Big book affair

Lifeline's Big Book Fair showcased the biggest collection of books ever seen in the Illawarra at Kembla Grange last weekend.

More than 60,000 books were on display over the course of the three day event and were arranged in more than 50 categories. Some categories included fiction, history, travel, cooking, gardening, music, sport, science fiction and many more. There was something there for everyone.

Helen Goldhahn, Lifeline South Coast's Business Manager and Big Book Fair organiser, said the Big Book Fair was not an event to be missed.

The Big Book Fair was a fun day out for the whole family. There was a book for everyone, with titles in around 50 categories. Lifeline volunteers spent hundreds of hours sorting through thousands of books to ensure we had a great selection on offer.

"This year there was a book collection point at the front door to the Fair so people could bring their books along with them and donate them before they enter," Helen said.

Lifeline's Big Book Fair is the major fundraising event for Lifeline South Coast. Funds raised at the Fair go toward suppoting Lifeline South Coast's 24-hour telephone counselling service in the Illawarra and South Coast. Contrary to popular belief, Lifeline receives only 20% of its funding from the government.

Lifeline South Coast is a local service which means that the funds raised locally stay here in our community and are used to help local people talk about their problems and find ways to solve them.