Collections are now being accepted at her Benalla electorate office.
Ms Cleeland said access to books and learning resources remained limited in many remote villages in PNG, and the local book drive was a simple but powerful way the community could help support education opportunities for young people.
“Something as basic as a book can make a huge difference to a child’s education,” Ms Cleeland said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to give preloved books a second life while helping students in village schools in Papua New Guinea develop literacy skills and a love of learning.”
The Benalla electorate office is accepting good-quality children’s books, early readers and educational texts suitable for primary and secondary school-aged students.
Donated books will be distributed to village schools where access to learning materials is limited.
Ms Cleeland thanked local residents for their generosity and said the response so far reflected the strong community spirit across the region.
“Our community is always willing to lend a helping hand, and this book drive is another example of people coming together to support children beyond our own borders,” Ms Cleeland said.
Donations can be dropped off at Ms Cleeland’s office at 25 Bridge St East, Benalla during business hours.
Community members seeking more information can call 5762 1600.
