The early childhood books were handed over to representatives of 11 primary schools as part of a project by the Rotary Club of Wodonga West and its counterpart in Surin.

Appeals over the past year encouraged people to drop books into Lifeline Albury, with a shipment weighing about 250 kilograms being well received.

The present collection, more than twice as big, had been due originally to arrive in Thailand in mid-March.

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Rotary Club of Wodonga West past president Jos Weemaes thanked everyone who contributed books.

"It shows that when like-minded groups of people over the globe are willing to co-operate, good things can happen," he said.

"In this case, the books collected in Albury-Wodonga are used to help primary school children in remote Thailand develop their reading skills and open up a world outside their village."