On Wednesday 9 December 2020, four members of the Kensington Gardens Craft Group (KGCG) visited Lemnos Primary School in the Shepparton region of Victoria to present the children with their Books in Homes book bags. This year we sponsored Lemnos Primary to participate in this worthwhile program that provides books-of-choice to children who may not have the opportunity to own any and have them in their homes. We feel that supporting children’s literacy development in our community is an extremely important contribution we can make.

Lemnos Primary School has 18 students from a diverse range of cultures and backgrounds. We were so impressed with the welcome we received and how much the children valued our contribution. Often small schools such as Lemnos miss out on these programs.

“I don’t know about anyone else but I think that was the best donation the Craft Room has ever given. The joy in the children’s faces was priceless,” said Lorraine of the KGCG, who attended the Lemnos Primary School Book Giving Assembly.

The Books in Homes Role Model who joined us via Zoom was Nat Amoore, author of Secrets Of A Schoolyard Millionaire and The Power Of Positive Pranking who also happens to be the daughter of KGCG member, Helen Amoore. It was a lovely surprise for Helen when Nat came on screen and the best part about it was that the students kept the secret until the reveal!

Each child had written a letter, expressing their thanks and describing what it meant to them as readers to have their own books. They read their letters out to us, providing a lovely afternoon tea, and were most interested in who we were and why we wanted to contribute to their school.

The letters have since been collated into a book, which is available in the craft room at Kensington Gardens for any of our residents who would like to read it.

Story submitted by Julie Huddleston from the Kensington Gardens Craft Group. Photo supplied by Robyn Woolley, Principal of Lemnos Primary School, Vic.

PHOTO: Ladies from the Kensington Gardens Craft Group, and Lemnos Primary School students at the Books in Homes Book Giving Assembly.