While the Braidwood Book Fairs are organised by the Anglican Parish of Braidwood, they are community events.

The Braidwood Life Centre is one such community group to benefit from the proceeds of the National Theatre Book Fair.

On Sunday July 29, at a barbecue held to thank volunteers, a cheque for $1500 was presented to Braidwood Life Centre.

In acknowledging the donation, Braidwood Life Centre president David Avery said it ran on a very small budget.

The generous donation would be a huge help, especially at this demanding time of the year, Mr Avery said.

Marjorie Lemin, a Book Fair committee member for several years, said 10 percent of its proceeds were kept aside to be returned to the local community as needed.

Some of the proceeds supported Anglican missions in Australia, but the rest was for the community, including the Braidwood Life Centre, she said.

It also meant that if people approached the church in need, “We can help,” she said.

Ms Lemin said she doubted the era of books would ever finish, despite the popularity of tablets and e-readers.

“There’s a trend for reading all over,” she said. “There’s always demand for a good book.”

The Book Fair also accepted quality magazines; and jigsaw puzzles had made a popular resurgence in recent times, too.

Ms Lemin said people came from a wide area to attend, across the southern inland and right down the coast.

Planning is already underway for the 2019 Book Fair, with the first of two scheduled around the late January long weekend.

“We finish one and start planning for the next!” Ms Lemin said. “It’s been getting bigger and bigger, year on year.” The books are sorted into boxes in a storage unit to make set up and pack up easier.