Lines from Barellan: Memories, Stories, Poems

SignificanceThe research that supported this writing is significant in a local, a regional and a national sense. The launch of the book at the Narrandera John O'Brien Festival brought the local stories and poems to a regional audience. A live radio interview with Ian McNamara, Australia All Over, conducted at the festival included excerpts introducing the local writers to a national audience. The project, Belles of Barellan, was sponsored by the Department of Women and was targeted to develop the voices of women in the Barellan Community. Charles Sturt University, through the Booranga Writers Centre and University printery facilitated the workshops and publication. This is in line with the CSU Strategic initiative of regional engagement to promote 'social and environmental sustainability' (Institutional Development Plan).Title of Work: Lines from BarellanReference: Thompson, J. (Ed.). (2003) Lines from Barellan. Wagga Wagga, NSW: fourWpress. 1 86467 1289Research BackgroundAn edited collection of oral histories, poems and stories from the history of Barellan. This was a publication that resulted from a community development project sponsored by Charles Sturt University, Narrandera Shire Council, Regional Arts NSW, Eastern Riverina Arts Program, Museum of the Riverina and the NSW Ministry for the Arts.The editor ran a series of writing workshops at the Barellan museum and worked with a number of local poets, teachers and archivists to draw together the material for this collection. The editor was also responsible for culling the contributions, arranging the selected works into themes that reflected the history of the community and farming areas, negotiating copyright and permissions, and the final proof editing and cover design. The book was launched at the Narrandera John O'Brien Festival in March 2003. Research Contribution Through government sponsorship and writing workshops the small community museum was able to publish an edited collection of their oral history stories. The research enabled the museum to establish links with community members who had stories to share and poetic collections that would have remained undiscovered. The poetry of Nathalie Semmler is particularly of note. This elderly woman, born in February 1921, spent seventy three years in Barellan and travelled from the nursing home in Leeton to contribute to the collection. She provided many years of well crafted stories and reflective poetry that chronicled her life in the small bush community. In this way the domestic poetry and life work of our elders can be recognised and celebrated. Without this vehicle for regional publication the Belles of Barellan would have remained voiceless. Research