There are book launches, and then there is the Kiama Historical Society throwing itself a fiftieth birthday party with cake for 40 that somehow feeds about 145.
On 22 November the Society launched Dr Tony Gilmour’s new book Celebrating History Defending Heritage 50 years of Kiama Historical Society at Kiama library. The running joke of the afternoon was that this is not a dull, dusty organisation. As Tony reminded us, this is the Party History Society. The program proved his point.
A welcome that starts where it should
President Sue Eggins opened by introducing a room full of living history. Former mayor and founding instigator Neville Fredericks. Long-time leaders Ben and Margaret Meek. Volunteers, members, councillors and mayors. Then she handed to Aunty Dr Joyce Donovan, Wodi Wodi Elder and founding Aboriginal patron, to welcome us to Country.
Aunty Dr Joyce Donovan- Patron with Sue Eggins- President Kiama Historical Society.
Aunty Joyce did what she always does. She began with story. La Perouse to Red Rock and down this coast. Salt water people. The last great corroboree at Kiama. The birthing places along the Minnamurra river. The tent that became the first Illawarra Aboriginal medical service, and her job as a young woman lighting the fire so the doctor could wash his hands.
She talked about what happens when Aboriginal memories and settler memories sit side by side. Families bring her documents and stories, she tests them against the old people’s knowledge and the historians’ papers, and together they build something solid.
“Between the lot of us,” she said, “we have some fantastic stuff here.”
From archives to fish and chips wars
Then it was Tony’s turn. In between promising not to write another book for at least a year, he walked us through five decades of local history work. The birth of the Pilot’s Cottage Museum.
The very polite but determined shift from “serious scholarly society” to “we like a party as well as write papers.” Heritage weeks with costumes and home-grown theatre.
He reminded us that this town went from losing buildings without a second thought to describing itself proudly as a heritage centre. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because people like Sue, Ben, Neville, Gordon and Heather Bell, and many others, went from writing letters to fronting picket lines, collaring ministers on Terralong Street when buildings like Barroul House and the police residence were under threat.
Sue followed with forty years of personal memories. Discovering the Society accidentally over high tea in the Pilot’s Cottage. Mentors like Fran Whalan and Bill and Joan Leyshon who seemed to live up there with paintbrushes in hand. Four decades of fights for buildings that many towns would have shrugged off as too hard or too far gone.
She listed exhibitions that have quietly shaped the way locals see this place. The Lost and Found Treasures of Kiama show that documented houses we saved and houses we lost. The celebrations of Charmian Clift and Orry-Kelly that reclaimed people who barely rated a mention in their own town at the time of their deaths. The recent Orry-Kelly gala opening, complete with furs and frocks, that turned a costume designer into a household name again.
What struck me, listening to Aunty Joyce, Tony and Sue, was how much of Kiama’s identity now rests on the work of volunteers who read minutes, chase grants, run events and, when needed, stand in front of a bulldozer with a clipboard.
Fifty years on, the Historical Society is still doing what its constitution once called “promoting social intercourse” and what we might now call bringing people together so our stories do not get paved over.
Mayor Cameron McDonald (left) and Fiona Phillips MP (right) are patrons of the Kiama Historical Society, alongside Aunty Joyce Donovan. Dr Tony Gilmour (centre back), Vice President of the Society and author of the two books shown, joined them at the launch. Apologies to Aunty Joyce, she was in such demand on the day that I missed getting a photo of her with the full team.
On the way out, people bought books, poured wine, served cake and argued cheerfully about which battle over which building was the hairiest. It felt fitting. If history in this town is safe in anyone’s hands, it is probably in the hands of a party loving history society that knows how to mix frocks, fireworks and footnotes.
The book is available through this link for $25, with free delivery in the Kiama council area. All proceeds to Kiama Historical Society.
BTW Readers I do have better quality photos which I will locate and replace some currently in this blog
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