Local kindergarten students have been given a range of free books thanks to the combined efforts of a generous resident and local service club.

Julian Mattay, pictured below, has joined with the Mount Gambier Library and the Department of Education and Child Development to donate Acacia Kindergarten their final round of books as part of the “Books in Homes” initiative.

The book giving event was celebrated with a barbecue supplied by the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier on the Cave Gardens lawn.

Books in Homes aim to support children by encouraging them to read at home and give them an opportunity to select and keep new books, many from Australian authors and illustrators.

Now in its seventh year of overseeing the program, the Mount Gambier Library is thrilled to help children create their own home library and select a different school each year.

To date, the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier and more recently Mr Mattay, in partnership with the Mount Gambier Library and the Department of Education and Child Development have provided close to $30,000, which has purchased more than 4000 books for close to 900 local children.

This is Mr Mattay’s second time backing the ‘Books in Homes’ program after the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier could no longer fund the initiative due to losing their major fundraiser and being affected by COVID-19.

“I am very happy to be able to fund it,” Mr Mattay said.

“I was brought up reading books and having books read to me and I want to give children that same opportunity.

“I think it is especially important in this day and age for children to read with all of the current technology available.”