THE second edition of Stories of our Town, chronicling the diverse and rich history of the Moree Plains, will be released soon.

The local studies journal, a collaboration between Moree Plains Shire Council and Big Sky Libraries, has been compiled and edited by local studies and digitisation officer, Adam Mitchell, and will be available in print or online in PDF format.

The first edition, launched in January, was very well-received across the wider Moree Plains community.

“We had an excellent response to the first edition,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Already, a significant mailing list has been formed and we expect this to only grow with each edition.”

The April edition features an oral history interview with former Moree resident, Mark Tramby, a research article involving an 1898 inspection of agricultural conditions and a fascinating insight into a Moree War Memorial Town Hall musical programme from a 1930 event organised by All Saints’ Musical & Dramatic Society, a musical group formed the previous year.

The title of the performance was The O’Brien Girl, which played April 9-10, 1930.

“One of the highlights of the April edition is the interview with Mark Tramby, who many in the community will already know and recognise as Moree Regional Airport handler for close to 30 years and previous owner of M&G Travel,” Mr Mitchell said.

The article includes historical images, including DC-3 aircraft at Williamtown Airport in 1947 – the same aircraft that flew the first Moree to Sydney trips.

“Mark’s fascinating experiences and stories will have something for all people.

“I also greatly enjoyed researching for the article on WS Campbell’s 1898 agricultural inspection of the area north of Moree.

“I have tried to show how seemingly different events in history can be intimately connected and affect one another,” he said.

“The build-up to federation, establishment of artesian bores, formation of Aboriginal reserves, state elections and changing agricultural practices all find a mention and hopefully will be of interest to readers.”

Images also include the Soldiers Appreciation Ball at Boomi in 1920, Woolabrah Bore, near Moree, taken in 1898, Moree Golf Club foundation members in 1907, Boggabilla Public School in 1911 and cropping in Moree in 1906.

“This edition also contains information on a 1930 musical at Moree War Memorial Town Hall accompanied by its programme, as well as a significant number of old photographs,” Mr Mitchell said.

Information can also be at Moree Big Sky Library and Dhiiyaan Centre, where display cabinets now accompany new interactive kiosks.

“The kiosk at the library give patrons the chance to learn more about our items on display and help grow the professionalism of the local studies section,” Mr Mitchell said.

“A second kiosk has also been installed at the Dhiiyaan Centre for patrons to discover more about their important collection.”

The April edition of Stories of our Town will be available soon.

“I am extremely grateful to the community for supporting this journal, and hope this second edition will be of interest to people across the region,” Mr Mitchell said.