History in pictures

By Kath Gannaway
UPPER Yarra historian Val Smith knows her audience.
Launching two pictorial books Upper Yarra Time Line and Along the Warburton Highway – Past and Present last week Ms Smith said pictures, not words, were the way to engage children in the history of their region.
The bound books present historic photos of many of the buildings and places of interest from Launching Place through to Warburton with a current day photo alongside.
“I liked the idea of a timeline because kids won’t sit down and read a book on history,” Ms Smith said.
“There is very little writing in the books so kids don’t get bored, they can relate to the photos and compare the way things are now to the way it was.”
The idea for the timeline approach sprung from a request from the library to Mrs Smith to speak to a group of grade three and four students.
Val decided on producing a timeline and the original was put together very quickly.
It was so popular, and recognised as such a valuable resource for anyone with an interest in the history of the area, that the library sought, and received, a grant from the Warburton-Yarra Junction Community Bank to produce and bind the books.
The original project covered the Warburton Highway from Launching Place to Yarra Junction but the grant, and support from Eastern Regional Libraries, allowed Mrs Smith to purchase a digital camera and extend the project to Warburton.
Mrs Smith’s passion for local history, as seen through the lens, started some 20 years ago.
As a member of the Upper Yarra Historical Society and Museum she was regularly asked to present photo displays at local events.
She has built up a remarkable collection of photos from all around the Upper Yarra Valley and produced a number of history publications over the years.
Youth Services librarian Maria Mithen said the beautifully printed and bound books were not available on loan, but were a resource that would certainly be well used not only for school groups, but for people of all ages.