Friends gather for 30th anniversary
Members of theTocumwal Friends of the Library gathered for a thank you morning tea on September 1.
The event also marked 30 years since the formation of the group, and the members’ "unwavering service and support for the facility“.
Friends of the Library groups were formed in the Berrigan Shire in 1992, when they were known as the Central Murray Regional Library.
The Central Murray Regional Library Service focused on the Deniliquin library and, therefore there was risk the Barooga and Tocumwal branches would close to save funds that were to go toward the Deniliquin Library.
At this time, all communities responded beautifully by forming a Section 355 Committee in each town of the Berrigan Shire to raise funds and ensure no libraries were closed. Funds were used to buy books and essential items.
The Friends of the Library groups manned street stalls, organised raffles and wrote to service clubs for support, to help raise funds to ensure the local libraries remained open.
In about 1994, Berrigan Shire Council made a firm decision that its library services would become independent, and ‘state of the art’.
Committed to the promise, council built three new libraries, renovated and repurposed one, and extended the original Tocumwal Library, all within 21 years.
Tocumwal Friends of the Library have been there through all the changes and improvements.
Esther Bryan, an original member of the Friends of the Library committee, was specifically honoured last week for 30 years of dedication to the library service.