Sutherland Shire Libraries News

A literary spy thriller set in World War II,   this  novel streamlined and tautly paced novel is fascinating blend of fact and fiction.









To read or not to read... that is the question! Read the opening paragraphs of this novel and you decide.


She was sitting in the fuselage, trussed like a piece of baggage, battered by noise. Half an hour earlier they manhandled her up  through the door because she was too encumbered with her parachute to climb the ladder unassisted; now she was just there, with the sound drumming in her ears, the inadequate light and the hard metal and packages all around her.
If only she could sleep, like Benoit. He's sitting opposite, his eyes closed and his head rocking with the movement of the machine. Like a passenger on a train. It's one of the most infuriating things about him, his ability to sleep  whenever and wherever he pleases.
The dispatcher-young, gauche, prominent Adam's apple and slicked hair-stumbles towards her though the racket. He seems a kind of Charon, accompanying the souls of the dead towards Hades. Her father would love that thought. His classical allusions. 'Illusions' she always called them. The airman grins ghoulishly at her and bends to open the hatch in the floor, releasing night and cold into the fuselage like water rushing in from a sprung leak. Looking down she can see the huddled buildings of a town sliding beneath, smudged with cloud and lit by the moon, a mysterious seabed over which their craft floats. Benoit opens one eye to see what's going on, gives her a quick smile and returns to his sleep.
'CAEN!' the dispatcher shouts above the noise. He begins to bundle packets of paper out into the blackness, like a manic delivery boy throwing newspapers to his customers in the darkness of the winter morning. The bundles crack open as they drop into the void. He thrusts one of the leaflets towards her so that she can read the news.

To  keep reading this book, request it from the Library.

Sutherland Shire Mayor Steve Simpson is asking local library users to join a statewide call to stop the ongoing reduction in funding from successive NSW State Governments and protect the future of public libraries.

“Libraries are often the most well-used and valued public facilities in the community but the ability of council to maintain service levels at our eight libraries may be at risk due to deteriorating State funding,” the Mayor said.

You can help by signing a petition, which will be presented to the Honourable Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, at any of our Shire libraries or at council’s Customer Service Centre in Eton Street, Sutherland.

The facts:

• Library funding was once split 50:50 State and Local Government.
• The State Government currently puts in only 7 cents out of every dollar and local councils now have to fund 93% of the cost of providing public libraries. The State Government contribution to libraries is the lowest of all states in Australia."
• In the run up to the last state election, the current State Government said they would increase ongoing funding for public libraries. They have not.
• Successive NSW State Governments of all political persuasions have put in less and less in real terms every year and we are now at crisis point.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.nswpla.org.au or talk to your local library staff.

Congratulations to all the winners.

To celebrate Harmony Day Sutherland Shire Libraries are holding an 'encore performance' of the Colourfest Short Film Festival on Wednesday 26th March between 12noon and 2pm. Bring your lunch and relax whilst you explore the different cultural backgrounds of the people we live and work with.

Colourfest celebrates films about diaspora and migrant experiences. With film making becoming accessible to most, there is an abundance of content to showcase the success, challenges and nuances of migrant communities in Australia and the world.

To be considered for the festival films must be under 20 minutes and made in the last three years. Preference is given to films made by culturally and linguistically diverse filmmakers.


“Diversity in our community makes the Sutherland Shire a more vibrant and connected area,” said Sutherland Shire Mayor, Steve Simpson. 

“With 21 per cent of residents in Sutherland Shire born overseas and 11.5 per cent speaking a language other than English at home, events like this short-film festival help enrich our community by giving us the opportunity to learn about different cultures,” he added. 

“The films share personal stories of people from diverse cultures and captures the message of Harmony Day – that everyone belongs”, said Jenny Grey, GCAIS

Gold coin donations will be collected at the screening to contribute to local multicultural services.

Everyone is welcome, no bookings required.

For enquiries ph. 9710 0351

Read a charming and enchanting debut novel using magic to solve a decades old mystery. A book sure to warm your heart through the power of love, family and magic.






To read or no to read...that is the question! Read the opening paragraphs of this novel and you decide...

All the Amore siblings had The sight in varying degrees, and its fickleness got us into trouble sometimes. Like the time when I  was young (and still talking) and I called my friends husband to give my condolences about her death in a trolley crash, only my friend was still alive and the trolley wouldn't crash until the next day.
It was hard to explain that one, and harder still to keep my friend off the trolley the following day, even though I knew her life was at stake. Regular peoplehave such a hard time listening to the low hum of instinct. Don't get me wrong, I tire of the magic now that I'm old. But still, if I'd had it all to do over, I'd choose magic ways. Especially now, when another, more precious life is at stake.

She's coming abck now, the girl. She's coming back and bringing my memories with her. Maybe she won't remember anything. Dear God, don't let her remember. If she remembers, she'll land straight back in harms way. If she remembers, my promise will be broken. And that'd be too bad because it's one of my best skills, promise keeping. And secret keeping. And cartwheels too.

I used  to be able to do cartwheels. When we were little, my sisters couldn't but I could. I can still feel how the air shifted as I kicked over my head and moved my hands. I liked to do things upside down. It bothered Mama. "All that blood will rush to your head!" she would yell. Not to mention Papa and my skirts. "Cover yourself child! If I can see your bloomers so can the whole block!"

I cartwheeled through my childhood. We weren't poor, but we lived close together. We lived here on 170th Street in the Bronx for the better portion of our lives. Mama and Papa bought the building when they got married. Well Papa won it. In a fight. They used to fight for money in the streets back then, and one day the wager was a building, and practical Papa, who never fought a day in his life, took off his shirt and threw it in the ring.

When we were very young, in those strange, magnificent years between World War I and World War II, we all lived in apartment 1A. Ten people and two bedrooms. Those were the days. Mama was the magic one. She gave us her abilities to see the future, to grow herbs and flowers that held all sorts of magical preparation, but the most important thing she gave us was the gift if each other.

To keep reading this book, request it from the Library.