by Nick Rowe
Cooinda Lodge resident Joan McGuinness recently released her third published book "The Past is a Foreign Country".
The book is both a memoir of life in Gippsland in the 1950s as well as a recount of some of her recollections of current affairs and newsworthy events of the time.
Joan, 89, grew up in Buln Buln in the 1940s and was the eldest of Bill Walker and Gladys Pederson's five children. Coincidentally, she was born at a private hospital also called Cooinda. Her siblings were Patricia, Thelma, Colin and Bruce. Joan recalls a happy upbringing on a dairy farm called Hillersden.
The Pedersons were surrounded by a large extended family with many settling in the district. Joan recalls many of her female relatives to be strong and independent women. She has fond memories of the extended family she grew up with. Joan attended Buln Buln Primary and Warragul High School before she began work at the Bank of New South Wales in Warragul.
Joan met her husband Harry - "her best mate" at the Buln Buln Football Club, when he was working in Jindivick. They were married in 1955 at the Church of Christ in Palmerston Street. In the early days Joan and Harry were sharefarmers in Bona Vista.
Following this, work took Joan and Harry across the state - living in places such as Scoresby, Frankston and Orbost before returning to Warragul. Harry died in 2017.
Joan worked for 20 years at the War Veterans home in Frankston in an office management/bursar role.
The Past is a Foreign Country is Joan's third book about her personal and historical recollections of life in rural Australia from the 1940s through to the 1960s. Her first two books were called How Things Have Changed and Little Pitchers Have Big Ears, A Memory Journal.
Joan says the book holds up a mirror to the unique post-war era in regional Australia. "The book is part of my life story but it is intertwined with what was going on in the area and across Australia and the world."
Some of the topics Joan touches on include the Melbourne Olympic Games, the launch of television, British nuclear testing, the invention of the Victa Mower and the changing face of Australia post World War II. Joan also shares some earlier memories of what it was like growing up in the Depression and details memories of the 1939 Black Friday bushfires.
Joan is one of those rare people with a photographic memory. "Any sound or even smell can trigger it off. It is a gift but it can be a nuisance and difficult to switch off!" Thankfully for her readers, these strong memories are translated onto the page.
Joan launched the book at Cooinda in April with a number of family and friends. Her grandson Sean Harvey provided musical entertainment on the day.
Joan has lived in Cooinda for almost 10 years and began her career as an author while living there. She does her research and handwrites pages before typing them into one of Cooinda's computers. A team of helpful proof readers in her family help with any editing.
Next on the agenda for Joan is a piece of fiction that she is working on. She is coy on the theme but says it will focus on the story of a family.
"I have been lucky to live an interesting and long life. I have got to travel and like the theme of my books have witnessed so much change since my childhood."