JULY 3 2011 Page 41ST

thesundaymail.com.au 41NEWS

Chapter on devotionTirelessworkereducatingPNG kidsVaughan Mayberry

‘‘We started sending books to all parts ofPNG and what started as a bit of a hobby hasnow turned into a bit of a life’’HEATHER DOONAN

HEATHER Doonan is not youraverage bookworm.

She loves reading but collectsbooks for a more spiritual purpose– for shipping to remote, disadvan-taged schools and hospitals inPapua New Guinea.

It’s this kind-hearted, thanklesstask that has led to a nomination inthe Care & Compassion category ofthis year’s Pride of Australia medal.

Her self-funded Books For PNGKids collects children’s books fromschools and libraries in Brisbaneand sends them to areas in PNGthat lack the most basic educationaltool.

Up to 300 boxes of books arestacked in her home at any onetime, with anything from baby pop-up books through to Year 8 textand reference books.

This year alone she has sentmore than 1000 boxes – just afraction of what’s been supplied –to some of the most primitive partson the planet over the years.

It all started when Heather andhusband George were living in Fijiand discovered many kids theredidn’t have books to read.

They sourced books throughtheir second-hand clothing busi-ness and it snowballed.

But when they started heading toPNG for business they realised theeducation system was worse thanFiji and desperately needed help.

‘‘We’d go into schools wherethere were no books and otherswhere the maths department is abucket with stones in it,’’ she said.

‘‘If you’re trying to teach child-ren how to read without books youcan imagine how hard it is.

‘‘What we figured is if you canget the kids reading early – hook achild into reading when they’reyoung – and they will keep reading.

‘‘So we started sending books toall parts of PNG and what started

as a bit of a hobby has now turnedinto a bit of a life.’’

More than 20 years on, MrsDoonan is still running her inspir-ing little operation out of her NewFarm home without fanfare.

Constant heavy lifting, jugglingbusiness commitments and raising

four children hasn’t stopped herpacking up to 100 boxes per week.

There’s another trip to PNG thismonth to check on the program’sprogress and help more kids miss-ing out on this essential life skill.

‘‘It takes a lot of time and energybut I’m very passionate about whatI do. I don’t particularly want thepublicity for myself but if I can getmore books out of it that would begreat. I always need more books.’’

To donate books, visithttp://booksforpng.vpweb.com.au

To nominate an unsung hero goto prideofaustralia.com.au.Nominations close 5pm, July 26.NOMINATION FORM P24

RadiostationstruggleA RESIDENTS’ group battl-ing a Queensland council hasbeen linked to a bold attemptto take over a radio stationowned by the same council.

The Ratepayer ActionGroup Moreton Bay has beenlocked in a battle with theMoreton Bay Regional Coun-cil on Brisbane’s northside,launching a series of protestmeetings about water pricerises as high as $300 a year.

Now the group has beenaccused of attempting to gaincontrol of cash-strapped com-munity radio station 99.7FMin Redcliffe.

Ratepayer Action Groupmember Dennis Austen toldThe Sunday Mail last weeklocal business owners hadbeen looking at helping thestation, but denied the grouphad held discussions with it.

Run by the Moreton MediaGroup, 99.7FM operates froma leased council building in thecentre of Redcliffe.

Station representatives hadapproached Moreton Bay Re-gional Council for financialhelp but were told it wasunable to provide funding.

Kelmeny Fraser

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