Friends of Castlemaine Library has left a remarkable parting gift after more than 30 years of fundraising, advocacy and activism.
FOCAL wrapped up in the first quarter of 2026, however Goldfields Libraries Regional Manager Jess Saunders said the group’s impact will carry on, especially following its final donation.
FOCAL has passed on a final amount of $4,500 to bolster the new Library of Things collection.
“Our Library of Things launched this year with a growing collection that aims to encourage sustainability, curiosity and wellbeing in our community, and this amazing contribution from FOCAL means we can add to what’s on offer,” Jess said.
“We’ll be spending the funds wisely after some consultation with community to find out what else people might want to borrow from our Library of Things.”
Former FOCAL president Denise Jepson (pictured above) said the group began in 1995, at a time when the Kennett Government sought to privatise libraries.
“Many communities did not agree with this, including many of us in Castlemaine,” Denise said.
“Fortunately, the Goldfields Library Corporation procrastinated so long that Kennett was voted out.
“The new local member was very supportive of the Castlemaine Library and granted $1 million for renovations. Through all this FOCAL began and developed.”
FOCAL then rallied the masses in the late 1990s, when the local council proposed moving the library into the back of the old Stoneman’s supermarket building.
“We had a number of big community meetings, which overwhelmingly were against this,” Denise says.
“All calmed down in the 2000s and FOCAL began concentrating more on projects, especially Books for Babies, which partnered with Maternal and Child Health.”
The Friend’s fundraising efforts ensured all families presenting with the health service received a quality board book in a special library bag, along with information about library programs for children.
In 2012, the group’s work again reached far beyond the library walls when it instigated the influential Read-Along Dads program at Loddon Prison.
“At the beginning this was to celebrate 2012 as the International Year of Reading, but it was so successful in its first three months we continued it and kept applying for more grants,” Denise said.
The program kept prisoners in touch with their children, via stories. FOCAL would record fathers reading a book from within the prison, then send the book and recording to that person’s child.
“Both parents and children benefited greatly both in literacy and wellbeing,” Denise said, adding the program continues today, thanks to Castlemaine Rotary.
The highly-anticipated, twice-yearly FOCAL book sales were another win/win initiative. Through the sale of ex-library and donated books, equipment and furniture was purchased for the library.
Jess said FOCAL has played a vital role in strengthening library services and enriching the local community.
“Their contributions also included commissioning a First Nations artwork and creating the magnificent quilt that continues to hang proudly in the library,” she said.
“Goldfields Libraries extends its sincere gratitude to FOCAL’s members, past and recent, for their tireless commitment, generosity and belief in the power of libraries to transform lives.
“Their legacy will continue to benefit the Castlemaine community for generations to come, as well as our extended communities via this generous contribution to our Library of Things.”