After the planned launch of the book The Wimmera - A journey through western Victoria had to be postponed in September due to a lockdown, the team behind the book will finally have the chance to travel to Dimboola for the official launch on Saturday morning.

The author and some of the photographers who contributed to this book will be available between 9 am and midday to sign copies of the book, and Dimboola’s Tracey Rigney, who contributed the forward to the book, will conduct the official launch at 10.30.
Book Signing & Launch, Meeting the Author & some of the Photographers

When -
9 am to midday - Saturday, November 13
10.30 am - Tracey Rigney - film-maker from Dimboola who is featured in the book

Where -
The Imaginarium, Dimboola (inside and outside and in the gardens)

Devonshire tea will be served in the gardens from 9 am

Who -
Author - Adam McNicol
Photographers - Dave Callow, Noel Butcher, Erin Jonasson, Phil Campbell
Contributor - Tracey Rigney
The book’s author Adam McNicol and the six photographers behind the best-selling book The Mallee turned their focus to the Wimmera region for their next offering.

Many hundreds of kilometres of travel yielded hundreds of images and the collection of stories from many remarkable people, which have come together into another book, The Wimmera - a journey through western Victoria.

Along with covering some well-known Wimmera attractions, they also travelled to some more out-of-the-way places to discover a host of tiny towns and districts off the beaten track, some deserted, some with vibrant communities and some with surprising and quirky landmarks.

Above - An example of the standard of photography found in the book - A disused woolshed by Noel Butcher.

The area covered in this book is bounded by the Mallee to the north, the Western District to South Australia and the goldfields to the east. To capture the essence of the region, the team of photojournalists, including Noel Butcher, David Callow, Andrew Chapman, Melanie Faith Dove, Erin Jonasson, and Jaime Murcia, followed sections of a 1950s railway map, journeying along some lines that are still in use and others that have been closed for the best part of 40 years.

Author Adam McNicol, a local of Manangatang in the Mallee, oversaw the project and wrote the words said, “The Wimmera is a land full of contrasts, from dryland scrub in the north to stately trees and rolling green hills in the south, and our journey takes you to every corner of this most interesting region.

“There has never been a better time to celebrate what’s in our backyard, and the Wimmera is such an interesting place.

“On our travels, we learned about the region’s Indigenous history, including the celebrated cricket team that toured England in the 1860s. We met fifth- and sixth-generation farmers and came across so many people who are proud to call the Wimmera home. Plus, we were extra lucky to walk away from Warracknabeal with a prized scone recipe!

“We hope to inspire readers to check out the Wimmera for themselves. And even if you can’t travel there, The Wimmera: A journey through western Victoria can take you on a journey through the region from the comfort of your couch.”

The book is produced locally in Victoria with the publisher, Ten Bag Press, from Ballarat, and it is printed by Adams Print in Geelong.

Available locally from the Imaginarium in Dimboola and many of the places featured in the book and from the publisher.