The Mount Gambier Library has written a new chapter winning the 2023 Award for Excellence in Oral History by the History Council of South Australia (HCSA) for its podcast “Don’t Overdue it”.
Mount Gambier Library programming officer Ricky Koopman and history officer Danni Reade received the honour at the HCSA Historian Awards.
The awards seek to recognise the outstanding achievements of an individual or group who have made a significant contribution in the field of history in South Australia.
Mrs Reade said the podcast was an exploration and a celebration of everything they did in the library.
“We interview people from the library such as fellow staff members about projects and events that we are doing but we also like to speak to the community,” she said.
“It is a mixture of programming so our events, touring authors but also a celebration of the community by sharing local history stories and then other council initiatives.
“It is actually really unique for a library to do the style of podcast that we are doing so I think that makes us stand out in the podcast community quite nicely.
“It is very broad but at the heart of it it is the Mount Gambier community and our place within that community.
“Obviously this is not something that we want to do for any other reason than for just being able to do it and interview people in the community and share stories.”
Mr Koopman first suggested the podcast as a way to connect with the community during the pandemic but maintains it would not be possible without his cohost and the team at the Mount Gambier Library.
“The idea may have been mine but Danni has a lot of experience in radio and that kind of thing so that certainly has helped the whole process as well, so it has been a joint effort,” he said.
“Not only both of us but the whole library team, the majority of the library staff have been on it at some point.
“Our community has been very happy with sharing their stories and sharing their time with us.
“The award belongs to the community as much as it does to the library because without the community and them being so happy to share their stories we would not be able to do what we do and certainly would not be winning an award.”
Mr Koopman said it was also a great way to preserve local history.
“It is sharing the stories and memories of people of our community, not only is it sharing their stories, but it is in their voice,” he said.
“We have talked to people who are no longer with us, they have passed away, but their voices are still there.
“The stories are there but it is not just written on a piece of paper it is their voice, their passion, their feeling.”
