Don't Overdue It

Moments before stepping onstage here at the Mount Gambier Library to launch her latest novel The Women’s’ Pages, internationally best selling Australian author and crowd favourite Victoria Purman joins us for the third instalment of the "Writers on the Road" series.

Victoria, with her trademark warmth and humour, shares with us her fascinating research and writing processes, her inspiration, and a glimpse of life in 1950’s Australia.

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. 

Season 2 Episode 8  

For more than a decade the School Holiday Program at the Mount Gambier LIbrary has been a staple on our events calendar, providing entertainment and education to our younger community members.

This month we catch up with the Children and Youth Services team to discover the fun, mess and madness that is the school holidays library-style.

On the 25th of January 2022, Mount Gambier woke up to something we were not expecting. Our much loved Crater Lakes area was on fire. The fire was eventually brought under control with the hard work of 150 fire crew but not before burning 50 hectares of grass and scrub. 

In this episode we discuss the role of Council in an event such as this, the road forward to recovery, and uncover the history of previous fires at the same site.

Key words: Bush fire, Grass Fire, Limestone Coast, South Australia, Blue Lake, Valley Lake, Green Triangle, Bush Fire Recovery, Eucalyptus, Native Vegetation, Local Council, Local Government. Community, Volunteering, CFS, MFS, Local History, Oral History.

Volunteering brings people together, builds communities and creates a better society for everyone. Commencing on Monday the 16th of May, National Volunteer Week gives us the chance to recognise the vital work of volunteers and show our appreciation.

Join us for this episode of ‘Don’t Overdue It’ as we discuss the Mount Gambier Library Volunteer Program and catch up with some of our wonderful volunteers to discuss what volunteering means to them and the friendships that have formed as a result of their valuable contributions to the Library and the Community.

When Jane Byrne’s children set her a task in her retirement to create a cookbook from their grandmothers Rita's recipes, she had all the ingredients except one. The basic computer skills to create a book.

With the help of weekly computer lessons at the Mount Gambier Library, Jane set to work, week after week to type the loose pages of faded hand written recipes, memories and photographs into a precious family keepsake.  Jane’s story is a celebration of family, food and lifelong learning, and just may be the inspiration others need to get their own project off the ground.

On the eve of Adelaide Writers’ Week, Library Book Club coordinator Susan Briffa has gathered together some of her favourite reading enthusiasts to chat about the books currently on their bedside tables. 

We also spend time with to two local authors, Library staff member Jacqui Davies, and former radio broadcaster Stan Thompson and ask them about their own journeys from readers to published writers.  

Let’s make the most of the good weather and take a walk through the garden- but not just any garden- a State Heritage listed garden surrounding a sinkhole in the middle of Mount Gambier. This guided tour of the Thuggi/Cave Garden shares the social history of the area and tells the story of its landmarks- some that have been on display for more than 100 years, and some long forgotten. 

Topics Include: Local History, Oral History, Sir Robert Helpmann, Percy Browne, Jens Hotel, Swimming Baths, Captain Robert Gardiner, A.F Laurie, Vansittart Park, Town Hall, District Council of Mount Gambier, Radio 5SE, National Bank, Stephen Henty

We all know that a library can loan out books and DVDs but how can your library get you out and enjoying the sun this summer? Join us as we discuss the City of Mount Gambier Bike Hire initiative and the beautiful cycling opportunities in our region for all ages and levels of fitness and experience. If cycling isn’t your cup of tea, listen in as we talk to Ryan Nicholson, a member of Mount Gambier Disc Golf and learn about this exciting pastime.

To learn more about the local Mount Gambier Disc Golf Club, visit https://mgdg.com.au.

Book Well is a program created by bibliotherapist Dr Susan McLaine.  Using books, photographs and newspaper articles it invites people to reminisce about days gone by, promoting memories, discussion and general wellbeing. Here at the Mount Gambier Library our Book Well program includes residents from local aged care facilities and other community groups. 

In this episode we talk to Library staff member Susan Briffa, Bookwell coordinator since its inception just over a decade ago. Susan discusses the joy she takes from running this program, her most memorable moments, and just what it takes to start a good conversation.

We are also joined by Maxine, a long time participant and contributor to the Bookwell program.

It’s October and that means Halloween is just around the corner. When we think of Halloween many of us think of our favourite scary movies, scary costumes, trick or treating and other American customs and traditions. However, our region has its own share of UFO, ghost, monster and other supernatural stories.

Join us for this episode as we discuss some of the spooky unexplained events in our local region. We are also joined by ghost hunters from Adelaide’s Haunted Horizons Ghost Tours for a bit of a chat.

Jumping on the Book Week 2021 theme ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds’, this episode of Don’t Overdue It takes us to the ‘Other World’ right beneath our feet here in Mount Gambier as we explore the caves and sinkholes of the region. 

The Mount Gambier region in the South East of South Australia is a mecca for cave diving enthusiasts of all levels of experience. From police training to the first time snorkeler, this area has something for everyone. But as we found out, this is something us locals are pretty unaware of!

Join us as we chat to local experts who explain the uniqueness of our local environment, the thrill of underwater exploration and discovery, and just why it’s a world class destination for cave divers.

If you have ever visited the Mount Gambier Library on a Sunday morning, the joyful strums of a ukulele choir would be a very familiar soundtrack.

Since its humble beginnings in 2019, the Mount Gambier Library has been home to the 'Lukuleles' an enthusiastic group of ukulele players from all walks of life who meet each week at the Library to strum and chat and just have a really good time.

This month's episode we catch up with the group and talk about music, the friendships and appeal of this humble little instrument, and how it has created a community in its own right at the Library.