A Ringwood school has found a novel way of helping people who lost everything in the Black Saturday bushfires. A Yarra Valley Grammar drive last month collected more than 620 books for Marysville’s community centres. School chaplain Paul Joy said the drive was a great way to help six months after the February 7 disaster. ‘‘The school made generous donations after the bushfires but people’s needs are still there,’’ Mr Joy said. ‘‘The bushfires are not front page any more but people who are, in many respects, our neighbours are still going through the daily grind. ‘‘They lost all their books and have other more pressing issues.’’ Mr Joy said the school decided to accept only new books, with three bookstores in Knox and Eastland donating 10 per cent of each sale to Marysville. ‘‘We asked our community to buy their favourite book as there is a good chance someone else would like it, too,’’ he said. ‘‘We have a pretty good cross-section of books: picture stories, non-fiction, fiction, science, history, novels and encyclopaedias.’’ Mr Joy and 10 year 7-9 students took the books to Marysville last Wednesday. ‘‘They have rooms and a lounge with bookshelves where the books will now be used for people to access,’’ he said..

Shaun Campbell – Author
Janine Eastgate – Picture
Maroondah Leader – Tuesday 8 Setember, 2009

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