DOYLE, Maureen & HAWKE, Gwen

ISBN 978-1-923645-55-4
PAPERBACK

ISBN 978-1-923645-56-1
HARDCOVER

Whispers of History

 

Pioneering women of Whittlesea prior to 1945

Welcome to a delightful journey through time, where the remarkable pioneering women of Whittlesea take centre stage.

These pioneering spirits faced challenges that would make most of us cringe. Yet, they persevered. They managed homes, supported their husbands, and made significant contributions to their communities—all while navigating the trials of their era with grace and humour.

This isn’t just a collection of dry facts and dates. No, this is a celebration of resilience, wit, and the indomitable spirit of women who played essential roles in shaping their society. These women didn’t just hold down the fort; they often built it. They tackled obstacles with a laugh, proving that a sense of humour can be as vital as any tool in tough times.

Our authors, with over 40 years of combined experience in local history, have poured their hearts into this book. Their dedication shines through their research, gathered from countless conversations with the people who lived it. They’ve kept the stories alive, ensuring that the voices of those women echo through time.

Why does this matter? Because history isn’t just about the past. It’s about understanding our roots and learning from those who came before us. The lessons from these women can guide us today, reminding us that strength can be found in the most unexpected places.

So, whether you’re a history buff or just curious about the lives of the extraordinary pioneering women, this book is for you. Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and prepare to meet the unsung heroines of Whittlesea. Their stories are true whispers of history.

About the Author

 

Gwen and Maureen are passionate historians that individually have showed dedication to preserving Whittlesea’s rich history.

Gwen has devoted more than a quarter of a century to the Whittlesea Historical Society Inc, faithfully serving the Whittlesea community whilst preserving Whittlesea’s rich history. Throughout her long tenure, she has ensured that the story of Whittlesea, remains alive for future generations. Gwen is a devoted mother and accomplished advocate whose considerable achievements reflect her deep commitment to heritage.

Maureen Doyle is a dedicated teacher, passionate researcher, and devoted family historian with a particular interest in Irish ancestry. Maureen’s passion for history is matched only by her dedication to her family. Raising her children has been her greatest achievement, instilling in them the values of resilience, curiosity, and a love for their heritage.

Together Maureen and Gwen have fostered a deep appreciation for family connections and local history, helping many uncover the narratives of their ancestors, they have become pillars of local heritage, known for their encyclopaedic knowledge and unwavering commitment to historical preservation.

Their contributions are both vast and deeply impactful. They were instrumental in campaigning, and rallying community support to fund the George Sherwin Commemorative Bandstand—a lasting tribute to civic pride. Their efforts also led to the saving and preservation of the historic courthouse, just to mention a few.

This book is one of stewardship, storytelling, and service—an enduring testament to what can be achieved through passion, perseverance, and love for one’s local history.

VAVROVA, Daniela

ISBN 978-1-923645-53-0
PAPERBACK

Tides of Memory

 

A Living History of Yorkeys Knob

Tides of Memory begins with a simple truth: a place is never only land and coordinates. It is woven from memory, shaped by relationships and carried in the stories people tell. Yorkeys Knob is not just a headland on a map, but a living shoreline of experiences — marked by beauty, resilience and the quiet continuities that tie generations together.

The stories held here rise from interviews, community gatherings, family albums and treasured keepsakes. They are created in companionship — with residents who opened their homes, their archives, and their hearts. Through this shared making, a deeper trust forms and a legacy grows — one that stretches beyond the final printed page.

Across four chapters spanning the late twentieth century to the present, voices of the community speak to changing seas, shifting climates and the evolving rhythms of daily life. Their testimonies trace how Yorkeys Knob bends and transforms, yet holds close the values that anchor it.

This book is also an invitation — to listen, to wander, to explore further. The Tides of Memory Interactive Map continues the journey: follow the QR code to walk through stories mapped onto place. And as you travel through these histories, we welcome your reflections on how we remember, write and share the living fabric of a community.

About the Author

 

Dr Daniela Vávrová

 

I’m a visual anthropologist, independent researcher, and former Curator at the Cairns Museum, with roots in Bratislava, once part of Czechoslovakia. My work has always been driven by curiosity – about people, cultures and the ways we understand the world through images, words, and sensory experience. Since 2005, I’ve spent long stretches of time in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea, where my PhD project and film, Skin Has Eyes and Ears, grew from close relationships and everyday observations. These days, my skills in storytelling, ethnography and visual communication have taken on new forms through cybersecurity work and private investigations. Life in remote Yorkeys Knob keeps me grounded and inventive as I juggle research, parenting my 11-year-old son, helping at Yorkeys’ Gem Rent-a-Car, and creating photographic calendars featuring the place I call home.

