But there are genuine fears the volunteer-run organisation will be forced to cease operations within months due to lack of volunteers.

Long-time member and Balgownie children’s book author Demelza Haines said the situation was dire.

“Some of our longstanding members are retiring from the group at the end of this year and we are facing potential closure from February 2019 with not enough members to run our activities in the Illawarra/South Coast area,” Haines said.

‘We are calling an extraordinary meeting of the CBCA Illawarra/South Coast Sub-Branch on Monday, November 19 at the Collegians club in Wollongong from 7.30pm in the hope of recruiting more active members.

“We need several more enthusiastic volunteers to make the Sub-branch viable.”

At present a small group of volunteers run many events each year, such as the ‘Literary Lunch’ and ‘Kids Day Out’ , that promote literacy and the general love of books, reading and illustration.

“Over the past decade our branch has helped thousands of local primary and high school students discover the joy of books, whether it be through these big events or funding and arranging award-winning writers and illustrators to visit schools and impart their knowledge through workshops,” Haines said.

“We can’t allow this to end. We’d appreciate any help we can get.”

Read more: UOW academic nabs coveted mentor role with World Health Organisation

Email isccbca@gmail.com to volunteer or for more details.

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