All members of a local book club for more than 10 years, their first step was founding the Friends of the Dungog Community Centre Inc.

Their initial goal is raising funds to support the expansion of early literacy programs throughout the shire.

"Apart from the lifelong entertainment reading can offer, it is an essential life skill," said one of the members, Lisa Connors.

"The fact is that people who struggle with literacy are more likely to live in poverty, lack education, drop out of school, and have difficulty finding employment.

"If children do not learn to read before the age of 8, they are more likely to have reading problems for the rest of their lives.

"Not all children are born to literate parents. Not all children are read to. Not all children grow up with books in the home.

"These children are the most likely to grow up poor readers or even illiterate, with all the consequent disadvantages."

The Dungog Shire Community Centre runs a number of early literacy programs throughout the shire, including Doug the Reading Bug, Books for Babies, and Train for School.

"Such programs can help turn the tide of such disadvantage," said Mrs Connors.

But like anything these programs come with a price tag and The Friends decided that whilst fundraising is noble, it also needs to be fun.

The group's first fundraiser is a morning tea event at 10.30am on Tuesday, October 29 at the CWA Hall in Dowling Street, Dungog.

The morning tea will include a short address from a local author, lucky door prizes, a book swap table and the chance to win a prize with some fun book club games.

This is a chance to meet other book club members and other readers, swap meeting notes and book recommendations, and maybe find a new member or two.

All proceeds from the $20 admission fee will go to the Dungog Shire Community Centre to fund its early literacy programs.

For more information contact Anne Higgins on 0403 029 181.