History book launched at library

AUTHOR: Felicity Campbell signs one of her books at the launch. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Felicity Campbell's much anticipated latest book was launched on Thursday, December 15 at the Alexander Heritage and Research Library in front of an interested crowd. It was the first event held in the newly strengthened and refurbished building.
Her book, entitled TOWNHALL, the Independent Years of Eastbrook, Gonville and Castlecliff, is a history of the boards of these once separate communities.
Heritage and community services manager Sandy Nepia managed the evening with Simon Bloor, Whanganui District Council archivist, speaking about the history of Felicity's book and a little about the author. He thanked a long list of people who were of assistance during its preparation.
"This project began in 2003 when the late historian Randal Springer agreed to read through the records of the various early Wanganui District Road Boards and compiled notes of the information, he considered significant."
Following Randal's passing in 2004, Felicity was asked by Penny Allen (a former Whanganui District Council archivist), to carry on with his documentation and research project, examining in detail, the minute books of the Independent Town Boards of Whanganui.
"This book is the result of several hundred hours of meticulous, dedicated research in a voluntary capacity.
"It follows a series of three Whanganui Regional Museum Education series presentations held, in the last two years, titled: Zipping up a City - Matters arising from the minutes of the Gonville, Castlecliff and Wanganui East Town Boards. It has brought to life the development and the fascinating history of this wonderful city in which we live.
"Felicity has also compiled summaries (e-books) of all the three individual town boards. These e-books summarise meetings, incidents, individuals and businesses in each board. These will be available shortly on line and indexed at Wanganuilibrary.recollect.co.nz"
Felicity is also the author of previous books on Whanganui - Making Waves, No Epitaph and Nicola Sciascia 1840 - 1898.
Felicity spoke about the process of researching and writing the book.
"Our city is early founded and so well founded, thanks to bequests such as the building we're enjoying at the moment. Last century we had slower growth. The upside of that is that we can still see the early outlines of settlement, and if you are interested in where you live - and I think we all are, otherwise you wouldn't be here - then we can see the signs all around of earlier brains and earlier philosophies."
She mentioned the mish-mash of development in many larger cities. "Then we come back down the Paraparas and see this beautiful, settled, established, secure and tidy city. I don't regret we aren't a lot bigger."
Copies of TOWNHALL were available for sale on the night and are now stocked by Paige's Book Gallery in Guyton St.