PRESIDENTS REPORT 

Good afternoon and thank you for coming to Friends of Paynesville Library Inc. AGM for 2025.

I am pleased to be able to report that it has been a successful and enjoyable year for our group of library supporters.

We held 4 book sales all very profitable and grossing $9132.00. These sales require a lot of work I would like to thank all the volunteers and a very special thank you to Petra who organizes rosters and working bees with precision to ensure the sales run with effiecency. The sales are an excellent community event, enjoyed by all ages. The money raised is used for the benefit of the community as can be seen later in report. FOPL would like to thank the kind people who donate books to these sales. The volume of books donated seems to be increasing not diminishing—so much for books being replaced by the digital world!

Thank you to East Gippsland Shire Council for their generosity in allowing us continued use of the Community Hall. This gesture is very appreciated

The Short Story Competition was well supported with 54 entries. All winners were from Victoria this year. Thank you again to our wonderful judges Jill, Bill and Rosemary. The judges are so important to this competition and without their continued participation we would find it hard to continue.

This year FOPL made these contributions to the library –

Continued purchasing a yearly subscription for the The Age and The Big Issue.
Printing by Egee of the 3 winning bookmarks. Second year.
Sets of 2 books for bibliograpy book group

We spent $2934 on their needs. Which included the items below

Book purchases ……. $882 Age news. $960
Big issue magazine. $180
4 Tables $239
2 Mats. $180
Functions. $247
Soft toys. $41
4 plaques $61
Hard drive. $145

Total: $2934.00

Now, to thank the people who have helped FOPL through the year.

Paul Mlynarz who manages our web site—great work again.

The men from Gardens ( Shire) who carry boxes of books for our sales for setting up and packing away. They also help maintain the deck with pruning etc. and assem-bling furniture. Thank you.

Thank you to our exceptional Library Staff who provide not only an exceptional service but a friendly, welcoming and happy environment. It is always a very pleasant experience to visit Paynesville Library for what ever reason and this due to our fabulous staff.

Thank you to Team Leader, Doxie for her hard work and creative ideas. It has been a great pleasure to work with all the staff.

Now, down to my staff and they are a very supportive and hard working crew. Firstly Secre-tary, Petra who with no fuss gets everything beautifully done. No need to ask, it is just all done. Thanks, Petra it has been a joy working with you and best wishes for future. Vice President Diane—a terrific support in all times and always with a good laugh. Thanks, Di. Treasurer, Jan, the kind of treasurer all committees dream of. Always totally in control of fi-nances, Thanks, Jan and best wishes.

Beryl, who organizes food and beverages for all activities or functions. Beryl has a great gift and makes sure all our morning teas etc. are well provided with yummy refreshments. Thank, Beryl and best wishes.

Times have been rather difficult for the past couple years for me and I hope I haven’t let FOPL down. I have tried my best to continue but I now feel it only fair to step aside and al-low someone new to take over. I must admit I do so with a heavy heart.

I thank everyone in FOPL for their friendship and support—you are a special group and I wish you all the very best. May FOPL continue to do good work.

Take care and stay healthy.

Fiona