at http://folevents.blogspot.com/

We were privileged to have a visit from Peter Goldsworthy -  in his role as Chairman of the Library Board and well-known author of Maestro, Honk if You're Jesus, Wish, Three Dog Night, Everything I Know (set in Penola) and his latest Gravel.

Ewan Grant of 5SE - MC, Cathryn Harris - Librarian, Peter Goldsworthy and Helen Boomsma - President of Friends of the Library before the event.

Peter's audience in the cafe was spellbound as he talked about being an author and how he finds ideas in real life then takes them to the extremes of his imagination.
His new book of short stories is entitled Gravel because Peter hopes that that the stories will stick in your mind like a piece of gravel in a shoe. He read us one of the stories

and signed copies of his books which were available for sale from Collins Bookstore.

Library staff:
 Ricky, Cameron, Paula, Danny, Peter, Cathryn, Patricia and Sue.

Friday, September 3, 2010

President's Newsletter September 2010

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

Friends of the Library have had several successful events: we are getting into our stride as a group and fulfilling our aim of bringing different groups of people into the library for fun and involvement.

Bound by Books was a get-together of all the book groups in Mount Gambier – there were 11 groups, now there are 13. A member of each group spoke on how they operate - all amazingly different - Lois Dean talked about writing her book Minnie and we enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea prepared by the Friends committee. Nora’s scones were much appreciated. This event will continue approximately every 3 months with the next one being a panel discussion arbitrated by Selina Green on two books currently being read by our brave panelists. Anyone can come – it’s not limited to book group members – and yes blokes are welcome (there were some at the last one.) Date has been changed to 31st October to avoid conflict with Mount Gambier Show's big weekend.

You may have noticed two splendid cows in the Library: they were advertising a MasterClass in Cheese with Dr Trevor Hodson which was fascinating and informative.

Jan Prowse of Yoey’s Fine Foods donated the twelve cheeses we tasted and first prize in the raffle.

Read a full account with photos in the blog archive for August - to the right.

Sneak Peek at new books for Friends of the Library and their friends will occur on the first Thursday of each month at 11am in the Multi-Function Room and everyone is welcome to this free event. For September, we sat around a table with our coffee or tea and chatted: Chris Lloyd spoke on two of the books she read, Campaign Ruby by Jessica Rudd (about a Prime Minister who is deposed by a female colleague – funny thing, that) and Truth by Peter Temple who is Chris’s favourite detective writer; Melbourne, gritty underworld. Next Sneak Peak is Thursday October 7th.

Monday 20th Sept 7pm Meet the Author! South Australia’s own Peter Goldsworthy, author of Wish, Honk if You Are Jesus, Everything I Knew (set in Penola) and his latest short stories Gravel.
“Stories of magnificent achievement and disturbing power.”
Gail Jones—Australian Book Review


Bookings at the Library are essential as tickets are selling fast. Tickets cost $5 and include a savoury supper.

Pre-event wine and cheese from Warrnambool Cheese & Butter for $2.

Sunday 26th September 2-4pm Travel-Talk with Gambier Coachlines. Max Seebohm presents European River Cruising with APT’s Jennifer Page. There’ll also be chats with frequent travellers and afternoon tea.

Please book at the Library so that we can cater correctly and everyone gets a Powder Puff.

Thursday 7th October 11am Sneak Peek at New Books, cup of tea and a chat.


Thursday 7th October 6.30pm film premiere at the Oatmill Cinema, Eat Pray Love starring Julia Roberts

She eats pizza in Italy, prays in India and finds love in Bali – so at 6pm we will serve pizza  kindly donated by  - Valley Lake Pizzas 94 Commercial St East - and wine before the film. $15 per ticket, available at the Library from 23rd Sept.
~Please note the time has been changed from original advertisement: 6pm for pizza and 6.30 for screening.~


Meet Libeary the teddy. He will be introduced at the Teddy Bears Picnic for pre-schoolers on Tuesday November 16th, on sale for $5.

His many brothers need a knitted scarf like his – can you help knit?

Just cast on 6 stitches using 8-ply yarn and 4.5mm needles and knit stocking stitch until it measures 60cm. Or we have some Knitting Nancys – used to be called tomboy stitch.

If enough people want to we could have knitting bees at the Library.

Best wishes from Helen Boomsma, President


Music at the Library

Calling all musicians!
We want to hear you play or sing
at the Library at weekends.

Make the Library a fun place to be and experience playing to an
appreciative  audience.
Book your slot now:
email The Secretary of Friends of the Library at folmtg@gmail.com
or phone her on  8726 8048

Sunday, August 29, 2010

MasterClass in Cheese

Cheese-lovers gathered at the Library recently for a MasterClass in Cheese conducted by Dr. Trevor Hodson.



Trevor, Cheryl Tilleyand Nora Smibert with Bertha the cow who was on loan from Suttontown Primary School to advertise the event.


Trevor's passion for cheese and the depth of his knowledge were a revelation to us all as he took us through the types of cheese, how to make them, how to store them and how to enjoy eating cheese - with an open mind.


Sometimes they smell strange - like old socks - as Marg Doody discovered.


Trevor and Helen Boomsma, President of Friends of the Library, admiring the array of artisan cheeses for tasting.


Trevor pointed out that artisan cheese are made with love and have far more character and taste than industrial cheeses which are made mechanically.


Cheese-lovers lining up for tasting.

There were 8 prizes for the raffle, all cheese-themed, donated by Yoey's Fine Foods, Kraft Suttontown and Warrnambool Cheese and Butter at Mil Lel. Thank you to these generous sponsors.


First prize in the raffle was won by Carol Burge, pictured here with her cheese platter and Bertha the cow.


Carol, Trevor and Jan Prowse

Trevor thanked Jan Prowse of Yoey's Fine Foods of 32 James Street Mount Gambier for donating the beautiful cheeses which we enjoyed tasting - some from France, others from Limestone Coast, Gippsland and King Island.
I thought Shadows of Blue was outstanding!
It was a very successful day, raising $490 for Library purchases and with a good time had by all.


It's all happening at the Library - a fun place to be.

Future Friends events can be seen at http://folevents.blogspot.com/

contact Friends: folmtg@gmail.com