Georgie McRae, centre, with Janice Coldebella, left, and Bernadette Miles. The Sentinel, July 17, 1990 By Carol Cox
WONTHAGGI’S first librarian, Georgie McRae, held that position for 20 years while at the same time raising five children. During her tenure, the Wonthaggi Library became one of the busiest in Victoria. In fact, its popularity and borrowing statistics amazed previous doubters. On June 26, 1984, the Sentinel reported on an address to the Borough of Wonthaggi by a director of the West Gippsland Library Service wherein she stated: “An 'amazing' 68 per cent of Wonthaggi's residents use its public library. The average is about 40 per cent”.
WONTHAGGI’S first librarian, Georgie McRae, held that position for 20 years while at the same time raising five children. During her tenure, the Wonthaggi Library became one of the busiest in Victoria. In fact, its popularity and borrowing statistics amazed previous doubters. On June 26, 1984, the Sentinel reported on an address to the Borough of Wonthaggi by a director of the West Gippsland Library Service wherein she stated: “An 'amazing' 68 per cent of Wonthaggi's residents use its public library. The average is about 40 per cent”.
The library was obviously a popular spot, and Georgie has many special memories of the life stories of the people she came to know. In the absence of a social worker in the district in those days, the library sometimes became a refuge for troubled wives or mothers, even youngsters, to whom Georgie was able to offer a sympathetic ear or a comforting shoulder. At such times, she would unobtrusively lock the library door to provide a quiet moment to those in need.
On a lighter note, a small group of retired local men started meeting regularly at the library on a Monday morning for coffee and a chat. (Georgie thought their wives encouraged this to allow some peace and quiet at home.) It became a habit for these friends to adjourn to Taberners Hotel for lunch where their wives and Georgie would join them. On occasion, a queue had formed back at the library waiting for it to re-open in the afternoon, but the borrowers were most understanding.
Then there was the borrower, a jovial bandsman, who had the endearing habit of writing his name in copperplate in the books he borrowed. Another, a great reader of westerns by Louis L'Armour, was very pleased that supplies of his favourites continued coming from the Korumburra and Poowong libraries especially for him, as the Wonthaggi library held a limited supply of this genre.
Around 2400 people turned out for the opening of Wonthaggi's new library last Saturday. The day began with a smoking ceremony by Boon Wurrung representative Steve Parker and a 'Welcome to Country' by Senior Boon Wurrung Elder, Carolyn Briggs. Ms Briggs was the first person to enter the officially opened building and she greeted library staff with the Boon Wurrung word for welcome - 'Womin djeka'.
Chapters in the life of a library
Library staff were pleased to help the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group and the high school drama group, which had been started by Robert Draffin, who also helped deliver books to the homebound. Robert is now recognised beyond these shores as an actor and director.
One of Georgie's most gratifying memories is of a young fellow who was unable to read and only looked at the picture books in the library. Georgie met him at the library every Saturday after the library closed at midday, and she gradually taught him to read. Years later, he informed her: “I can read a newspaper because of you, Mrs McRae”.
The library did not have a large staff and in an emergency the Poowong or Korumburra librarians would step in to help out. Some time after Georgie's appointment, Noreen Allen was hired as assistant librarian. Noreen was succeeded by Zoe Kidd, then by Janice Coldebella. When Georgie retired in 1990, Janice was promoted to librarian, a position she held until her retirement 15 years later. Terry Harrison then filled the role for a year prior to the current librarian, Colin Waring, taking up the top job in 2006. Today's assistant librarian, Bernadette Miles, started as a casual in 1988 then stepped up as assistant when Janice Coldebella became librarian. It speaks highly of the leadership skills of the librarians who have served the Wonthaggi library that staff turnover is low.
The library became computerised in the mid-1990s during Janice's tenure. Until that time the much more labour-intensive manual card system was used. Computerisation opened up yet another world to library members whose membership gave them free internet access on the library's computers.
The recent relocation of the library to Murray Street was handled by removal contractors. How times have changed! Janice Coldebella well remembers the 1993 move from the Arts Centre foyer to the old Post Office building – Janice, her husband and son and one shire worker handled the entire move themselves.
