In the outpouring of words about the death of the mega-star Dolly Parton, the most eloquent no doubt comes from a humble corner of Canberra which she really did touch.
Her organisation supplying books to bookless children in Tennessee went global, and now sends books to children in Belconnen. And in Belconnen, they were moved and grateful. They offered another side of the ultra-glamorous country singer.
"The world is filled with bad news stories these days, but hers was one good news story. Her generosity and kindness, that's something to celebrate," Hemali Gunawardana one of the people who runs the Imagination Library in Belconnen said.
"So I felt a sense of loss because she has passed away. But then, at the same time, I knew that she left something bigger than her. So that's something to celebrate."
Ms Gunawardana's colleague at the Imagination Library, Claire Canavan, added: "I felt proud to be part of it. I felt very sad that she'd passed, but overwhelmingly proud to be part of something that's so beautiful that she created."
Dolly Parton created Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in 1995. Her idea was to help the youngest children in her dirt-poor part of East Tennessee by fostering in them a love of reading. They would get, free-of-charge, a selected suitable book every month.
The idea took off and reached ... Belconnen where 138 families currently get the free book under the scheme.
"The reason she came up with this project was because it was something close to her heart. Her father was illiterate; he had challenges with reading and writing, and she wanted to do something for the next generation to overcome some of those challenges, to take away some of the barriers.
"Families who are doing it tough, who may not have access to books, they are kept away from some of the wonderful things that other children may have access to. So as a way of addressing some of those barriers, she came up with Imagination Library," Hemali said.
"It started in Tennessee in her hometown, and look at us - on the other side of the world in suburbs in Belconnen, and children in our community are receiving a free book once a month because Dolly Parton had this generous, beautiful idea of planting a seed."
"Each month, the children get sent out in the mail a lovely book that's age-appropriate," Claire said. "And then they have tip sheets for families on how to engage with the books. It's not just simply about reading the words on the page, but strategies for making it really bonding and a great experience for the families."
Different Imagination Libraries across Australia and across the world have different funding models. Some have government support. Belconnen's is purely through donations. The organisers thanked Rotary, Lions and Mothercraft.
Parents can enrol but the organisers also get information from schools about areas where families might not have many books or where English is not the main language so offers of the books are sent out. The idea with both is that parents are then bound in with the reading progress of the child - the books unite the family.
Thanks to Dolly Parton.
