Mobile librarian lends her last book

A FAMILIAR face to bookworms young and old, Kay Dickenson has made her final town visits as the Shire’s mobile librarian.

Joining Geelong Regional Libraries in 1999, she began driving the Golden Plains Mobile Library truck the next year, and retired just before Christmas.

A former farmer, Mrs Dickenson was inspired to join the profession one day in Meredith.

“I used to visit the old library, a semi-trailer, when it went there, and I really liked the idea of it. I love reading,” she said.

“I realised that was what I wanted to do, so I got my truck licenses, and when there was a vacancy, the library put me on.”

Since the turn of the century, book stocks and mobile library stops have come and gone, catalogue systems have varied, but the social side of her role has never altered.

“I love meeting the people. It’s a basic, friendly and very personal service out in Golden Plains, and it’s a social outing for us all.

“I’ve seen a lot of school kids grow up. One of the children from Linton was six-months-old when I met her, and she’s just about to go to high school now,” Mrs Dickenson said.

“I’ve gathered a lot of knowledge over the years of what people like, so if I see something that’s right for someone, I’ll save it for them.”

Being a “country girl,” Mrs Dickenson has “thoroughly enjoyed” the extensive rural driving, initially travelling 1200 kilometres around the Shire each fortnight, before she began making weekly visits to her book borrowers six years ago.

“I love driving in the countryside, and you see a lot from the height of the truck. I’ve enjoyed watching the different seasons, the crops, the sheep, cows and haybales,” she said.

“It’s a bit like the Pony Express through all weather conditions. I’ve had to double back after trees have fallen on the road. I’ve parked up at places and it’s snowed.

“I’ve listened to thousands of hours of audiobooks in the truck with CDs, and I’ve moved onto BorrowBox on my phone, which is fabulous for audiobooks too. I listen to everything, so I am able to recommend things.”

In recent times, Mrs Dickenson has regularly visited Cape Clear, Dereel, Enfield, Grenville, Haddon, Linton, Meredith, Rokewood and Smythesdale.

Depending on the town population and clientele, stops have been three quarters of an hour long, up to one hour and 45 minutes.

“On my last Friday working I got to Smythesdale and a couple of people gave me gifts and organised a card for the rest of the people to sign along my run. That was very precious,” Mrs Dickenson said.

Looking ahead to 2021, her head is “already in holiday mode.” She’s excited to spend more time with her six grandchildren, and to knit and crochet.

But the Golden Plains Mobile Library won’t disappear from her thoughts.

“I will gradually think about people, the ones I won’t see, the friendships I’ve formed over time, and the different interests I’ve discussed with them, from gardening to knitting.

“It’s been brilliant,” she said.