Helen McAnulty’s History Talking is a collection of personal experiences and reminiscences gathered from about 70,000 people across western NSW.

The 180-page book reveals the memories of people who lived through pioneering life, natural disasters, railways, times of war and old fashioned medical cures.

Mrs McAnulty has been collecting and writing about the oral history of the towns of Nyngan, Gulgong and Orange for the last 30 years.

Having first started speaking with and recording group conversations in Gulgong, she has amassed an extensive collection of stories.

“It’s not just oral history, stories are woven around people’s memories,” Mrs McAnulty said.

This method has proved to be a most successful way of encouraging participants to remember the past as well as the changing attitudes that have occurred in their lifetimes.

“They all have different slants on the same events ... it’s exciting, some of the subjects are reasonable deep,” Mrs McAnulty said.

She said talking to people in a group discussion also helped those involved as they reminded each other of events over the years.

“They’ve got a lot of wisdom to share and I think it’s important to share,” she said.

The book will be launched at the Orange City Library on Friday December 2 at 11am.

A separate launch will be held for Gulgong residents at 6pm at the Cudgegong Gallery, Gulgong, on Tuesday November 29.

nadine.morton@ruralpress.com