Wagga Girls: A celebration of life, love and friendship at 38 Morrow St

This project was born out of a desire to give back to the community and uplift the voices of the women who paved the way for Wagga girls like me. The women who lived at 38 Morrow Street, Wagga Wagga deserve to have their stories told, and this is my small way of making sure they are not lost to time. The building has had a remarkable life since 1939, serving as a boarding house and hostel for hundreds of service women and young women of the district, and the people who passed through its doors are as much a part of its history as its walls.

This is not intended to be a historical account. The narrative will not be shaped by me as the author but by the women who choose to share their stories. My only role is to collate those contributions and preserve them in a form that can be passed down to future generations. Every voice that comes forward adds something that could not exist without it.

The goal is simple: to gather those personal stories, photographs and memories together into a book that honours the experiences of the women who called this place home. Whether your time there was brief or formative, your voice matters and deserves to be part of the record.

This is a community project in the truest sense. It only works because of the willingness of people to share, connect and contribute. Every photo dug out of an old album, every memory put into words, and every friend tagged or contacted brings the project closer to something meaningful and lasting.

This project is currently self-funded, and while applications for grants and community funding are being explored, publication is going ahead regardless. The stories are too important to wait. It is also important to be clear that there is no commercial agenda and no personal interests driving this work. Any proceeds generated will be directed back into the local community, because that is where this project belongs.

This project is also open to collaboration from all corners of the community. From editorial support to artists, designers and beyond, there is a place for those who want to contribute their skills to something worthwhile. It is important to this project that all contributors have strong ties to the Riverina region, so that the authenticity of the work is honoured at every stage and the final book truly reflects the community it celebrates.