New book by Judy Ormond 'WEIRS' Numurkah - Nathalia - Barmah

Weirs is the latest book written by local Judy Ormond

Judy Ormond is a descendant of an early pioneering family who settled on dry land in the Yielima district in the nineteenth century. In 1970, Judy married Rex Ormond who descended from several pioneering families that settled near the Broken Creek, Narioka in 1876.

Judy has a long-standing interest in local history. She has written family books on the Schier, Ormond and Storey families and Barmah a mustering ritual unique to the Barmah Forest.

In this book Judy has focused her attention on weirs and crossings that span the Broken Creek from Numurkah to Barmah. For decades Judy regularly photographed many of these structures, and now she has combined her images with local newspaper items and oral histories, to create a fascinating story of changes to the Broken Creek waterway over nearly one-hundred and fifty years.

~ Dr. Julie Gross McAdam. 

(excerpt from the book) 

FOREWORD 

Judy Ormond’s historical book on the weirs and crossings along local waterways between 1880 and 2023 is a testament to the rich and complex history of water management and development in this region.
 
 
Drawing on a wealth of sources, including newspapers, historical documents, and accounts by locals, Judy traces the evolution of weirs and crossings from their early days as tools for maintaining human health to their later use as supports for reliable agriculture and irrigation practises.
 
One of the key themes of Judy’s book is the impact of water quality on human health. Through her research, Judy sheds light on the concerns expressed by local doctors Keyes and Ellison in 1895, about sickness and death caused to locals by drinking water from the ephemeral Broken Creek. These concerns were instrumental in driving the early development of weirs in the region, as a means of ensuring that the water supply was safe a
 
As Judy shows, the transition from weirs for human health to weirs for agricultural purposes was not a straight forward process. It required the efforts of many local individuals, groups and authorities who were passionate about converting the unreliable creeks into a reliable and safe water supply. Through their efforts, the region was able to develop a more sustainable water management system that supported both human health and agriculture.
 
Judy’s book is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the history of water management in this region. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the challenges faced by local communities as they sought to manage their water resources, and it highlights the importance of collaboration and innovation in developing sustainable solutions.
 
I have no doubt that this book will be of interest to historians, environmentalists, and anyone else who cares about the past, present and future of our waterways.
 
            Chris Bourke
            Nathalia.

Copies are available from Judy 0428 933 188 or at Nathalia Printers - redgumcourier.com.au