Rosewood Then & Now

By Karen Tyrell & Megan Forward

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Here is a charming history snapshot of a small Queensland town aimed at primary school readers but can be enjoyed by people of any age. The book is an initiative of the Rosewood History Group and was given out freely to the children of Rosewood. It’s theme is ‘Learn from our THEN, enjoy the NOW, and look forward to our FUTURE’.

Three narrators take us on a tour: Thelma the Theropod who roamed the Rosewood swamps millions of years ago and Alfie and Meg, two children who roam around discovering interesting sites. These include Tallegalla Lookout, Grantchester sawmill, Rosewood Pony Club, Rosewood Courthouse, and more. Readers learn about the first settlers, the establishment of hotels, churches, its contribution during war,  the mining, farming and timber industries and the town itself.

Karen is meticulous in acknowledging the contribution of the Yagara people, who lived, then and now, in the area. Her interesting text manages to convey heaps of information, seamlessly taking the reader from the past to the present and back again. Megan Forward’s illustrations are a delight throughout.  Old photographs, maps, diagrams are cleverly placed in many spreads so the reader can easily compare and contrast then and now. Her colourful illustrative style is loose and informal, with people, buildings, animals and plants almost dancing on the page.  A joyful book celebrating the history of Rosewood.

While Rosewood Then & Now is aimed at a small readership it is a useful starting point for teachers anywhere when discussing their own local history. Each spread is a carefully designed amalgam of past and present encouraging young readers to explore and discover on each page. There are many towns across Australia with fascinating histories and I would love to see more places proudly celebrating their history and heritage in this way.

Rosewood History Group

Karen Tyrell

Megan Forward