Wendy Hamilton Visits Library For Author Talk

Author, Wendy Hamilton professes that her book The Spot The War Forgot: WWI Berrima German POW Camp was a great story that just landed in her lap.

The New Zealand-born author who now calls Griffith home will talk about her book at Griffith City Library on Monday, September 4 from 10 am.

Ms Hamilton came upon the story when she moved from her homeland to Berrima, a small place in the Southern Highlands of Australia.

A great lover of history, she discovered a big historic gaol in Berrima.

Ms Hamilton said the Germans drew the first shot in World War I in Australia, so when high-ranking German mariners were captured in the country they were sent to Berrima gaol, the most notorious prison at the time.

“It turned out to be an amazing place,” she said.

“In a time of complete darkness, it became a little place of peace.”

The mariners taught the starving villagers to farm the land, transforming their lives, but it was the actions of our Australian guards who oversaw the prisoners of war with humanity that filled one of the darkest times in history with a little light.

Ms Hamilton wrote the story after finding a notebook among her mother’s belongings written by her great grandfather dated 1834 about Australia’s showcase POW camp at Berrima.

She kept as much of his writings in her novel.

If you would like to learn more about the Berrima POW camp and the honour of our Aussie servicemen during the Great War, drop into the Library on Monday, September 4.

Tea, coffee and refreshments will be provided at the free event, book your attendance through the Library.

• Topics:

• Literature