LOCAL historian John Mannion spent the past three years researching and writing the 332-page From the Outback to the Battlefront, commissioned by the Outback Communities Authority.
OCA chair Cecilia Woolford said the book was created because the authority “felt it was time we pulled together all regions and people of the outback as one group and recognise their contributions in war times”.
“The book documents about 2100 locals who served in all conflicts and peacekeeping operations during the late 19th century through to the 21st century, from the Boer War through to Afghanistan,” she said.
“That’s what is special about the book – it doesn’t just recognise those who lost their lives.
“This gives our enlistees a place beyond an honour roll and puts things in context about what was going on in the local communities at the time.
“Not all of those highlighted went overseas or were involved in the fight.
“During World War II there was the Volunteer Defence Corp and also the Women’s Land Army, who were at home running the farms if their men were enlisted.”
The book features newspaper clippings and local gossip of the time, photographs of iconic people and local identities – some who had descendants at the book launch.
“We had two sisters at the launch whose mother had served on hospital ships off the Indian coast during WWI,” Mrs Woolford said.
“Several Aboriginal traditional owners also attended, including Clifford Coulthard, who gave the welcome to country and a brief history of his family’s involvement in the battle fronts.
“He told the story of three young indigenous men who wanted to join the Light Horseman in WWII, but were considered “too dark”, but they went and joined anyway. They are in the book.”
Mrs Woolford said the OCA was fortunate to work with Mr Mannion on the book, but stressed this was just the beginning.
“John has left no stone unturned, uncovering significant remnants of local history and gathering stories about notable soldiers,” she said.
“He used historical records and travelled throughout the outback with OCA community development officer Mark Shirley, who was instrumental in making this happen, talking to people, checking facts and so on.
“But I am sure we haven’t got everybody.
“We hope the book will spur new research and unearth new stories to honour the people of the SA outback, who served their country, in whatever capacity.
“That’s why we are putting the book on an electronic database at the OCA, which we can keep adding to.
“We encourage people to have a read and contact us if they have more information.”
Mrs Woolford said plans were also under way to build a memorial at Pimba in the new year to further honour the war efforts of outback communities.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock launched the book at the Blinman Memorial Hall in front of about 50 local community members from across the outback.
Copies of the book are available for purchase from the OCA website.
- Details: 08 8648 5970 or oca.sa.gov.au
