Street library a big hit with neighbours
KEEPING a family legacy burning bright has been the idea behind a Cranbrook father’s new housemate.
Parnell Crt Street Library was launched last Wednesday in honour of Ben Freedman’s 19-year-old cousin, Sebastian Robinson.
Mr Robinson was an avid bushwalker who tragically died hiking in Tasmania on June 18 after a suspected fall.
Mr Freeman said the new front garden library was a way to honour his young family member.
“Sebastian was a very talented artist and he was keen on sharing his videos about the bush on Youtube so I think the library would fit with his ethic really well,” he said.
“We started the idea the very next day after his death and it is something I thought about for a while and it was finally time to do it.”
Building the library has proven valuable bonding time with his six-year-old twin children, Elijah and Sarah, who helped pick and paint the project.
“They love it and they are out in the front yard every morning and every afternoon checking the books and telling everyone they see about it,” he said.
The response has been positive so far with Mr Freedman saying people had embraced the new resident in the street since moving in a week ago.
“There has been some good activity and the books have been changed and there seems to be a good turnover with some books disappearing, some appearing and some reappearing,” he said.
“We went around to our neighbours and introduced the library and we have met people that we hadn’t connected with before which has been nice.”