Recording history for locals has been a joy: Di Grant

First, as a volunteer from the age of 16 and being involved in many community groups, churches and schools, and recording their activities and event histories right up until 2026.

For over 40 years, I had the privilege to write socially and photograph local people, events and activities for local newspapers.

Starting in Avenel, then in Seymour, Puckapunyal and Nagambie, and in some cases simultaneously.

I also worked at the former Seymour Shire office for 10 years, in Defence as a public servant for 12 years, and was a wedding and funeral celebrant for 19 years until 2025.

It was an honour to record the history of these small communities in this way.

I still dabble a bit with some local pieces and am still shutter-bugging for families, friends and special occasions.

In 2017, I handed over 30 years of writings to the Nagambie and Seymour historical societies.

I also entrusted some of my Avenel 150th anniversary photographic records and memorabilia from 1988 to Sissy Hoskin of Go Nagambie for her to preserve the town’s history.

Since 1991, I have been writing and compiling my own life’s experiences, from early childhood to retirement.

I’ve been covering my family history, faith, friends, jobs, health, hobbies, holidays, marriages, army life and motherhood and being a grandmother.

All the desperate times, joys and sorrows.

I told of them all in story form, and also touched on my talents, abilities and skills I learnt, as well as interests, travels and decades of volunteer work in the communities I lived.

I had my memoirs printed this year for my family — over 900 pages with many photographs included.

I also wrote some shorter books for my mother, husband and one of my son’s families over the past year.

Now, what could I do in retirement in 2026?

I decided to sort out the last decade of my news writings and over 50 years of photographs.

I have more than 140 photo albums in our small village unit, all labelled and dated.

I have hundreds of fine debutante and wedding sample display photos in folders that I would like to find a home for to preserve them.

I also have many personal items and general photos accumulated that had to be sorted.

Over winter, I got into my family’s and my own library photo records, CDs and such, and sorted them into binders, photos and scrapbooks, and on to USBs and hard drives.

Some family photos that I had inherited from my mother were over 100 years old.

I also sorted out district photos and my 175th anniversary album for Avenel that I did in 2013 and will give to Sissy for posterity.

It’s been marvellous for my memory and mind going through all these memories, news items, letters, education, employment, special records, certificates of appreciation, awards and photos, and hoping they will be a lasting legacy for my family and communities where I have lived and served.

I have posted photos of district towns that I turned into postcards to historical societies, and sent or delivered many albums and scrapbooks to schools, churches, mother’s union groups, Lions clubs, RSLs, and many other individuals and groups over the past month.

I’m hoping they will preserve them in their group’s or family’s records.

I hope to donate my final news scrapbooks and photos, and Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial rose garden album, to the Nagambie and District Historical Society this month.

I want to say thank you, sincerely, to the thousands of locals and groups who have allowed me to write about their lives or activities and events.

It has been a joy to serve my communities in this way.