Star News Group managing director Paul Thomas and CaseyCardinia Library Corporation chief executive officer Peter Carter with Heather Arnold, Cardinia councillor Bill Pearson, Tony Rushton and Pru Menzies at the launch of the Gazette archives on DVD.By Paul Dunlop
HISTORY buffs can now browse the biggest events of the past through the pages of the PakenhamBerwick area’s leading newspaper.
More than 2500 back copies of the Gazette (formerly known as the Berwick Shire News and Pakenham and Cranbourne Gazette), can now be read online at branches of the CaseyCardinia library network.
Copies of the Gazette from 1909 to 1965 have been copied onto DVD from the existing historical microfilm to make a comprehensive local news archive more accessible to the community.
Star News Group managing director Paul Thomas joined CaseyCardinia Library Corporation (CCLC) officials and community representatives to launch the new service on Friday.
Mr Thomas said the newspapers, still familyowned, have reported on the local area for almost 100 years and provide a wealth of information.
“The Gazette has reported on major events such as the 1934 floods, the opening of the Pakenham Consolidated School in 1951 and council elections.”
Keen genealogists can find information on births, deaths and marriages in their family. They could also recognise familiar names or faces in the sporting columns or local news stories.
CCLC chief executive officer Peter Carter said the newspapers represented an important historical record for the community that could now be viewed at libraries in Pakenham, Emerald, Cranbourne and Narre Warren.
Mr Carter thanked Mr Thomas for his company’s support in helping to finance the project.
Cardinia Shire councillor Bill Pearson said council was also pleased to be associated with the project.
Cr Pearson said the council and the Gazette had a strong relationship that stretched back over many years.
“The two go back a long way and we really value the association between the Gazette and council, it’s done us proud over the years,” Cr Pearson said.
The Star News Group has given inprinciple support for the library corporation to continue with stage two of the preservation project.
Funding will be sought to digitise the newspapers from 1965 to the current day.
