New England winters can be long and cold, and there are few better ways of surviving than sitting by a roaring fire with a good book, a mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate, and a dog curled up in your lap.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
To stock up on your winter reading, and help others at the same time, come to the Guyra Hospital Auxiliary Book Fair this week.
The book fair, now in its ninth year, runs at Guyra MPS from Wednesday to Sunday. It is the major event for the hospital auxiliary, which raises money to spend at the hospital for patients’ benefit.
READ ALSO:
“Because we don’t have bookstores here or close at hand, it’s a way for people to get new reading matter,” said auxiliary member Wilma Reeves.
Wilma and fellow volunteer Gail Montague set up the fair, and will man tables over the five days the book fair runs.
“We see where our efforts have gone straight away,” Gail said.
“And what we make comes back into our hospital,” said Hunter New England Health’s Deb Heagney, who arranged the collection of the books.
Nearly 1000 books have been donated this year, including handsome leather-bound novels, and Carter’s guides to antiques and collectibles. The fair will also have an Australiana section, including books on diggers at war.
Over the last decade, money raised has been used to buy hospital blinds, televisions, and lifters for patients with limited mobility.
This year, they’re hoping to raise $10 to $15,000 to build a gazebo in the front garden, so patients can enjoy sunshine and fresh air.
There’s also a chance to win a prize-winning rug. Mrs Dawn Kay made a rug for the organisation to raffle; the auxiliary thought it was so lovely they entered it in the Guyra show, where it was declared champion piece in the crocheting section.
The Hospital Auxiliary Book Fair runs at the Guyra MPS from Wednesday June 6 to Sunday June 10.