FORMER editor of the Lakes Mail, David Quick, was just one of the local living books available for “borrowing” at Avondale College of Higher Education on Saturday.
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Mr Quick shared stories from his journalism career as one of the living books at Avondale’s free human library.
Mr Quick founded the then South Lakes Mail in 1996.
Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has described the Brit as a “strong advocate for the area and a local oracle, with a keen wit to boot.”
Mr Quick said he agreed to feature in the catalogue because the human library was an “innovation, pure and simple.”
Libraries were integral to learning, he said, but “many people think they’re moribund. So, it’s important to do all we can to fan the flames”.
Rediscovering the power of conversation was also important, he said.
“Communicating without an ulterior motive helps us build on experiences, which in turn get swapped and lead to deeper knowledge and stronger connections,” he said.
He believes it is even better than sharing a story, although Mr Quick’s is interesting.
Born under a bed in East London during the blitz in 1944, Mr Quick had a youthful ambition to work as a truck driver in Europe, a coal miner and a steeplejack within two years of becoming an engineer apprentice.
He turned his trucking dream into reality and completed an apprenticeship, in journalism. Joining the Sydney Daily Mirror as a casual journalist after coming to Australia in 1982, Quick became a section editor for travel, motoring, electronics and real estate.
Then came a call to Romania, possibly as the only journalist invited into the country by the government, just weeks before the death of President Nicolae Ceceusescu during the revolution of 1989.
Readers at the human library swapped tales with Mr Quick over five 20-minute sessions.
Readers also chose living books from a catalogue featuring titles such as I know what the Anzacs in the trenches thought about God, and Escaping the killers in South Sudan.
They also heard stories of adventure from a Royal Flying Doctor Service pilot, and of nursing onboard a mercy ship off the coast of Africa.
They also met the 2015 Lake Macquarie Citizen of the Year, and a scripture teacher at Morisset High School.
Avondale Libraries presents the human library to reduce stereotypes and prejudice and to promote respect for human rights and dignity.
- *Brenton Stacey is the public relations officer at Avondale College of Higher Education, in Cooranbong.
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