If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine how much information can be gleaned from photo albums highlighting Wyndham’s war time history.
Plaza Library at Hoppers Crossing has been gifted with the personal albums of Erik Engebrigtsen, which detail the Werribee resident’s three years service in WWI.
Mr Engebrigtsen, who grew up at the Metropolitan Farm in Werribee in the early 1900s, fought with the 39th Infantry Battalion in both Belgium and France before returning to Australia.
The photo albums give insights into his life as both a military man and a family man.
Mr Engebrigtsen’s descendant, a Norwegian man by the name of Olav L’Orange, inherited the albums and donated them to Wyndham Library Service.
Now, a group of volunteers is piecing together Mr Engebrigtsen’s story and those of others featured in the album.
Volunteer Ian Cropper said the photos provided a treasure trove of information.
“It’s not like learning history at school or university, where you hear about the big names of the big events – this is about the everyday families,” he said.
“This puts a face to them.”
Wyndham councillor Heather Marcus said the library was extremely lucky to be gifted with the photo albums.
“They will be able to give residents a glimpse into what Wyndham, Australia and the world was like more than 100 years ago,” Cr Marcus said.
Some images will be displayed at Plaza Library from this Friday until November 13 as part of the Writing the War exhibition.
More details here.
