A Legacy of Care: Celebrating Dawn Althorp’s 20,000-Book Milestone

When Dawn Althorp’s eldest grandchildren began Foundation at Encounter Lutheran College in 2008, a simple call for library volunteers sparked what would become an extraordinary journey of service. At the time, the school librarian was seeking help to cover new books – and Dawn was the only one to put her hand up.

What started as a small act of generosity has grown into an incredible 18-year commitment. Each week, Dawn continues to visit The Nest (College library) to collect newly catalogued books, carefully taking them home to cover before returning them the following week. Her work is carried out with great precision and care, and she has diligently kept track of every book she has completed along the way.

Recently, Dawn reached a truly remarkable milestone – covering her 20,000th book.

Although all five of her grandchildren have now graduated from Encounter, Dawn’s dedication has never wavered. She remains a familiar and much-valued presence in The Nest, continuing her weekly routine with the same enthusiasm and commitment she began with all those years ago.

To recognise this outstanding contribution, staff gathered on Thursday 2 April for a special morning tea in Dawn’s honour. During the celebration, she was presented with a personalised stamp, which she can now place inside each book she lovingly covers – leaving a lasting mark of her contribution for years to come.

Dawn’s generosity and quiet dedication have made a lasting impact on the Encounter community. On behalf of staff and students, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her many years of faithful and ongoing service.