Teams of volunteers have supported the library over the years. The advent of computerisation and the availability of casual staff shared among libraries in the region have eased the workload, but volunteers are always welome. Those who still offer their services in this way do so out of a love of the library environment and the joy of introducing and encouraging the reading habit by, for example, regular weekly sessions of reading stories or poetry to young children.
In the library's new Murray Street premises, branch managers from the Inverloch and Cowes libraries will spend one day each week working at the Wonthaggi library. This is a wonderful initiative to ensure high standards are maintained and innovative ideas shared among these important libraries.
Wonthaggi is the principal library in the Bass Coast Shire, part of the West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation, which is headquartered in Warragul. Be sure to check out the new and improved facilities available in the new library. Remember, membership is free, which is undoubtedly the very best deal in town.
On a lighter note, a small group of retired local men started meeting regularly at the library on a Monday morning for coffee and a chat. (Georgie thought their wives encouraged this to allow some peace and quiet at home.) It became a habit for these friends to adjourn to Taberners Hotel for lunch where their wives and Georgie would join them. On occasion, a queue had formed back at the library waiting for it to re-open in the afternoon, but the borrowers were most understanding.
Then there was the borrower, a jovial bandsman, who had the endearing habit of writing his name in copperplate in the books he borrowed. Another, a great reader of westerns by Louis L'Armour, was very pleased that supplies of his favourites continued coming from the Korumburra and Poowong libraries especially for him, as the Wonthaggi library held a limited supply of this genre.
Around 2400 people turned out for the opening of Wonthaggi's new library last Saturday. The day began with a smoking ceremony by Boon Wurrung representative Steve Parker and a 'Welcome to Country' by Senior Boon Wurrung Elder, Carolyn Briggs. Ms Briggs was the first person to enter the officially opened building and she greeted library staff with the Boon Wurrung word for welcome - 'Womin djeka'.
Chapters in the life of a library
Library staff were pleased to help the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group and the high school drama group, which had been started by Robert Draffin, who also helped deliver books to the homebound. Robert is now recognised beyond these shores as an actor and director.
One of Georgie's most gratifying memories is of a young fellow who was unable to read and only looked at the picture books in the library. Georgie met him at the library every Saturday after the library closed at midday, and she gradually taught him to read. Years later, he informed her: “I can read a newspaper because of you, Mrs McRae”.
The library did not have a large staff and in an emergency the Poowong or Korumburra librarians would step in to help out. Some time after Georgie's appointment, Noreen Allen was hired as assistant librarian. Noreen was succeeded by Zoe Kidd, then by Janice Coldebella. When Georgie retired in 1990, Janice was promoted to librarian, a position she held until her retirement 15 years later. Terry Harrison then filled the role for a year prior to the current librarian, Colin Waring, taking up the top job in 2006. Today's assistant librarian, Bernadette Miles, started as a casual in 1988 then stepped up as assistant when Janice Coldebella became librarian. It speaks highly of the leadership skills of the librarians who have served the Wonthaggi library that staff turnover is low.
The library became computerised in the mid-1990s during Janice's tenure. Until that time the much more labour-intensive manual card system was used. Computerisation opened up yet another world to library members whose membership gave them free internet access on the library's computers.
The recent relocation of the library to Murray Street was handled by removal contractors. How times have changed! Janice Coldebella well remembers the 1993 move from the Arts Centre foyer to the old Post Office building – Janice, her husband and son and one shire worker handled the entire move themselves.
Teams of volunteers have supported the library over the years. The advent of computerisation and the availability of casual staff shared among libraries in the region have eased the workload, but volunteers are always welome. Those who still offer their services in this way do so out of a love of the library environment and the joy of introducing and encouraging the reading habit by, for example, regular weekly sessions of reading stories or poetry to young children.
In the library's new Murray Street premises, branch managers from the Inverloch and Cowes libraries will spend one day each week working at the Wonthaggi library. This is a wonderful initiative to ensure high standards are maintained and innovative ideas shared among these important libraries.
Wonthaggi is the principal library in the Bass Coast Shire, part of the West Gippsland Regional Library Corporation, which is headquartered in Warragul. Be sure to check out the new and improved facilities available in the new library. Remember, membership is free, which is undoubtedly the very best deal in town.