Community & Business
15 July, 2026
The GIL Library Hub News - July 14, 2026
'The Last Daughter' is set to screen at The GIL Library Hub this week.
This week, the powerful documentary 'The Last Daughter' will be screened at the GIL Library Hub.
At just two-years-old, Brenda Matthews and her six siblings were taken from their Aboriginal parents and placed into foster care. Brenda was adopted by a loving white family and grew up knowing nothing of her Aboriginal heritage or of the family who fought desperately for her return. Years later, the government removed Brenda from her adoptive family and reunited her with the Aboriginal family she could no longer remember. She was the last child to be returned.
As Brenda grew older, she buried memories of her adoptive family to avoid causing pain to those around her. But the trauma of her disrupted childhood remained. Forty years after losing contact with her adoptive family, Brenda set out to find them, embarking on a deeply personal journey to uncover the truth about her past, confront the legacy of government policies, and reconcile the two halves of her family.
'The Last Daughter' is a moving and thought-provoking film that explores identity, belonging, family, and healing. Suitable for adult audiences, all are welcome to attend.
Making Technology More Accessible at The GIL Library Hub
Several exciting accessibility devices and software systems are now available at The GIL Library Hub, helping more people connect with and confidently navigate the digital world. Visitors who find a standard computer mouse difficult to use can try the new Big Track 2 Trackball or a Switch Hub with large, colourful buttons that can be customised to suit individual needs. The Clevy 3 keyboard, featuring large, colour-coded keys and a key guard helps users type more accurately. This is especially helpful for those who may have difficulty articulating movement on a low-profile touch sensitive keyboard. Paired with ABC Maestro software, the Clevy 3 keyboard provides valuable support for developing reading, writing and typing skills.
Young visitors can enjoy two dedicated children's computers equipped with Magic Desktop, a secure and educational program designed for children aged two-to-12.
Also available is a new accessibility laptop with ZoomText Fusion software, which combines screen magnification and screen reading technology to assist people with low vision.
These new resources are part of the Rural Opportunities – Break the Barriers Project, funded by the NSW Public Library Infrastructure Grant, thanks to the State Library and the Library Council.
This funding allows The GIL Library Hub to offer more inclusive technology and create greater opportunities for everyone in our community to access information, learn new skills and stay connected. If you, a family member or friend would like to explore these accessibility tools, drop into The GIL Library Hub and speak with our friendly staff.
Holiday LEGO®
The holiday edition of our popular LEGO® program brought many builders to the library last week, all of them ready to create and play!
A fast-paced game of LEGO® Bingo started the excitement, then builders created native Australian animals to decorate our NAIDOC week window display. Some builders undertook the extra challenge to build only using red, black or yellow bricks, with stunning results.
The instructional kits were popular during free play, with many intricate kits finished within the time. Come to the library and see these great builds on display!
Kids Cooking at the Library
The library was filled with delicious aromas after our junior master chefs spent time in the kitchen these school holidays.
Pinwheels were on the menu, with participants creating both Vegemite and cheese, and ham and cheese varieties. Along the way, the children practised valuable culinary skills, including measuring, cutting and spreading ingredients.
Although the wait for the pinwheels to bake felt long, it was well worth it when everyone got to enjoy the warm, golden, cheesy treats fresh from the oven!
Drawing Workshop at the Library
Did you know that drawing Pokémon can be as easy as breaking them down into simple shapes? Our school holiday participants discovered that drawing wasn’t as difficult as they expected during our Pokémon drawing workshop.
We started with the adorable Togedemaru, whose round shape made it the perfect character to begin with. Next came Pikachu, who introduced a few more circles and his iconic zigzag tail.
For their final challenge, our young artists drew Squirtle in an action pose. This required a little more thought as we considered angles, proportions and the positioning of different body parts, but the results spoke for themselves!
Gilgandra’s young artists created fantastic Pokémon drawings, showcasing their creativity and talent. If your child would like to keep practising at home, the library has plenty of step-by-step drawing books available to borrow until our next drawing workshop.
Holiday Gaming at the Library
There were cheers of joy and cries of despair echoing through the Tech Space last week as participants battled it out in our Gaming @ the Library Mario Kart races!
The dash to the finish line was packed with flying shells, slippery banana peels, and some seriously impressive driving skills. Everyone took turns behind the wheel using our racing steering wheel, making for an action-packed afternoon of friendly competition.
Did you know you can book a gaming session at the library any time? All you need is a free library membership and a signed waiver form. Contact the library to find out more about booking your next gaming session!
Books and Blocks
It was time to build, create and play at Books and Blocks last week, with another fun-filled session for our toddlers and preschoolers!
There was plenty of imaginative play as we built cosy beds for our puppets, rescued people with helicopters, and watched Humpty Dumpty take his famous tumble off the wall. Along the way, our little learners also put their engineering skills to the test, building impressive towers and carefully balancing blocks.
We can't wait to see what we'll create together at this week's session!
Preschool Craft
There’s no better place to get crafty than the library, where children can make a mess, explore their creativity and enjoy spending time with their peers!
Many preschoolers joined us for our monthly Preschool Craft session and spent a fun-filled morning painting, cutting and gluing.
After cutting out and assembling a 3D watering can, our young artists decorated it with paint before using cotton tips to create colourful dot art representing water flowing from the can.
They then added a variety of cut-out flowers or painted their own blooms to complete their masterpiece.
The finished artworks were beautiful, colourful scenes of watering cans bringing gardens to life. We were so impressed by the creativity and imagination of our preschoolers and can't wait to see what they create next month when Preschool Craft returns!
Upcoming early learning activities
This week, join us for Books and Blocks, where little imaginations can create endless worlds of adventure and play. Build towering structures, drive trucks through tunnels, or let dinosaurs roam your very own city - the possibilities are endless! Books and Blocks encourages creativity, problem-solving, and imaginative play in a fun and welcoming environment. Suitable for children aged zero-to-five years.
Storytime will return next week, with lots of songs, rhymes and stories for our young learners. Come and join in plenty of early literacy, sensory activities and craft with friends.
Wiggles and Giggles is an exciting new program for children under six and is returning next week! Join us for a music and movement program, designed for preschoolers and their caregivers. Kids get to build motor skills, practice listening, and connect with their caregivers, all the while having an absolute blast at the library!
