42 Comments
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Warwick Hadfield OAM's avatar

Sir Gideon is too modest to record his saving of the Chilwell Library in Geelong, the council staff still needing counselling after his evisceration of them. As you can see below, not only did he and his fellow protestors save the library, the council is now renovating it. https://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/locate/chilwell-library

Gideon Haigh's avatar

I'm a librarian's son, Warwick. It's in the blood.

Tony Hedley's avatar

Very well played Gideon … I suspect the signatures of Nick Cave and Paul Kelly got the campaign over the line!

APM's avatar

So am I. My mother would be proud of you.

Gordon's avatar

Dear Gideon,

I know this isn't why you do this, but I have subscribed to Cricket et al for a month as my little way of saying thanks for all you do.

I look forward to taking my children to the State Library for the first time this weekend. Thank you for the prompt to consider what a remarkable institution it is and to not take the governance of our libraries for granted - there are times where we need to stand up to protect the institutions we value.

Finally I worked remotely for a day at the Craigieburn library a while back. A day in there is invigorating , it gets used by all ages across the community and provides benefits that can't be measured on a balance sheet. They are remarkable institutions.

Thank you

Gideon Haigh's avatar

Cheers Gordon. There's nothing better than a library. It's the best of us.

Sally Cowling's avatar

Dear Gordon,

As a Cricket et al subscriber who is something of a ‘cricket tragic’ could I say how beautiful I think your one month membership is. Libraries are such precious public institutions and I remember spending many hours at the SLV when I was a Masters student. Yes, the University of Melbourne had many wonderful libraries but the State Library was a special space to think and read. I hope you and your children have a magic time there on the weekend. The benefits that public librarians offer to children and all community members certainly can’t be captured in a balance sheet!

Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt's avatar

Well done to Andrew ‘Gigs’ Gigacz for his letter to The Age yesterday too.

Gideon Haigh's avatar

On ya Gigs, many thanks.

James Heuzenroeder's avatar

Libraries and Independent bookshops. Essential to all!

Chris Greenwood's avatar

Board Member 4: You know who's stuck his nose in on this one don't you?

BM. 7: No, who?

BM. 4: Haigh, Gideon Haigh!

BM. 7: That wanker. He works in agriculture, doesn't he.

BM. 4: He writes I think.

BM. 7: Well, if I was a reader ... I wouldn't read his drivel if you paid me!

Craig A's avatar

Congrats!

Far too many organisations are run by people who only see the bottom line as important. (Cricket…?)

Louise Yaxley's avatar

Well done, congratulations on all the hard work campaigning and good luck on the next element of the fight.

Mick Bourke's avatar

Have we moved from carpe diem to carpe vinum? Well done Gideon et al

Jeremy S's avatar

I’m not too embarrassed to say I had to look it up!

Mick Bourke's avatar

I’m also not too embarrassed to say I had to look it up to get the wine bit 😊

glenda ellis's avatar

Congratulations! But stay vigilant. They can be speaking with forked tongues….

Dave Sirl's avatar

Indeed. Their next move may be something like not announcing anything, but just starting to act at a time of the news cycle when opposition will be hard to drum up and the change can be painted as inevitable. Well done Gideon et al and stay vigilant.

Bram Alexander's avatar

GH, our public institutions need to reflect on the broad arc of the history & knowledge they are the custodians of.

Kudos to the many well known & just as many average citizens who got common sense back in the equation.

Jan Gross's avatar

This is very much an Et Al request Gideon - but where can I buy your book The one Indiscretion of his life - looks as if it may have to be through your own personal account again

Ben Constable's avatar

Lovely to see that this SLV posting by GH attracts as many or more comments as the very best cricket articles on Cricket et al. 🫶👍

If only the entire populace (and “powers that be”) held our libraries in the same esteem as cricket in our country.

Jeremy S's avatar

Great outcome.

Seema Chishti's avatar

Excellent news. And yes, if one wants to save something, must be ready to fight for it, and how. A lesson which is very clear to those of us in India, for sure.

David's avatar

This news makes the heart sing and gives hope. Will follow their future developments with great interest