Te Awamutu Rotary’s Book Fair Convenor Laurel Smith
This year’s charity Book Fair organised by the Te Awamutu Rotary Club raised a record-breaking $22,000 plus.
Te Awamutu Rotary Book Fair.
Once costs are deducted, the figure will likely sit around $21,000, said Book Fair convenor Laurel Smith. That is significantly higher than the $18,000 netted through last year’s event.
Te Awamutu Rotary Book Fair.
Smith’s fellow Rotarians celebrated the achievement with her at the recent club meeting, declaring it to be the ‘most successful Book Fair so far’ and presenting her with a certificate of appreciation marking her ‘outstanding leadership and commitment to the event’.
Te Awamutu Rotary Book Fair.
The charity Book Fair has been going for over 20 years, starting out as a biennial event before settling into an annual one.
It was held this year from August 22-25.
Money raised through the sale of hundreds of books, magazines, CDs, puzzles, DVDs and other items goes towards a range of charities.
Te Awamutu Rotary Book Fair.
Smith said proceeds from this year’s event would be channelled through to Te Awamutu-based Loving Arms, and the Pirongia Forest Park Lodge. It will also continue to bolster the Book Fair’s regular support for Kainga Aroha’s holiday programme and other local programmes supporting youth, as well as educational programmes run by Kihikihi’s Space Dave.
“We are absolutely delighted with the response this year,” she said. “We had a steady flow of people through… there were no slack periods at all. One Rotarian couple from Tauranga came specifically for children’s and young adult books which they collect and distribute to some of our Pacific Island neighbours. Overall, this year’s fair was quite exceptional.”
Te Awamutu Rotary president Kylie Brewer said it was an outstanding result and she appreciated the “generous support” of the community.
“I’m really proud of what our club has achieved with the Book Fair this year. Laurel and her team have done a fantastic job with the book collection and sorting.”
Te Awamutu Rotary’s Book Fair Convenor Laurel Smith, pictured here at an earlier book fair, is delighted with the record-breaking response this year. Photo: Viv Posselt
