Guest Speaker:
Kyra Geddes
Join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1
at 2 pm on Saturday 28 September 2024
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society member Kyra Geddes has resided in Gordon for more than twelve years and, after many years of research and writing, published her debut novel, The Story Thief https://kyrageddes.com/the-story-thief-book in May 2024 - a historical fiction largely set in Gordon and its surrounds, during the period 1916 to 1946.
It was in reading Henry Lawson’s iconic 1892 story The Drover’s Wife that Kyra was struck by how the female characters were not deemed worthy of a name or title beyond their relation to the men in their lives. This injustice became the inspiration to write The Story Thief.
Part fiction, part fact, the story follows Lillian, who was born in 1892. When she reads The Drover’s Wife at school, she quickly becomes convinced that it is based on her own family’s story and is determined to prove it. We follow Lillian over the course of her life across monumental points in Australia’s history - including women’s suffrage, the two world wars and the birth of nuclear warfare - as she must decide what is more important: holding onto the past or embracing the future.
Kyra’s historical research shines throughout the novel, beautifully depicting the North Shore and featuring numerous real people and places, including local historic houses Eryldene and Carinya in Gordon; Killarney Castle (which was used during WWII for air raid drills); and Ravenswood (where the protagonist Lillian teaches).
Copies of The Story Thief will be available for purchase.
(Please note, Kyra replaces our previously advertised September speaker, Dr Richard White, who is unable to attend on this date.)
As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.
The venue is Gordon Library Meeting Room No. 1, in the Old Gordon Public School, which adjoins the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon (corner Pacific Highway and Park Avenue).
It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station.
For a map and parking information, see our Contact page.
