Lifeline Canberra’s Bookfair was cancelled on Saturday and Sunday due to protest activity – but CEO Carrie-Ann Leeson says donations have matched what would otherwise be a successful Bookfair.
The Bookfair is Lifeline Canberra’s major fundraiser, and organisers hoped it would raise $1 million for crisis support services.
“It is the lifeblood and main source of revenue for Lifeline Canberra,” Ms Leeson said.
Canberrans have donated more than $700,000; the ACT Government donated $25,000; and even the protesters donated money.
“Our community have, through their generosity, repaired and righted our fundraising efforts,” Ms Leeson said.
“Most notably, this kindness and outpouring of support have consoled and uplifted those who were left heartsore and confused when they received the news. Our volunteers work for months to get these Bookfairs up, so to know it was not in vain means the world. We are eternally grateful.”
Bookfair cancelled
Lifeline’s 50th bookfair was intended to be a three-day event, running at Exhibition Park (EPIC) from Friday to Saturday, but the last two days were cancelled for safety reasons.
On Friday night, 10,000 to 15,000 more vaccine mandate protesters arrived at EPIC overnight, knocked fences over, and moved into the site near the Bookfair.
The unauthorised camping took up all service and parking areas allocated to the Lifeline Book Fair, police reported.
Lifeline volunteers and visitors did not have anywhere safe to park, and could not walk to the Bookfair without encountering the protesters, Ms Leeson said.
The Capital Region Farmers’ Market, held every Saturday morning at EPIC, was also cancelled. Producers and market stallholders were able to set up at other local markets.
Ms Leeson said Lifeline understood and respected individuals’ right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest.
“The majority of those camped at EPIC from last Monday, when we commenced bump in, were in full support of us being there,” she said.
“The spitting, verbal abuse, intimidation, and destruction of property that started on Friday was caused by a minority, and we feel for those who have been implicated by association.”
Community donates
Canberrans have donated more than $700,000. Lifeline received more than 500 donations on the Friday, while the Bookfair was open, from people too nervous to attend, or who were stuck in traffic and went home, Ms Leeson said. Donations ramped up significantly when the Bookfair closed on Saturday.
“We are so fortunate to live in this wonderful Canberra community,” Ms Leeson said.
The protesters donated money, too.
“Thank you for starting to mend our community; this is an incredible gesture, and we are grateful,” Lifeline posted on Facebook.
The ACT Government donated $25,000 to Lifeline – the amount campers paid to use the EPIC site.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Lifeline Canberra’s dedicated volunteers supported the community for 50 years, including two of the most challenging years in the ACT’s history.
“It is incredibly frustrating that one of the organisation’s most significant fundraising activities has been impacted in this way.”
“Minister Barr’s rapid response to what had happened was incredible; we are most grateful,” Ms Leeson said.
“We were not anticipating the flood of support received from the government, businesses and individuals when we made the call to suspend and then cancel the Bookfair.”
Additional Bookfair will not be held
Lifeline will not hold an additional Bookfair, Ms Leeson said, but a mini southside Bookfair is scheduled for July and the EPIC Bookfair for September.
The unsold 70 per cent of the stock – 180,000 items, including books, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles – was re-packaged and palletised for storage, freight to schools in Papua New Guinea and other vulnerable communities, or taken to Lifeline’s Booklover’s Lane bookshop at Fyshwick Markets for sale in the coming weeks.
Protesters’ behaviour condemned
Local politicians condemned the protesters’ disruption of the Lifeline Bookfair, and urged Canberrans to donate to the charity.
“The vandals who have shut it down are hurting Lifeline’s callers: some of the most vulnerable people in Australia,” said Andrew Leigh MP.
Alicia Payne MP said she was “disappointed and angry” Lifeline was “forced to do this by selfish disgusting anti-social behaviour. Lifeline saves people’s lives everyday, and volunteers have worked incredibly hard all year towards this event that Canberrans adore.”
“Enough is enough,” thought Liberal MLA Mark Parton. “It’s time these people went back to their homes. I think we’re done.”
Protesters moved on
The protesters have now left EPIC so the Royal Canberra Show can be set up.
“It means that EPIC can get on with the business of providing events to the Canberra and surrounding community,” Detective Acting Superintendent Rod Anderson said.
ACT Policing told campers they were to leave the park yesterday. Police helped Events ACT to remove an estimated 1,000 illegal campers and trespassers this morning.
Three people were arrested: a man and a woman were charged with trespass, and a second man was charged with trespass and resisting arrest. The rest complied with police orders.
“All the people that were here were camping illegally, and had been given plenty of warning that their activity was unlawful, which is why we moved in today,” Supt Anderson said.
Some protesters are camping lawfully at sites around the ACT; police and rangers will deal those camping illegally, including at the Cotter.
The public should let police know if they see people camping illegally. Call 131 444 or report online through Crime Stoppers ACT.
More than 10,000 people protested at Parliament House on Saturday, calling for the Federal Government to be dismissed, and for an end to lockdowns, mask mandates, vaccine mandates and ‘coercions’. Three people were arrested.
“Protesting activity is not illegal if you do it peacefully and without disruption to the community,” Supt Anderson said.
“On the whole, people were generally well behaved; there was some traffic disruption, but generally, they obeyed police directions.”
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