Brian Carty bring his father’s memoirs of the Mallee to Goldfields Libraries

Brian Carty made a promise to his father Thomas to create a book from his memoirs of life in the Mallee. In May, Brian will visit Wedderburn and Bendigo to launch that book, Giants of the Mallee.

Giants of the Mallee is an impressive and truly heart-warming insight into the developments, hardships, fun and frugal times of pioneers in the Mallee from 1890 until post war Australia.

Thomas Carty moved to Tyrell, an area close to what is now known as Sea Lake, with his family in the early 1890s. Their land consisted of dense scrub and the Carty family quickly realised the challenge they were up against if they were to make the most of their new home. They had to learn how to pull out Mallee roots, to cut Mallee shoots, to dig dams, build houses and grow wheat.

Giants of the Mallee tells of the loneliness these first settlers felt, the struggle of bushfires, dust storms and sickness. It shares stories of social gatherings, the beginnings of football in the region, the effects of goldmining, and the opening of the rail line and station at Sea Lake.

The settlement and development of the Mallee, as told in these memoirs, has resulted in the food bowl that we know it as today.

“Brian has done a fantastic job in bringing his father Thomas’s memoirs to life. The book has been beautifully designed throughout with the help of his designer daughter and they can be really proud of the result. Anyone with links to the land will enjoy reading about these pioneering times and the building of our early farming communities” says Tammy Higgs, Goldfields Libraries Programs and Events Coordinator.

Brian will visit Wedderburn Library Agency on Wednesday 9 May from 11am until 12pm, and the Bendigo Library on Wednesday 9 May from 2-3pm, linking in with the Australian Heritage Festival.

Both events are free, but bookings are required. Book sales and signings will follow.

For more information and to book tickets go to www.goldfieldslibraries.com