Stick Shed open

The big drawcard of the Wimmera's Heritage Festival will be the Murtoa Stick Shed.
Based on the enthusiasm generated when it opened last year during the Big Weekend, there should be a crowd lined up at the site on Saturday 5th May from 10am to 4pm. No bookings are required, and it will only cost you $5 to enter.
So come armed with your camera to capture that magnificent cathedral like atmosphere.
Check out my other Stick Shed and  Heritage Festival posts for more information.

Hidden Horsham

Local Laneways Twilight Tour

Take a tour of Horsham's local laneways, buildings and their history through the eyes of the night-cart man.
Beginning at the Horsham Town Hall in Wilson Street, at 4pm on Saturday 5th May, the tour will follow the lanes which parallel Firebrace Street.
Returning to the Town Hall, light refreshments will be available at the conclusion of the tour.
The tour costs $5 per person, and bookings are essential, contact or visit the Horsham Library in McLachlan Street, on 53821777.

The 'Times' hits the headlines

I spoke earlier about the added value of the Australian Historical Newspapers project, now that they have added the Horsham Times, well I'm not the only one.

This email message was broadcast recently by the Collaborative Services Director at the National Library -

"It has been wonderful to see how Trove has raised the profile of heritage and contemporary collections held in Australia's cultural agencies and educational institutions.  Just last week, this blog http://mywdfamilies.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/alfred-winslow-harman-stepping-out-of-the-shadows/ shared a moving story about the value of Trove." 

On checking the blog post it refers to 'The Horsham Times', Warracknabeal, Murtoa, Rupanyup, and Hopetoun.

Women in the Year of the Farmer

Off to attend an author event in Robe on Sunday, meeting author Liz Harfull.
Liz is a rural journalist, freelance writer and editor, covering a range of issues from technical aspects of farm management practices and environmental management, to more general pieces about food and fibre production in Australia and overseas, and feature stories about life in the outback and rural identities. She began her career as a cadet journalist on a local newspaper, and later worked for The Advertiser  and Rural Press, winning a prestigious Dalgety Award for Excellence in Rural Journalism. She has had freelance stories and photography published in range of newspapers and magazines in Australia and overseas.

Her new book Women of the land is the inspiring and heart-warming stories of eight remarkable rural women who run their own farms, often juggling the demands of raising a family, they have overcome tragedy, personal fears, physical exhaustion and more than a little scepticism to build vibrant futures that sustain them and their families, in the process inspiring their neighbours and communities with their entrepreneurship, humility and determination. Each chapter explores the personal story of one woman and the people who have inspired her, the challenges she has faced as well as the humorous and heart-warming moments that have sustained her. The book also captures something of the rhythms and routines of daily life on their farms.
Liz will be at "The Whistling Fish Bookshop" in Robe at 2pm on April 8th.
Images from Liz's webpage http://www.lizharfull.com/