Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Having been a local councillor for over 20 years, Korumburra's Bob Newton is passionate about his town and the people of his district, their stories and their connections to each other. It has led him to write his second book, titled Korumburra & District: Road Names and Places History, which I recently had the pleasure of launching at Coal Creek historical park in Korumburra. This was an eight-year project for Bob in gathering and detailing the stories of local families and local roads. The book launch was a testament to the community's respect for Bob, with the room filled with family, friends, community members and local history buffs. Bob's book is about not only an individual's love for the district, its people and its families but also the stories and histories of the region. With over 500 streets, roads and lanes detailed—in many cases including photographs of the pioneering families—Bob's book covers the accidents, the challenges and the sacrifices that went into setting up the South Gippsland region as we know it today. Bob is to be congratulated on the publication of this book. But Bob's not done with writing books yet; he has other books planned, including the history of the street names of Mirboo North, Foster, Leongatha and Inverloch. I think his wife, Marilyn, has had a lot to put up with over these last eight years!