The Lifeline Bookfest is considered to be the world's largest second-hand book sale and, not surprisingly, more than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the mammoth five-day event at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Approaching the event is a bit like approaching a visit to Disneyland or Ikea or even, say, my childhood bedroom at my parents' house.

A bookworm buddy of mine, who looks suspiciously like Hannibal from the A Team, suggests visitors go in knowing what they're looking for, follow the maps and stay calm. In other words, you need the steely resolve of a serial killer and a take-no-prisoners attitude. The key is not to hesitate when you find what you're looking for. Whatever you do, if you see a book you want, grab it there and then. It won't be there if you come back for it later.

Or worse, you'll go back for it and someone else will be cooing over that hard-bound copy of Like Water For Chocolate or The Sound Of One Hand Clapping (soon to be called The Sound Of One Book Thumping after you take a swing at the person with a nearby hefty Bruce Courtney or Harry Potter). Then it might be a good idea to go to the self-help section and have a look around for that classic book, Bibliophiles Who Thump And The People Who Love Them.

So I know what you're thinking. You're thinking with 2 million books on sale, which category is the most popular? Put it this way, Star Trek and Buffy fans had better wear their running shoes. Science fiction/fantasy is always the section that gets cleaned out the fastest, with dedicated sci-fi fans often the first in line when the doors open. Late starters take heart that the tables (spread over two halls of the Convention Centre) are restocked each night so bargains can still be found each day. Good news for families and school libraries hoping to stock their shelves without breaking the budget.

Lifeline hosts the Bookfest twice a year and raises close to $1 million to help fund the organisation's free counselling services. So there really is a guaranteed happy ending for every book sold. Pre-loved books are going to new homes and the money raised from each sale helps Lifeline continue to help people in need.

It may surprise you that the other person happy to wax lyrical about the importance of Lifeline's work is Rupert McCall - the organisation's ambassador and well-respected poet, speaker, radio and TV presenter, tour group guide and all-round sports nut. McCall was invited to become a Lifeline ambassador in 2004 when the organisation was celebrating its 40th birthday. He didn't hesitate in accepting the invitation to become involved.

As well as representing Lifeline at official functions and occasions, McCall lets his poetry do the talking when he wrote a moving tribute to mark the charity's milestone. In it he acknowledges that most basic need in all of us. To be really listened to without judgement.

   Everyday Australians in a world they'd grown to fear
   All they really needed was the warmth of someone's ear
   So that was what was offered and encouraged as a choice
   A true and honest Lifeline to a cold and frightened voice.