The Goulburn Evening VIEW Club (GEVC) held its June meeting at K and GZ with guest speaker Jennifer Lamb.
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Ms Lamb's topic was Miles Franklin and her links to Goulburn History.
Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, known as Miles Franklin, was born in Talbingo in 1879.
She was educated at home and at Thornford Public School after her family moved to Stillwater near Goulburn.
Stillwater is south-west of Goulburn off the Federal Highway near Rose Lagoon, but the home is no longer there.
The Franklins moved close to Goulburn to better themselves financially and to provide greater educational opportunities for their children.
Goulburn at that time was a major regional centre and in 1890, had a population of 10,000.
Jennifer told of the many links between the Goulburn district and Miles Franklin's novel My Brilliant Career.
Her experiences growing up on the drought stricken property, Stillwater, were an inspiration for the book.
My Brilliant Career was at first rejected by the publisher.
Miss May Gillespie, Miles' teacher at Thornford Primary, gave the manuscript to the then editor of the Goulburn Penny Post, Thomas Hebblewhite, who corrected its minor literary defects.
Miles then sent the manuscript to Henry Lawson who found a publisher.
When published in 1901, My Brilliant Career received instant acclaim.
Goulburn was proactive in the feminist movement at that time, and My Brilliant Career is a strong feminist novel.
The Franklins left Goulburn around 1903 and in 1906 Miles left Australia for Chicago.
On behalf of the members, Kathy Jeffrey thanked Jennifer for her excellent talk.
Kathy also expressed hope that the Miles Franklin Tour being considered for tourists will eventuate, as her story is an important part of Goulburn's history.
The monthly meeting then continued with the main topic for discussion being the celebration of Goulburn Evening VIEW Club's 50th birthday in November.
The patroness of VIEW, Mrs Linda Hurley, has been invited and it is hoped that she is able to find time in her busy schedule to attend.
Members are busy collecting photos and other memorabilia, and writing their reminiscences to help celebrate this milestone, fifty years of providing assistance to the Smith Family.
We are also hoping that past members will be able to join our 50th Birthday celebrations.
The next meeting of GEVC will be at K&Gz on July 13.
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