Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka is pleased to announce that Sarah Garnett, of ‘The Footpath Library’, has been named as Narrandera Shire’s 2021 Australia Day Ambassador.

Sarah is the Founding Managing Director of The Footpath Library, a charity she established in 2003 after a chance meeting with a homeless man.

As a special guest of Council, Sarah will join Mayor Kschenka as he presents the 2021 Local Citizen of the Year Awards on Australia Day at Lake Talbot Water Park, Narrandera. Ms Garnett will also join Mayor Kschenka in travelling to Barellan to enjoy their afternoon celebrations.

Sarah is passionate about reading and homelessness and marrying the two together. In 2007 she gave up her successful 26-year career as a communications and documentary producer to concentrate on the only library for homeless people in Australia. Sarah aims to make books available for homeless people and raise awareness around this marginalised group in our community, as well as encourage literacy. The Footpath Library runs mobile library services in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, taking food for the mind and soul to the streets!

Mayor Kschenka welcomed the appointment of Ms Garnett as our Ambassador and said, “We are fortunate to have such an inspirational person as Sarah Garnett as our Narrandera Shire Ambassador for Australia Day 2021. I look forward to welcoming Sarah to our Shire and learning about her experiences and achievements.”

Australia Day Ambassadors are outstanding Australians who are past recipients of the Australian of the Year Awards, sportspeople, scientists, businesspeople, actors, and community workers. They provide inspiration and pride to Australia Day events in cities and regional areas.