Community & Business
11 March, 2026
The GIL Library Hub News - March 10, 2026
GREAT Day is coming - Gilgandra to set to 'Read Everything Around Town' again!
Gilgandra Reads Everything Around Town Day (GREAT Day) 2026
Soon, Gilgandra will again come together to celebrate the love of reading at GREAT Day (Gilgandra Reads Everything Around Town) Day!
First held in 2005, GREAT Day highlights the importance of reading to children from birth and building strong literacy habits early in life.
This year, we’re thrilled to welcome Australian world music star, singer, storyteller and proud First Nations man Mitch Tambo for our morning school sessions!
Mitch will be sharing his beautiful picture book ‘I AM ME’, giving our local preschool and infants school students a Storytime experience they won’t forget.
In the afternoon, the creativity continues! We’re delighted to host graphic designer and illustrator Matthew Lin, who will run engaging, step-by-step drawing workshops, including a special evening community session open to teens and adults.
Matt will share practical techniques and simple tips to make drawing fun and accessible for all skill levels.
Designs From Your Mind LEGO® Club
The NSW Reconstruction Authority Preparedness and Recovery Group has launched a new campaign to help residents prepare for emergencies.
This initiative, along with the public warning signs, inspired last week’s Designs From Your Mind (DFYM) LEGO® Club session.
After learning about the different warning signs and what each colour represents in the alert system, participants designed their own signs and created emergency scenarios to match.
The builders certainly had a flair for the dramatic - their creations featured volcanic eruptions in town, mudslides sweeping across farms, cyclones tearing along the Castlereagh River, enormous storms rolling over the region, and raging bushfires consuming the landscape.
Should any of these disasters strike Gilgandra, the LEGO® Club builders will be more than ready!
These imaginative builds are now on display in the library.
Designing bugs at Tech Club!
The Tech Club worked so efficiently that they were able to 3D print two of their original designs during the last session! We created monogrammed rings and unique cogs with elaborate patterns before turning our attention to designing a ladybug.
The challenge was to identify the shapes needed and assemble them using a 3D creation program to produce a finished model.
We eagerly watched the printing process, learning how the computer slices the design into layers and then builds the object by layering heated filament on top of each previous layer.
Our designs were still cooling when we removed them from the machine - we were so excited to see the final results! They look fantastic.
In the next session, Tech Club will use block coding to create their 3D prints and will design a fidget spinner.
Little STEAM
T is for Technology! We love robots at Little STEAM, and the library has so many to explore and play with. Our little learners began by singing songs about robots and trying out some robot dance moves.
We then listened to a story about a naughty robot and practised listening carefully to instructions - just like robots do!
Next, it was time to play and experiment. We programmed Bee-Bots to move from a beehive to flowers, and in another activity we guided a Bee-Bot across a number chart.
This helped us practise both our number recognition and our directional language. We also explored the Kubo robot, which teaches directional signs and language. It was great fun giving Kubo instructions to travel across a schoolyard map.
There is so much fun in learning! In our next session, we will move on to E is for Engineering.
Rhyme Time
Our monthly Rhyme Time session returned last week, bringing a joyful mix of songs, stories, rhymes, and dances for our babies and toddlers to enjoy.
We explored different ways to say hello, discovered the concept of opposites, and listened to a delightful story about nocturnal Australian animals before gently saying goodnight to the little ones.
The rhymes had us playing peek-a-boo and counting our toes, while the songs encouraged everyone to get up and move.
A highlight of the session was our special scarf songs - so much fun to twirl high in the air! We finished with a much-loved bubble time in the children’s courtyard, blowing and catching bubbles together.
What a fun and enriching early learning experience it was! We look forward to welcoming families again next month.
Books and Blocks
Missed out on Books and Blocks this week? Don’t worry, we have another session next week!
For babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, Books and Blocks will stimulate early learners and encourage creativity and fine motor skills, as well as developing resilience and co-operation with peers. Come build a castle, hospital, or race track with us!
Adult Arts and Craft
Join us at the library this week for our relaxed and welcoming activity for creativity, learning, and connection, Friday Adult Arts and Crafts! Participants can explore a range of hands-on activities, guided by simple instructions. ‘
These sessions are designed for all skill levels, making them a great opportunity for beginners to try something new.
Beyond creating something unique to take home, attendees can also enjoy the social aspect of the session - meeting others in the community, sharing ideas, and spending time in a calm, supportive environment.
Friday Flicks
The big screen will be on again next week, with residents invited to join us for Friday Flicks. Come and relax as we watch a recent, well-reviewed G or PG rated film. Support local business and bring along a coffee and morning tea to enjoy with the film!
Tech Savvy Seniors
Gilgandra’s Tech Savvy Seniors continued to educate themselves on the digital world this week, diving into the topic of ‘Introduction to emails’. There’s so much more to learn about technology, and the classes aren’t over yet, so feel free to join in for the remaining sessions.
This free and friendly program is proudly funded by Telstra, the NSW Government and the State Library of NSW. If you’d like help using your smartphone or tablet, this program is designed for you.
