Significant achievement for a long-running literary partnership
A long-running partnership between Glencore and Books in Homes Australia has been marked by a significant literary milestone.
A total of 178,131 books have been provided to thousands of primary school aged children in North and North West Queensland, as the two partners celebrate 15 years of delivering the Books in Home program.
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Miranda Giuliano, Manager - Safety and Health Operations at Sunset State School, Mount Isa.
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Shane Luck, Superintendent Primary Smelting, reads with a student at Central State School in Mount Isa.
Through the program, every student at each of the eight Glencore-sponsored schools receive nine books-of-choice a year, to take home to build their own home libraries, increasing their exposure to quality reading material and fostering a love of reading that will hopefully last a lifetime.
Every student selects books they would like to read from a Preview Pack of 48 books, which is then donated to each school library in participating schools in Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Camooweal and Dajarra.
Glencore has committed to funding this program until the end of 2023, by which time over $1.62 million will have been donated and over 206,000 books provided to children who otherwise might not have access to them.
Richard Epstein, Manager - Technical Services GFM with the students from Camooweal State School.
Queensland Metals General Manager for Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Maryann Wipaki, says the Books in Homes program is Glencore Queensland Metals’ flagship education sponsorship and one of our longest-running partnerships.
“We encourage our team to attend book giving assemblies and make guest appearances at story time readings in schools, to share their love of reading with the students,” Maryann says.
“Thanks to the initiative, teachers are happy to report that learning outcomes have improved, as well as school attendance.”
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Jason Ranie, Superintendent – Service Delivery at Townview State School, Mount Isa
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Mark Forde, Superintendent - Development North at Central State School, Mount Isa.
Through the program, Glencore is helping to build the foundations of a literature-rich environment for children in their homes and schools, improving their potential for the future.
CEO of Books in Homes Australia, Peter Large, says Glencore’s long-term association with Books in Homes provides a valuable contribution to the sponsored schools.
“The communities of the Glencore-sponsored schools greatly appreciate the contribution Glencore makes with their support of Books in Homes,” Peter says.
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Rebecca Roper, George Fisher Mine Manager attends the Books in Home assembly at Sunset State School.
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Students and staff at Dajarra State School after their book giving assembly.
“Having personally visited Mount Isa and the schools on the program in that region, I have first-hand experience of the impact Books in Homes has made in those communities.”
“Books in Homes can attest to the value of Glencore’s commitment to their goal of assisting in improving educational outcomes in the regions in which the company operates.”
“Their ongoing support of their schools has helped to create a positive culture where reading is normalised, and where the children’s Books in Homes books-of-choice have increased children’s engagement in reading and participation in their school environment.”
Marc Moutin, Superintendent Metallurgy Copper Smelter with Sunset State School students.
“Books in Homes is proud to be a partner of Glencore in helping to build better outcomes for families in rural and remote Australia,” Peter says.
Glencore has celebrated the achievement with a billboard about 15 kilometres from Mount Isa on the Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Cloncurry. Make sure to keep an eye out for it if you are driving along that section of the highway.