Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Ms Vollema-Creek co-authored a number of locally-themed books over the last two decades before releasing an independent project, ‘History of the Home Hill Harvest Festival’, in 2022 to much local acclaim. Photo supplied.
While we don’t yet have the technology to binge watch the memories of our youth, one Home Hill author is giving locals the next best thing.
Ayr State High School history teacher, Saskia Vollema-Creek, has announced plans to bring Home Hill history back to life through a new, first-of-its-kind book on “growing up” in the town.
She said it will use the raw, first-hand accounts of locals to revive the town’s bygone eras.
“To me, [people’s stories] add another layer to the history of a town,” Ms Vollema-Creek said.
“You can read about dates, when this happened, and when that happened, but it's the stories that really paint the picture of what it was like for those people in the various time periods that they grew up in.
“These are people's memories—the stories you would never find in a history book.”
Ms Vollema-Creek permanently moved to Home Hill from Brisbane in 1989 after being posted to the town as a teacher. She quickly embraced the area, where she has juggled teaching and writing ever since.
She co-authored a number of locally-themed books over the last two decades before releasing an independent project, ‘History of the Home Hill Harvest Festival’, in 2022 to much local acclaim.
Ms Vollema-Creek said her current project was a welcome challenge after taking some time away from writing.
She originally announced the book on Facebook last month with a post that was met with overwhelming support.
Since the announcement, a number of locals have sent her detailed, written recollections of their upbringing—some dating as far back as 1915—with several interviews lined up in the school holidays.
She described the accounts sent in so far as “surprising,” challenging prevailing stereotypes about country life.
“There's this idea that country towns are boring… but from what I've already heard, these kids that grew up here were never bored,” Ms Vollema-Creek said.
“They had so much fun with their friends, going to the theatre, going to the shops, going to the cafe… building canoes in Gardners Lagoon. They were always doing something.”
She’s now calling on more locals to help bring the book together by sharing their stories.
“I'm not going to reject anybody. [Share] anything to do with you growing up, your friends, what you used to do for fun—anything really. Everyone’s story is different, everyone's childhood memories are different … and there’s such a multicultural aspect to it as well,” MsVollema-Creek said.
Anyone interested in contributing is encouraged to email Saskia at creekys@outlook.com.au.
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