Tributes flow for ‘generous’, ‘people-loving’ Lismore and Ballina librarian, Jill Gribble

The much-loved 88-year-old was also a former Northern Star reporter and is remembered as a person who “did a lot for the people of Ballina”.

Kerrie Fairlie, Dorothy Southwell and Jill gribble at Ballina Library in 1988.

Tributes have poured in, honouring the memory of former Lismore and Ballina librarian, Margaret Jill Gribble.

Ms Gribble worked as an air hostess in the 1960s, then becaming a journalist at The Northern Star.

Lennox Head resident Marelle Lee met Ms Gribble in the late 1950s when she started a cadetship at The Northern Star.

“I was the first female to go into general news, Jill went into social news, we became friends then,” she said.

“Recently we had seen each other as we both used to attend the U3A in Ballina.

“I saw her a week ago, she told me she was going into hospital soon, so I wished her luck.

“She did a lot for the people of Ballina, I was shocked to hear such tragic news.”

Jill Gribble (right) with fellow Ballina/Byron U3A member Margaret Robinson (left) cutting the organisation’s 25th anniversary cake in 2019.

Ms Gribble became a Ballina librarian in 1970, in 1974 was deputy librarian at Lismore and later returned to Ballina as a Ballina area librarian until her retirement.

Acting Regional Library manager at Richmond Tweed Regional Library, Lucy Kinsley, said she worked alongside Ms Gribble for decades and saw her dedication and generosity.

“She was a generous person, but she always did it quietly,” she said.

“I met Jill in 1974 when I started working at Richmond Tweed, she was my boss for a while.

“She was very knowledgeable but also keen on advancing other people’s learning, she was always keen on supporting others.

“Even after she retired from her role as Ballina area librarian she kept in contact and was always interested in what was happening here.”

Mrs Kinsley said Mrs gribble was an avid reader of books, particularly mystery novels. She also loved to play golf and was very sociable.

“She was always interested in helping people get what they wanted, and as very dedicated to the library and Ballina residents,” she said.

“She did talks to Friends of the Library about mystery books, and once I attended one of her speeches when she was talking about mystery books that had a cooking aspect to them.

“She was very social and loved people.

“She knew them to such an extent that she could pick authors that wrote about specifics such as cooking.”

Richmond Tweed Regional Library staff photo from 1991 with Jill Gribble on the first standing row on the left.

Former librarian Kerrie Fairlie said she started work at Ballina Library in August 1986 and Mrs Gribble was her boss for seven years.

“Everyone knew Jill as she was librarian in Ballina for many years,” she said.

“Staff were always a happy team.

“Jill was very much involved in planning the library building at 6 River Street, the current library site in Ballina.

“Jill was a dedicated librarian all her adult life.

“She was an active member of Friends of Ballina Shires Libraries for nearly three decades until present times.

“Jill will be missed by many in the Ballina community.”

Friends of the Ballina Shire Libraries, Jeanette Henwood, said Mrs Gribble published a book about the group.

“Jill was a founding member of the Friends of the Ballina Shire Libraries group and continued to be active for almost 40 years,” she said. “Within this group, Jill assumed many duties, both in executive positions and as a dedicated worker.

“In 2017 Jill‘s History of the Friends book was released, with a celebration at our July meeting.

“This was a true labour of love, many hours searching handwritten minutes, which Jill was very pleased to have completed.

“As the librarian of the old Ballina Library and a long term Ballina resident, Jill was known and loved by many. She will be missed.”

Police confirmed after extensive land and air searches, the body of an elderly woman was recovered from North Creek on Wednesday, June 23.

The body was suspected to be Ms Gribble. The 88-year-old was reported missing from her Camden Street home on Monday.

Richmond Tweed Regional Library Ballina Area staff photo from 1983, with Jill Gribble picture second from the right.