Volunteers band together to deliver the gift of reading

Cobar Preschool accepted a donation from Warren Russell, Peter Crawford, Ross Lane and Bill Iceton who delivered some books generously donated by Lifeline on Monday.
Cobar Preschool accepted a donation from Warren Russell, Peter Crawford, Ross Lane and Bill Iceton who delivered some books generously donated by Lifeline on Monday.

Volunteers and “more or less retirees” Ross Lane, Bill Iceton, Peter Crawford and Warren Russell of Newcastle made a large donation of books to a number of local libraries on Monday.

Mr Lane was in Cobar around spring last year and said he noticed how people “do it pretty tough out here” and wondered how he could help.

He said he didn’t have any money to give but he had access to books.

“Lifeline generously donated some books for us to bring on this pilot study.

Mr Lane told Lifeline he would like to make a donation to towns in the west who don’t have access to the same resources city children do.

The group made a donation to Cobar on Monday and will also travel this week to Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Coonamble to drop off more books.

Mr Lane spoke with local school principals and the Cobar Shire & TAFE Library to coordinate the trip which they have organised and fully funded themselves.

“Books open your eyes to what other people are doing outside of your town and help connect communities,” Mr Lane said.

The group will be traveling in two vehicles, carting 30 cartons of books over a round trip of approximately 1,660km.

Donations were made to the Cobar Shire & TAFE Library, Cobar High School and Cobar Preschool.