North Queensland mining giant, Glencore has rolled out its annual book drop to local schools as part of the Books in Homes initiative.
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Books in Homes has provided thousands of children in remote Australia with nine new books each, per year, donating over 160,000 books to students from schools in the Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Bowen and Townsville regions since 2007.
Glencore North Queensland HSEC General Manager Maryann Wipaki said Glencore committed to $1.3 million to deliver books to children who otherwise might not have access to them.
"The program supports early learning literacy to foster a life-long love of reading and removes some of the education inequalities of living in regional and remote communities," Ms Wipaki said.
"More than just delivering books to kids in regional Australia, we encourage our team to embrace the program.
"Glencore employees from across our sites in North Queensland attend Book Giving Assemblies and make guest appearances at story time readings in school libraries."
Ernest Henry Mining communications and engagement advisor Vicki Wilson helped deliver the books to Cloncurry schools on Tuesday April 2.
"Our team always enjoys attending the Book Giving Ceremonies and feeling part of something so valuable," Ms Wilson said.
"The students are always excited to receive their book packs and they love showing us the books they've chosen.
"In more recent years I've experienced Books in Homes as a parent too. My eldest daughter is now in Year 1 and loves bringing her new books home to read together as a family. She has even started reading them to her younger sisters!"
Each school keeps the preview pack of 48 books provided to them three times a year, for inclusion in their school library (144 books per year for every school library).
In 2019, Books in Homes recipient schools include:
- Cloncurry State School
- Saint Joseph's Catholic School - Cloncurry
- Dajarra State School
- Sunset State School
- Mount Isa Central State School
- Healy State School
- Townview State School
- Camooweal State School
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