I'd like to recognise Sandie Docker for her contribution to my local community and for bringing people together through her love of books and reading. Sandie is the founder of the Northern Beaches Readers Festival, a volunteer-run event that gives readers the opportunity to connect with Australian authors and, just as importantly, with each other. The festival has created a really welcoming environment where people can meet others who share their interests, discover new authors and celebrate Australian storytelling. What I think makes Sandie's work particularly valuable is that the festival is focused on the reader experience. She wanted to create an event where everyday readers could meet the authors they love, rather than feeling like they needed to be a writer themselves to be involved. I'd like to thank Sandie for the time and effort she has put into creating something that celebrates reading, Australian authors and our local community. Her work is a great example of how one person's passion can bring people together.
Read this Community Recognition Statement in the NSW Hansard here.