Community
2 July, 2026
Under review
A CREATIVE partnership helped to unite the next generation of readers at the first meeting of the Book Review Club over the weekend.
The Book Review Club is an initiative of the Mortlake Library in a bid to promote the benefits of reading and help younger members of the community build new friendships.
The club was launched in partnership with leading publishers and Western District Newspapers, with members, the Junior Reviewers, getting early access to new release books before penning their reviews – which will be published in the Mortlake Dispatch.
The first meeting was held at the Mortlake Library on Saturday with Jack Billing, Abbey Slowgrove, Zanthe Maher, Lexi Maher and Megan Wendt the first to join the Book Review Club.
Mortlake Library branch officer Jodie Wells-Slowgrove said she was rapt with the response and could not wait to get started.
“I’m really excited,” she said.
“As a writer myself, I’m looking forward to being a mentor to them while, from a teacher and librarian background, getting back into sharing my love of literature for the kids.”
The highlight of the day for the Junior Reviewers was their opportunity to select a not-yet-released book from a sprawling collection available to club members.
“These publishers have been so generous,” Mrs Wells-Slowgrove said.
“They all jumped on board so quickly as well, which was so thrilling.
“We’re really happy knowing the publishers were so excited because they know rural kids don’t get the same opportunities the city kids do.
“They don’t have the same access to things like large-scale writers’ festivals and to hear authors speak, which I think really resonated with publishers.
“They wanted to do something to support the kids out here.”
Mrs Wells-Slowgrove said anyone interested in joining the Book Review Club could still do so, with plenty of books available to suit the interests of potential members.
“They don’t have to be from Mortlake,” she said.
“There are lots of little towns around the area such as Terang, Noorat and beyond.
“We still have plenty of books and they’re more than welcome to pop into the Mortlake Library on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday – grab a book and come along to the next meeting.”
The Mortlake Library is open from 10am-1pm and 1.30pm-4pm on Wednesday and Friday, and from 10am-12noon on a Saturday.
Anyone between the ages of 11-18 interested in joining the Book Review Club can speak with Mrs Wells-Slowgrove or register their details in a box at the counter.
The next meeting of the Book Review Club will be on Saturday, July 25 from 11am at the Mortlake Library.
Mrs Wells-Slowgrove offered an open invitation for anyone to attend.
“Come along and come and visit us,” she said.
“I’d love to meet new visitors, show them the books and get more people through the doors.”
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