Hollies homestead to headline history talks

The Drouin region holds an incredible amount of history and at this year’s Ficifolia Festival, the Drouin History Group will be bringing some of that history to light.

The first of the two events to be held at the Drouin library will be a presentation of some of Gippsland’s rarest ephemera materials which include posters, pamphlets and other items many everyday users discard without hesitation.

Colin Silcock, who owns the collection, will be illustrating to the room how Gippsland promoted its tourism, businesses and schools through the many items during the presentation that will run between 2pm-3pm at the Drouin library.

On Thursday February 13 Friends of Drouin member Judy Farmer will host a one-hour presentation on the ‘The Hollies House of Mystery’. The old abandoned home is one that many Drouin locals would know, but the history behind the home and its original builder, Arthur Green, has often gone unspoken about.

Built by the reverend Arthur Green, who was the first bishop schooled in Australia, the house has a storied history that will be broken down throughout the presentation.

The event will run between 12pm-1pm also at the Drouin library, with refreshments to follow.

Drouin library officer Michelle Lewry said the library has been working alongside the

Ficifolia Festival for many years now, passing on history to community members each year.

“Drouin library and the Ficifolia Festival have been in partnership for over 20 years, bringing some of Drouin’s history to life, with presentations on the Noojee railway and the abundant flora, fauna and wildlife species you can find around the town,” she said.

For those who are looking for more history on the people of Drouin, the history group also will be running its fourth Drouin cemetery walk in conjunction with the festival on February 9 at 5pm.

Ellen Burrows, president of the history group, said that the walk was a wonderful way to learn more about the history of those who helped shape the community.

“The walk will involve five different people buried in the cemetery, it’s really about telling the story of regular people just like you or me and showing that everyone does have a story and a history and it’s important to share that,” she said.

Rosemary Blackley and Robyn Crocker will be speaking about Annie Theodore Asboe, Ellen Burrows will give a presentation on the life of George King, Brian Milner will recount the life of Robert Henry, Fay Van Dyke will bring Eleanor Williams story to light before Cheryl Drayton recounts the life that her father lived.

The cemetery walk is a free event and there also will be a secondary walk held at the Drouin West cemetery on Wednesday February 12 at 7pm.