News

The Superintendent, Rev Keith Garner, praised as “a first-class effort” the Sydney Lifeline Book fair profit of $39,000 which makes up a whopping $98,000 from the Sydney and Sutherland Lifeline Book fairs this year.

The earnings were $20,000 over last year’s profits.

“Our Book fairs are a good, solid earner for Lifeline,” General Manager Operations, Elizabeth Orr, said. “This is a fabulous effort from everyone.”

Anne Lenehan-Jones, Operations Manager for Wesley Counselling Services applauded the work of Geoff Garner, who organizes the book fairs in Sydney and Sutherland each year, moving tens of thousands of books around with his team of volunteers from Lifeline and elsewhere.

In Sydney and Sutherland this year more than 110,000 books were on display, arranged in different categories, each in alphabetical order. The work is heavy and intense. The work starts months ahead of each sale, with Geoff and his volunteers combing through a total of many more books, selecting the best offerings. After each book fair, hundreds of books have to be packed away for next time or disposed.

The excellent quality of the books donated to Wesley Mission Lifeline, including some rare gems, is partly due to the unique efforts of Geoff Gardner, who goes hunting for good books like a truffle-hound after Perigord’s finest.

“Geoff and his team of volunteers as usual did an excellent job and I would like to acknowledge [Manager, Volunteer Services] Alan Bates for his assistance which was invaluable,” Anne Lenehan-Jones said of this year’s Sydney Lifeline Book fair, which was held in October.

- Dinoo Kelleghan, Public Affairs Officer