KANAWINKA WRITERS and HISTORIANS

Kanawinka Writers and Historians began life as South East Book Promotions in 1989. Highly-respected

Mount Gambier historian, the late Pam O’Connor AM, was the founding president.  In terms of book sales and membership, the group met with immediate success in promoting the increasing number of books written on the South East but often overlooked by local booksellers.

South East Book Promotions embarked on publishing with a series of small books on regional history to mark 150 years of European settlement in South Australia’s South East. Made up of a baker’s dozen of titles, the Celebration Series included some works that have become minor classics.

Workshops were conducted and editorial advice offered to those starting on the road to publication.

Their enterprising approach saw SEBP win the first Premier’s Regional Development Award in 1994
and in 1997 SEBP co-hosted the third regional State History Conference organised by the

History Trust and held at Struan House.

Then, in 1999, SEBP was successful in applying for a Centenary of Federation Grant which, with assistance

from the History Trust of SA, enabled a string of lively seminars to be held in towns across the South East

and addressed by nationally and locally prominent speakers.

The resulting publication, Exploring the Anatomy of a Region, remains a valuable reference work.

By 2000, regular quarterly meetings had been introduced, still held at different venues across the region.

This was a highly productive period with the publication of new books and with awards presented

to encourage a high standard in recording local history. 

In 2005 a Commonwealth grant scheme, Sharing Australia’s Stories, created the opportunity to bring to fruition a long-cherished dream, the publication of Surveyor General’s George Woodroffe Goyder’s 1864

descriptions of South Eastern pastoral runs which were held by State Records in Adelaide.

Applying great energy and determination, Anne McArthur, who had succeeded Pam O’Connor

as president of SEBP, was successful in obtaining one of these grants.

Securing the co-operation of state government departments, Anne and her dedicated team produced

the magnificent limited edition, Through the Eyes of Goyder, which proved a sell-out,

not only covering costs but leaving sufficient funds to kick-start other projects.

In 2013 the name of the group was changed from South East Book Promotions

to Kanawinka Writers and Historians in recognition of the Western Victorian members

and a shared history in the common border region between the two states,

Kanawinka being  the geological fault which runs from Keith to Portland.

Current projects  include the  publication of Mount Gambier pioneer William Clayton’s 1860’s story,

spearheaded by Kanawinka stalwart Judy Murdoch OAM,

and compilation of an online bibliography of publications relating to the South East and Western Victoria,

the base area for Kanawinka membership. 

There will also be a second Celebrations Series of local history books.
                                                                                                                                 
Our quarterly gatherings are a network for researchers, authors

and anyone that has an interest in local history.    
Judy Murdoch OAM retired as President in 2019 and Noel Boyle has now  taken on the role. 

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For further information contact the secretary, Lynn Lowe, at kanawinkawritershistorians@gmail.com

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