Hundreds of Mansfield Babies get Book Bags

Published on 27 July 2022

Another 100 babies born in the Mansfield Shire will receive a Baby Book Bag this year as part of a local partnership to support families with their children’s literacy.

Baby Book Bags is the only program of its type being offered by a Victorian council and is now in its fifth year. Thanks to the Friends of the Mansfield Library, the Mansfield CWA and Council’s Maternal and Child Health and Library teams, 300 babies have already received the Baby Book Bags.

Friends of Mansfield Library contributed $500 and the Mansfield CWA $1,000, with Council meeting the remainder of the $3000 cost.

Mayor Cr. James Tehan congratulated all those involved in the initiative which sees babies receive the bags on their first appointment with Council’s Maternal and Child Health nurse.

The bags contain books and CDs to support families to engage with their baby from birth through the sharing of stories, playing, singing and talking.

“Research has shown that reading with children from birth to 5 years is one of the single most important activities families can do to enhance their child’s future ability to read and write. Council is pleased to support our youngest residents through this partnership, which is another example of the community spirit we have here,” Cr Tehan said.

The project’s long-term vision is to give every baby from Mansfield Shire the opportunity to have the best start in life.

Michele Padbury from Friends of Mansfield Library said the Friends were very pleased to contribute towards the cost of this program as an investment in future generations.

“The Friends believe that providing new parents with books and information on entertaining babies and developing literacy is a fantastic idea,” Ms Padbury said.

Joanne O’Brien from the Mansfield CWA said the members are passionate about this project.

“CWA is all about helping women, children and families in our community. We have a strong interest in supporting children and literacy, having also previously sponsored the Mansfield and Merrijig Primary School’s literacy programs. We understand the importance of reading with children and are really pleased to be supporting mothers of young children with their reading at home,” Ms O’Brien said.

The baby reading packs will be purchased through Raising Literacy Australia, a South Australian based initiative.