New book and launch event honour Diddilibah’s proud history
More than 130 people attended the successful launch of the book “Diddillibah” on Sunday (20 February).
The launch and Community event was held at Diddillibah Hall and Ash Park, at the heart of this scenic rural-residential area.
The book is 111 pages with historic facts, old photos and maps and stories gathered from many descendants of pioneer families.
Diddillibah was a thriving economic hub in the 19th Century, with timber cut and hauled by bullock trains and floated downstream to be loaded onto barges. The book includes tales of early settlers – timber getters, cane cutters, bullock train drivers and farmers.
It is the culmination of an eight-month research project by Eunice Paulett with help from Lynette Walker and Jenny Catalano (nee Mackay), John Hammond and many others, assisted by a grant from the Hall Committee.
Author Eunice Paulett gave a speech and was presented with flowers by local children.
Division7 Cr Ted Hungerford officially launched the Book and MC for the day was Diddillibah local Eloise Gallagher.
The event was abuzz with lively conversations and activities thanks to the wonderful volunteers who banded together to organize and set up the historical displays in the Hall, entertainment and a delicious afternoon tea in the park.
The Community hub of Diddillibah was alive with a vibrant and happy atmosphere just as it has been over more than two centuries at this location. The Hall really is a valuable asset to the Community of Diddillibah.
To keep it running, a meeting calling for new members with fresh ideas will be held on April 6 at 7.30pm.
Cr Hungerford, who grew up on a farm nearby, recognized a lot of the family names in the book: Aird, Bugenhagen, Brinkley, Campbell, Clark, Coghill, Erbacher, Hooper, Kuskopf, Mackay, Pettigrew and Willersdorf.
“I am a fourth generation Sunshine Coast resident,” he said. “I find this very interesting. History is interesting.”
He was delighted to see the historical photographs and memorabilia of the area’s bygone days when the cane train hauled sugar cane along tracks which ran from Diddillibah to the Sugar Mill in Nambour.
Copies of the book can be found at Council libraries, Nambour Museum, Nambour Genealogy Society, Woombye Historical Society, Bli Bli on Maroochy Historical Society. Book sales ran hot with first and second print runs totally sold out.
For book enquiries Contact Eunice Paulett at paulett@powerup.com.au