Footpath Library founder named Cabonne Australia Day ambassador

Published on 04 January 2019

A woman who established a mobile library for homeless people has been announced as Cabonne Council’s 2019 Australia Day ambassador. 

Sarah Garnett is the founder and managing director of The Footpath Library, a charity she founded in 2003 after a chance meeting with a homeless man. 

She will attend ceremonies at Cumnock, Molong and Eugowra on Saturday 26 January 2019, where Citizens of the Year, Young Citizens of the Year and Community Groups of the Year will be announced. 

Australia Day will also be celebrated at Borenore/Nashdale, Canowindra, Cargo, Cudal, Manildra, Mullion Creek and Yeoval during a full day of activities in Cabonne. 

Sarah is passionate about reading and homelessness and marrying the two together. In 2007 she gave up her successful 26-year career as a communications and documentary producer to concentrate on the only library for homeless people in Australia. 

She aims to make books available for homeless people, raise awareness around this marginalised group in the community and encourage literacy. The Footpath Library runs mobile library services in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. 

Sarah faces a busy Australia Day starting with a breakfast ceremony at Cumnock Bowling Club at 8am before travelling to celebrations at Molong Recreation Ground at 11am followed by an awards ceremony and afternoon tea at Eugowra Bowling Club at 2pm.