THE 2015 Images of Our History calendar, a collection of local images from the World War One years, was launched at Bega library on Tuesday by Mayor Michael Britten.
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Cr Britten noted the calendar was a pictorial history that fitted in well with local history books on the WW1 years.
“Projects such as the written histories and this calendar acknowledge the price paid by local families and the toll on the local community during the war,” Cr Britten said.
“These photographers also show how proud people in the local area were to contribute to the war effort.
“The calendar is important for two reasons, it celebrates the Bega Valley’s rich history, but it also celebrates its heritage,” he said.
Local and family history librarian Linda Albertson said the calendar features photographs from around the shire showing local events connected with WW1 such as processions, farewells, end of war celebrations and memorial openings.
“Finding suitable photographs for this year’s calendar was challenging and would not have been possible without the support of the Bega Valley Historical Society, Eden Killer Whale Museum and Kate Clery,” Ms Albertson said.
“A hundred years is a long time for photographs to survive from an era when photography was not commonplace and ‘selfies’ were unheard of!
“The calendar is locally significant because nearly 200 men from our region lost their lives in WW1.
“The aim of the 2015 calendar is to acknowledge our community’s varied experiences of WW1 and to remember the impact the war had on our region.
“One of the photographs in the calendar shows the Bega Honour Flag awarded in recognition of the town’s contribution to the Seventh War Loan in 1918.
“Bega doubled its quota of £10,000 and was awarded the coveted distinction of adding three bars and a star to their flag which can be seen in the photograph.”
“Another photograph in the calendar is actually a postcard sent home by a Burragate man, Clifford Sawers.
“The postcard shows him at a hospital in Abbassia, Egypt. Sawers enlisted in 1916 with his two brothers, one of whom was killed in action. Sawers and one brother were both wounded and returned to Australia.
“However, Sawers’ war injuries took a toll on his health and he died at Randwick Military Hospital in 1937, aged 44.
“Clifford Sawers is remembered on both the Burragate and Wyndham War Memorials.
The calendar is $8.80 and is available at all shire libraries at Bermagui, Bega, Merimbula and Eden.
The Images of Our History, Bega Valley project preserves our photographic heritage and provides access to it through the library’s online catalogue, available at www.begavalley.nsw.gov.au.
For more information, please contact Linda Albertson on 6499 2127 or lalbertson@begavalley.nsw.gov.au.
