New year, new books in local studies

Menindee Girl : the story of my life, by Joyce Hampton nee King

The biography of local Indigenous Ngiyampaa Elder Joyce Hampton, filled with drawings, photographs and her personal history within the broader political context, is a great read.  I found the descriptions of mission life factual and moving, giving a sense of the conditions Indigenous persons were forced to endure.

Wagga Wagga City Library will be hosting a book launch for Menindee Girl on Thursday February 9 at 6pm. You can book a place by ringing the library on 69269700 or emailing wcl@wagga.nsw.gov.au

 

Country  Women – Hold the Key : Celebrating the 90^th Anniversary of the First Riverina Group Conference .  by  the Riverina Group of CWA of NSW, Wagga Wagga

This interesting history of the CWA in our local area also covers CWA branches in Pleasant Hills, Galore Hill, Urana, and Wantabadgery.  Established in the early 1920s, the CWA has held (too numerous to mention) fund raising events over the years, in order to  assist others in country areas. This history also contains comprehensive lists of office bearers and photographs of various groups of women active in the local area.

Murrumbidgee Gentlemen : History of Narrandera’s Murrumbidgee Club 1903 -2003 , by Norman Houghton

Formed in 1903 in Narrandera, the Murrumbidgee Club was a gentleman’s “…social, literary, recreational and all other purposes lawfully  permissible to a registered club’ (p2) The building itself was a beautiful old house originally built in 1898, with space eventually dedicated to a reading room, a ballroom, a bar, a billiards room , all established over the years by purchasing local properties and adapting them for the purpose. The Club even had a roulette wheel operating in 1937, with other events such as balls, dinners, and polo matches held.

Women were not allowed in the club, but :

“The Club ladies were appreciated in odd ways. They were asked to comment on the design and layout of a proposed new kitchen in 1952 but were still not permitted to join the club.” P 53,  Murrumbidgee Gentlemen

Gentlemen Only : A History of the Riverine Club 1881 – 2016 by Norman Houghton

Norman Houghton has written another excellently researched and presented history of a local men’s club, the difference being here that the Riverine Club is still active and has evolved to admit women to use the premises and services of the club. Again there are some really beautiful black and white photos of the different rooms and the building itself, along with plans, ephemera from social events and extensive lists of members, office bearers and other people associated with the club through the years.

 

All these items are available for viewing within the library as part of the local studies collection.