It’s History Week and this year’s theme is The Great War. Researchers at Orange City Library are hard at work delving into the stories of the WWI servicemen and women from the area and posting their findings on the Centenary of WWI blog http://www.centenaryww1orange.com.au/

To date they have identified 1, 827 local service men and women, 209 of whom failed to return home, having being killed in action or died of disease. There were 25 women from the area who served as nurses, and at least seven indigenous service men.

The Centenary of World War I in Orange project is being led by a community committee which includes representatives from Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, the Orange and District RSL, sub-branch and the local community.

Special guests at tonight’s (Wednesday 27 August) Orange and District Historical Society monthly History Alive Talk are Central West Libraries Librarian Trudi Mayfield and local author of The Unknown ANZACS Michael Caulfield. The topic is WWI and Trudi will talk about her ongoing research for the Centenary of WWI in Orange website which showcases the stories of men and women from the district who enlisted and served in WWI. Visit the website: http://www.centenaryww1orange.com.au/

The WWI History Talk will be held at the Orange Senior Citizens Centre (entry from Woolworths carpark) at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Light refreshments will be served with a $5 entry fee to cover costs. To RSVP please call 6362 8647.

Photo courtesy: CWD Negative Collection, Orange and District Historical Society.

Check out this amazing account on ABC Local Radio from Cowra local Bruce Weir who recalls startling incidents from the Cowra Breakout 70 years ago: http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2014/08/01/4059073.htm

Several events are taking place in Cowra today and tomorrow as part of the Cowra Breakout Anniversary Program including a World Peace Ceremony and Lantern Parade. Check out the display at Cowra Library too.

Anzac Day commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers at a small cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, on 25 April 1915.

When World War One broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for just 13 years and was eager to establish its standing among the nations of the world. Newly elected Labor Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, pledged 20,000 Australian troops to support Britain in the war. These men formed the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and became part of the proposed Gallipoli campaign, the aim of which was to capture the Gallipoli peninsula and open the Dardanelles, thus uniting the Allies and providing access to the Turkish capital, Constantinople.

Read more about the 1,816 servicemen and women who signed up from Orange and the surrounding district on our WWI  blog http://www.centenaryww1orange.com.au/

We will remember them

Drum roll….Australia’s most prestigious literature prize, the Miles Franklin Award, was established through the will of My Brilliant Career author, Miles Franklin and the 2014 longlist includes two debut novelists and two past winners. And HUGE congratulations to longlisted author Trevor Shearston who visited Forbes Library and Orange City Library last year to talk about his nominated book Game – bringing life to the story of bushranger Ben Hall.

The 2014 longlist is:

Tracy Farr – The Life And Loves Of Lena Guant

Richard Flanagan – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Ashley Hay – The Railwayman’s Wife

Melissa Lucashenko – Mullumbimby

Fiona McFarlane – The Night Guest

Nicolas Rothwell – Belomor

Trevor Shearston – Game

Cory Taylor – My Beautiful Enemy

Tim Winton – Eyrie

Alexis Wright – The Swan Book

Evie Wyld – All The Birds, Singing

Go to  http://www.milesfranklin.com.au/news