Rabobank’s Rabo Community Fund in partnership with the ‘edu-tainment’ brand ‘George the Farmer’ has donated a record number of book packs to educational institutions across Australia during National Book Week.
The specialist agribusiness bank – in collaboration with George the Farmer – awarded 70 book packs, with a collection of all 13 Australian-made George the Farmer picture storybooks to primary schools, kindergartens, pre-schools, early learning centres and childcare centres around the country for their libraries.
Rabobank head of community and client engagement Glenn Wealands said the initiative – now in its third year – attracted an “impressive 450 applications from large and small centres of learning”.
Mr Wealands said the interest from educational institutions – from both metro and country locations – highlights the appetite for children to learn about where their food and fibre comes from in an entertaining and engaging way.
“George the Farmer book packs will be going out to institutions from Charleville in Queensland to Perth, Western Australia,” he said.
A full list of educational institutions receiving George the Farmer book packs can be found here.
George the Farmer began as an interactive story app in 2015 and founder Simone Kain has since expanded the brand to include virtual-reality experiences, music, performances and paddock-to-plate videos available on YouTube and ABC iView, alongside free, curriculum-aligned educational resources.
As an author, Ms Kain said, Book Week has become one of her favourite times of the year.
“The photos I receive of little George the Farmers and Ruby Farmers dressed up in classrooms across the country make me incredibly proud,” she said.
“Knowing that these characters – and the themes of farming – are inspiring a love of reading in young minds is truly rewarding. After all, this inspiration is what kick-starts their entire learning journey.”
Ms Kain said finding the right book can be transformative.
“Stories that reflect a child’s environment, culture or interests can make reading come alive,” she said.
“That’s why we created George the Farmer – to offer curriculum-aligned teaching resources, videos, and books that are both relatable and engaging to not just farm kids – but every child.
“Our platform has helped educate over 600,000 children to date across Australia about food and fibre, making a significant impact on their learning.
“Our partnership with Rabobank Australia and New Zealand has also been crucial in supporting literacy efforts.
“Through this collaboration, approximately 6,000 George the Farmer books have been distributed to schools across both countries, boosting literacy among challenged learners and strengthening children’s connections to regional areas and their understanding of food and fibre.”
The world’s leading specialist food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank is one of Australia’s largest agricultural lenders and a major provider of business and corporate banking services to the country’s food and agribusiness sector.
In 2021, the bank launched the Rabo Community Fund in Australia and New Zealand to invest in the sustainability and vitality of rural communities.
“As a cooperative, Rabobank has a rich history of community engagement and always looks to make an impact across the rural communities in which our clients live and work,” Mr Wealands said.
“The Rabo Community Fund is driven by the bank’s farming clients, who play a central role in their communities.
“They support local initiatives with the goal of making a meaningful impact on the vibrancy and resilience of rural Australia.”
Mr Wealands said George the Farmer’s ambition of creating a world in which children connect with the earth, food and farming aligns seamlessly with one of the Rabo Community Fund’s central themes of fostering urban-rural connections.
