A Northern Rivers woman’s love of books is helping deliver emergency shelter to families fleeing disaster and conflict on the other side of the world, one page at a time.
Kerrilyn Goode, from the Northern Rivers near Lismore, joined the ShelterBox Australia Book Club in 2024 after hearing about it through a neighbour, becoming part of a nationwide community of readers committed to making a difference.
Since launching six years ago, the club has helped ShelterBox deliver emergency shelter and essential supplies, including water filters, solar lights and mosquito nets, to people in crisis around the world.
Ms Goode, who co-owns an Early Childhood Education Centre, said the club had introduced her to authors and experiences she would never normally pick up.
“I have been an enthusiastic reader since I was a little girl, and I have loved sharing my love of reading with the children I have worked with over the years,” Ms Goode said.
“Most of the books suggested through ShelterBox are not books I would typically read.
“It’s an all-inclusive book club that introduces me to a wider range of authors with extraordinary experiences to share.”
Members make a small monthly donation to join, then choose their own copy of each shortlisted title in whatever format they like, borrowed, bought, listened to or downloaded. Every six weeks, the group votes on a new book and gathers online to share reflections, ideas and conversation.
“By introducing me to perspectives that I would not otherwise come across, it broadens my knowledge of many different people’s experiences,” Ms Goode said.
“It encourages empathy and a deeper understanding.”
The online format means Ms Goode never misses a meeting, wherever she is.
“I also like that the meetings are done via a Zoom link so it doesn’t matter where I am, I can get to book club,” Ms Goode said.
“It has introduced me to new people, broadened my vocabulary and extended my knowledge.
“I feel that my regular donation means I am helping the team to make a difference to people in need because ShelterBox does such important and necessary work.”
Her favourite reads so far are The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar and Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko.
“The first gives a deep insight into the experiences of a refugee fleeing their country the war in Syria and the horrific events they encounter trying to get to safety,” Ms Goode said.
“It was such a personal encounter and a very important story for privileged people to understand.”
“Edenglassie tells of early settlement in Australia and the impact it had on First Nations people. It is a powerfully written and beautiful story.”
Recent picks have mirrored ShelterBox’s own work on the ground, with readers exploring Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup after the earthquake in Myanmar, and Reem Gaafar’s A Mouth Full of Salt while ShelterBox responded to displacement in Sudan and neighbouring Chad.
ShelterBox specialises in emergency shelter and has supported more than three million people in nearly 100 countries.
Head Bookworm at ShelterBox Australia Book Club, Peita Byer, said the club’s readers were changing lives without ever meeting the people they helped.
“With every story read, our book-loving community is helping shelter people around the world who have been uprooted from their homes, whether by conflict, tropical storms, flooding, or earthquakes,” Peita Byer said.
“We hand-pick stories that immerse readers in diverse cultures and authentic experiences, whether in real life or in fiction.
“With every story, members connect more deeply with the people we support, while helping create happier endings for families in crisis.
“People like Kerrilyn are making a difference to the lives of people they will never meet simply through their love of reading.”
ShelterBox is currently supporting families displaced by earthquakes in Venezuela, and responding to some of the world’s most neglected displacement crises in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Burkina Faso.
To find out more or become a member, visit shelterboxaustralia.org.au/reading-room.
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