You can find more of my work at danielavavrova.net.

BYRNE, Bob

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ISBN 978-1-923645-33-2
PAPERBACK

Photos & Memories 1960s

 

What made the swingin’ sixties

The Sixties Down Under: Discover Australia’s Era of Extraordinary Change

Step back into the Australian decade they call “The Swingin’ Sixties”. From the comfortable certainties of 1960 to the moon landing that ended the decade Photos and Memories 1960s captures the extraordinary transformation of a nation in a time of great change.

As Beatlemania swept through our cities and decimal currency replaced pounds, shillings and pence, we witnessed the 1967 referendum that overwhelmingly voted for Aboriginal rights. Relive the controversy of Vietnam, the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt, and the cultural revolution that saw young Australians questioning everything their parents had accepted.

Beyond the major events, discover what daily life was really like – from typing pools and record shops to marching girls and Earl’s Court adventures. Through personal memories and year-by-year chronicles, this book brings the sights, sounds, and spirit of 1960s Australia vividly to life.

Whether you were born in the swinging sixties, went to school or simply want to understand the decade that shaped modern Australia, this nostalgic journey will inform, entertain, and transport you back to one of the most exciting eras in our nation’s history.

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ISBN 978-1-923589-62-9
PAPERBACK

Australia Remember the Year 1796

 

A look back in time

Welcome to your history.

Step into Australia of 1976. A nation recovering from political upheaval, where flares were fashion, Countdown ruled Sunday nights on TV, and the local Chinese restaurant was exotic dining.

Discover the everyday details that shaped your world – from platform shoes to emerging environmental movements, from meat-and-three-veg to the first stirrings of multiculturalism, from the tribal passions of football codes to the revolution happening in women’s lives.

Through vivid storytelling and photos, explore the politics, culture, technology, and social changes of this pivotal year. Learn about the workplace your parents knew, the classrooms of your childhood, and the seeds of change that would define your future.

This is more than history – it’s the story of the Australia you were born into, told with warmth, insight, and a deep appreciation for the complexity and possibility of that remarkable year.

ISBN 978-1-923523-34-0
PAPERBACK

Photos & Memories 1950s

 

For All Those Who Can Remember

A nostalgic journey through the years that helped build a nation’s identity.

Come back with me into a most remarkable decade in Australia – the 1950s. Photos & Memories 1950s: For All Those Who Can Remember captures the stories, pictures and memories of an era that shaped a nation, from the end of wartime rationing to the arrival of television, from the dream of a quarter-acre block to the birth of teenage culture.

This isn’t just the history of our nation, it’s the story of everyday Australians rebuilding their lives after World War II. Tales of how families embraced new suburbs, welcomed European immigrants, and celebrated together during the Queen’s visit and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

If you were born or lived through the fifties, this book explores the milestones that defined a generation – first jobs, first cars, first homes, and the simple pleasures of backyard cricket and visits to the corner shop. For seniors, these pages will spark cherished memories; for younger readers, it’s a window into the decade that helped create a modern Australia.

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About the Author

 

Bob Byrne is a veteran Australian media professional with a 40-year career in radio broadcasting.

Following his tenure as a radio personality, Bob transitioned to print as a columnist and feature writer for the Adelaide Advertiser.

As an author, he has published seven books, most notably the acclaimed “Remember When” series. His expertise in chronicling Australia’s social history has earned him a substantial following, with his “Australia Remember When” Facebook page attracting over 375,000 engaged followers.

Bob continues to create new stories focusing on the baby boomer years in Australia. His latest work, “Photos & Memories 1950s,” launches an ambitious new series that will document the social and cultural evolution of Australia throughout the last five decades of the twentieth century.

TURPIE, Brian

ISBN 978-1-923265-73-8
HARDCOVER

The Hume

 

An historical and nostalgic look at 50 years of interstate road transport on the Hume Highway

Join the Author on this nostalgic trip down Memory Lane. Read about the Pioneers of road transport on the Hume. The Transport Companies and their Legendary Drivers. The Old Time Roadhouses, the Larrikans and the Villains. Come along for a trip down the real Hume Highway with me. Read the true story of the Razorback and Yass Blockades. Share the humorous tales of old school rules and more