After almost three decades serving the Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait, Babcock Australasia (Babcock) is furthering its long-standing commitment to the region through the delivery of thousands of books to local school children – the latest initiative in the company’s ongoing support for the communities at the heart of its operations.
Earlier this year, Babcock called on its Australian staff to donate new and pre-loved books for children in the Torres Strait – where access to books is limited and there are no local bookshops on the islands.
Recognising this challenge, Babcock, in partnership with the Thursday Island Reading Group, Tagai State School and Our Lady of The Sacred Heart School, saw an opportunity to grow the much-loved Thursday Island Reading Group, expand access to books and support a lifelong love of reading among local children. Rather than creating a new program, Babcock saw an opportunity to strengthen and scale community-led initiatives already delivering value for local children and families.
Babcock’s book drive resulted in more than 2000 donations, including much-loved children’s classics from authors such as Julia Donaldson, Alison Lester and Andy Griffiths.
Babcock Australasia’s connection to the Torres Strait runs deep. Babcock delivers critical, lifesaving aeromedical retrieval and search and rescue services to the region from its base on Horn Island, where the company continues to form strong relationships with local stakeholders and demonstrate a deep and ongoing commitment to the community.
Babcock Australasia Acting Chief Executive Officer Leah Grantham said:
“For nearly three decades, the Torres Strait has been more than just a place where Babcock operates critical aviation services – it’s a community we’re deeply proud to be part of and this initiative is a great reminder of the impact we can make when we come together.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of our people. Through this partnership, we’re humbled to get the opportunity to give more children the chance to discover the joy of literacy and reading, no matter how remote their home may be.”
Thursday Island Reading Group founder Sallyella Sloss said:
“The Thursday Island Reading Group is extremely grateful to Babcock and their employees for pulling off this incredible donation of more than 2000 books – that’s 2000 books heading straight to classrooms and home libraries.
“We know that books in children’s homes have a greater impact on educational outcomes than any other variable. These books will be read and shared again and again through the Thursday Island Reading Group’s many great initiatives.”
