It’s an age-old question that many have spent long hours pondering in search of the elusive answer; ‘how can I contribute positively to the world without getting up off my ass?’
Well after meditating under the trees in the backyard for many days and nights, the Forte team has finally emerged, enlightened. Hopefully, all you lazy do-gooders like to read because the Monster Book Fair holds the answers you seek.
Held annually by the Geelong West Rotary Club with support and generous donations from the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, book-lovers flock to Geelong Town Hall to scoop up a haul of books and help support the rotary’s many noble causes.
So yes we may have lied a little, you will have to vacate your tooshie to get on down to the town hall, but a little fresh air and sunshine never hurt anybody and it’s still 100% worth it.
For starters, the books are cheap as chips, just $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, which is awesome in a world where my morning latte costs around $4, stupid expensive delicious bean juice. And don’t be put off thinking ‘yeah look, I didn’t do literature at school for a reason, novels SUCK.’ Well, there are thousands of books and in such a wide variety for you to choose from including cookbooks, biographies, novelty books, dictionaries and children’s books, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
But more importantly, the positive contribution you make by just meandering on down and grabbing a latte’s-worth of books will make you feel like a modern Ghandi. By purchasing the books you’re saving them from the rubbish tip which makes a sustainable recycling system for some eco-friendly reads. The donations raised by the book purchases also contribute to a multitude of great causes.
The devastation wrought by the recent bushfires and droughts are two of the major causes being supported by the rotary this year, but your contributions will also help change the lives of people locally and further afield through the donations funneled to the rotaries other regular supported projects including Barwon Health Patient Transport, Samaritan House, Operation Newstart, Christ Church Meals Program, Geelong Kokoda Youth Program, Interplast and several of the smaller charities that apply to the Club for grants each year.
Who knew so much positivity could be generated in the simple act of buying a book?
So go forth, bookworms and good Samaritans, to this year’s book fair. Have a gander, grab a book or two and head back home to your comfy couch, make a cup of tea and settle in for a good read knowing you’ve done your part for your community.
Not all superheroes wear capes, but I daresay most of ‘em don’t mind cracking a good book.
It all goes down from 9am on Friday 21 February until 2pm on Sunday 23 February at Geelong West Town Hall.
Written by Jess Sercombe
