She is undertaking a PhD (Family Studies) through the University of Newcastle’s Faculty of Health and Medicine researching and mapping children’s play. 

Katrien was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Hawaii before moving to the mid-north coast of NSW and now calls Wagga home.  

After spending her childhood in the tropics she is still learning how to dress warmly for Australian winters.

With such well-travelled parents, her home was filled with a cornucopia of books, mementoes from their many journeys across the world. 

It is fair to say that Katrien developed a love of books from an early age and found great pleasure in thoroughly reading the many stories stacked onto the family bookshelves loving crafted by her father.

Georgina and Dad the Dragon is Katrien’s first children’s book. 

She hopes that children and adults alike will curl up with it and be transported by the story. 

She also hopes to pass on her love of books to a new generation of young readers through its pages. 

You can hear Katrien read at a specially themed dragons storytime on the February 24 and 26 at 10am and 11am.

Synopsis: Georgina had fought many battles as the greatest knight in the land. But her most dangerous battle of all was against Dad the Dragon. Will Georgina be able to stop Dad the Dragon from gobbling up chickens and burping fireballs on her village?

Copies of the book will be available for sale on the day and of course Katrien will be available to write a personal inscription. 

You can also purchase signed copies from the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery Shop.

Katrien lives with her partner, Ben, their puppy called Albert, a duck called Little Feather, and five chickens.

Book Launch

AUTHOR Robyn Collins will be launching her book Return to the Soul today at 2pm in the Community Learning Space.

Losing your newborn baby after nine months of joyful anticipation is something no parent contemplates. Making sense of life and death is something all humans must confront and many find the experience overwhelming. 

Robyn Collins, author of Return to the Soul, describes herself as "an ordinary housewife who faced and survived an existential crisis".

Robyn embarked on a spiritual journey that included encounters with both eastern and western philosophy and ultimately found a common thread and simple message for all.

Copies of the book and meditation CD and will be available for purchase for $20 each, cash and cards accepted.

Baby Bounce

JOIN our special guest presenter Sharon Smith, Children’s Librarian with the Riverina Regional Library for Baby Bounce.  

Baby Bounce is a four week early literacy programme for 0-12 month old babies and their carers.

Introduce your baby to the rhythm and sound of language, using songs, rhymes, books and music.

You will also get to meet other carers with babies the same age.

Sessions require one lap per baby, so please invite extra helpers if you have twins or triplets.

Opening hours