Join us for our second episode of our Writers on the Road series as we chat to Tricia Stringer just moments before her recent book launch at the Mount Gambier Library to promote her title ‘Keeping Up Appearances’. We chat about Tricia’s journey to bestselling and award-winning author and find out being a successful author is much more than just writing books.

On Wednesday February 16th 1983, much of southern Australia faced the deadliest bushfires in Australia’s history.  More than 180 fires swept across South Australia and Victoria destroying 2,000 homes and claiming the lives of 75 people. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday Bushfires, a day that remains imprinted in the memories who were witness to the ferocity and devastation. In this episode we speak to a variety of locals who share their memories of that horrific day. 

Key Topics:

Bushfires, Ash Wednesday, South Australia, Victoria, Disaster, Tarpeena, Mount Gambier, History, Emergency, Forest fires. 

They say time changes everything and this is accurate when we think of the Leg of Mutton Lake (Yatton Loo). Over the years this site has changed from a water filled lake to beautiful park lands several times over. One thing has remained constant, no matter what the water level this site has remained a place of great beauty. Join us this episode as we hear some of the stories and memories of how the lake has been enjoyed by locals over the years.

Working in the criminal justice system gives debut Australian author Mercedes Mercier a unique insight into the world of prisons, crime and offenders. 

The first in our Writers on The Road series, we caught up with Mercedes before her recent book launch at the Mount Gambier Library, where we discusses reading, writing and life on the publicity circuit. 

Managed by the Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club, The Library Markets transform the Cave Garden/Thugi into a bustling community festival on the 2nd Sunday of the month between November and February each year.

Featuring local art and craft, produce, food, and entertainment, the December Christmas market is the biggest and most popular of all, attracting upwards of 80 stalls and thousands of patrons.  In this episode we take a wander around the markets, chatting to organisers, volunteers and stall holders and uncovering all the ingredients in its wild success.

Keywords: Mount Gambier, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Local Government, Community, Library, Lakes Rotary Clubs, Arts, Crafts, Markets.

2022 marks the 63rd year of the Mount Gambier Christmas Parade, with the floats and spectators returning to Commercial Street for the first time since the pandemic began. 

This beloved community event attracts spectators by the thousands, and celebrates not only Christmas, but togetherness and community spirit.  

But what does it take to coordinate Mount Gambier’s largest community event of the year? How do you reinvent the parade to make it COVID safe? And where did this well-loved Community event all begin?

In this episode we chat to the Team Leader of Community Events for the City of Mount Gambier Xarnia Keding, director of the Lions Club of Mount Gambier Brass Band Festival Mr Allen Woodham, and the woman who literally wrote the book on the history of the parade Lynne Lowe, as well as a hand full of library staff who were kind enough to share their own personal memories. 

We are going to take a step back in time to a cold Mount Gambier winter in 1875. This tale not only ends in the brutal murder of a popular young woman but also one of three executions ever to take place at the Mount Gambier Gaol.

Keywords: Mount Gambier, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Local Government, Community, Lake Terrace Cemetery, Local History, Mystery, Murder, True Crime, Mount Gambier Gaol.

In 2019 the Mount Gambier Library sat down with a number of older Mount Gambier residents to recorded their memories as part of the Immersive Storytelling Project. One of the very popular topics of conversation was when The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh came to Mount Gambier as apart of their Australia Tour in February 1954.

To mark the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we present this mini-episode of Don't Overdue It. This episode features the voices of nine locals who were all in attendance on the day The Queen came to town.

Thank you to our participants: Liz Vears, the late Albert Neal, Julienne Feast, the late Geoff Gabriel, the late Kevin Harris, Maxine Shephard, Noela Hellyer and the late Jeff Dixon ,and Jill Dixon for their stories. 

For over 13 years the Friends of the Library Mount Gambier (FOL) have been champions in their role of supporting and promoting our Library services, and engaging with the wider community through sponsorship and funding initiatives. 

In this episode we speak to FOL President Chris Lloyd, and long-time volunteer John Cranwell who discuss the groups activities, achievements and how to turn 10,000 second hand books, DVDs and puzzles into the biggest fundraiser of the year.