Thank you to everyone who came along to our National Year of Reading Book Club Dinner featuring a talk by Miles Franklin Award shortlisted author Chris Womersely. He wrote Bereft which is set in the Central West after the Great War and inspired many guests to ask questions about the setting of the book, the origin of the letter, whether the girl was real or not and details about particular characters. MC Angela Owens from ABC Radio welcomed all the guests including State Librarian Dr Alex Byrne who happened to be in the region to open the new Manildra Library branch. Vocalist Barry Patterson wowed everyone with his jazz music (and tuxedo). While Edwena Mitchell Catering impressed guests with delicious canapes, lamb shoulder and vegetables main course, a pannacotta dessert and chocolate treats with coffee. It was amazing, and we hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did! Check out more photos on our facebook page!