ANNE Moore is passionate about children and reading. As children's librarian at the Bega Library for the past four years she is responsible for organising children's reading activities, ordering books and liaising with organisations that encourage children's reading.
But as a volunteer she is at the heart of an organisation that fosters a love of books and reading in the youngest age group of all - the first five years of life.
As secretary for the Birth to Kindergarten group she has worked with a small but dedicated team to organise reading days and related activities, apply for grants to have authors and illustrators visit, arrange gifts of books to new mothers, and much more.
"The Bega Birth to Kindergarten group was founded in 2002," Anne said.
"It was something the Parkes community had been doing for five years prior to that, and library manager John Scott had come from Parkes and knew about the scheme.
"Pam Welham, the then principal of Bega High School, had also heard about it through her involvement with Rotary.
"Pam invited Rhonda Brain, principal of Parkes School, who was heavily involved in Birth to Kindergarten, to a Rotary meeting in Bega and John and I went along to that meeting.
"Within a couple of weeks a meeting was held with teachers and from that meeting a few of us got together, contacted schools, Community Health, Family Day Care, pre-schools - anyone involved with children's services - and the Birth to Kindergarten group was formed."
The aim of the group is to improve the literacy of children, giving them a head start before they begin school by introducing books and reading into their lives as early as possible - from day one.
"Rotary had given the committee a donation and we approached the Lions Club for a similar contribution.
"With those funds we bought some board books - 'Old MacDonald' and 'Rosie's Walk' were our first two, purchased because of the simplicity of the text.
"We have to be very careful in our choice of books."
The committee, of which Anne was (and still is) secretary, worked to make the community aware of the group.
Books were handed out to the mothers of newborn babies; one young mother named her baby 'Rosie', so the gift of 'Rosie's Walk' was doubly appropriate.
The group held a launch in July 2002 with guest speaker Jackie French, and the Bega Valley Christian College provided their band and catering on the night.
After the launch a reading day was held involving all the schools in the area, with reading sessions and children dressing up as characters from books.
Alison Lester, prominent children's author and illustrator, was one of many guests invited to speak, and a grant was obtained to employ Helen Stafford to run the day.
Anne's role was once again "in the background, doing the legwork!"
A second reading day was held, based around the theme of music as well as reading, with illustrator Naomi Lewis as guest, giving workshops in schools beforehand and the Bega West and Bega Primary Schools bands taking part.
"This year we have a grant and Helen will go into pre-schools, explaining to parents about the enjoyment that parents and children derive from reading books together, how easy it is, and suggesting books that they might try," Anne said.
In the early stages of the group books were donated by a publisher and these have been given to two playgroups in Bega, with Anne making the presentation.
The group has targeted the Bega District Hospital, presented books to the home birth group and regularly meets new mums through Community Health days.
"We go to the Bega Show; the first year we pitched a big tent outside the animal nursery and captured the children as they came out."
The children were more than willing to be captured, enjoying the extra treat of experiencing a colourful storybook with the readers.
While it is hard to assess the success of the group's endeavours to raise literacy levels in young children until that group goes through the school system, encouraging reports are always being received.
One mother was surprised to find the baby that she was breastfeeding following the pictures in the story as she read.
"It's a very bonding experience," Anne said. "The very smallest babies love to listen to the tone of their mother's voice."
Fund and awareness raising ventures include a readathon, held in the school holidays with Bega Primary School pupils and Guides sitting and reading all day in a large tent, and a Mad Hat Day held in conjunction with a Bega Chamber of Commerce promotion.
Most recently a trivia night with the theme of children's literature was held.
Anne has had plenty of experience at being on committees - "With two children (sons Aaron and Blake) it's natural to be on school and sporting committees," she said.
She is a keen Guide leader, having been one for 30 years, 20 of those years in Bega.
"I was a Brownie myself, and enjoyed it," she said.
"I found it character-building when I was going through it and thought I'd like to pass some of it on.
She came to Bega in 1985, when her son Aaron was 11 months old - he's now 21. Anne spent plenty of time working in schools in a voluntary capacity, in the canteen and assisting with reading and in the library at Bega West Public School. She also helped out at Family Day Care.
She returned to full time work at the Bega library nine years ago and her passion for bringing children and books together has only intensified over the years.
She would love to see more people become involved with the Birth to Kindergarten group, particularly on the committee, helping children gain a head start in literacy.
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