Meet the author

Steve Balmforth

THE new book on the history of the Plenty district goes on sale in New Norfolk this Saturday and the author will be available for book signing. Former local resident Steve Balmforth has spent several years working on his book titled Glenleith Memories and Stories. It traces the development of the Glenleith property at Plenty in the Derwent Valley as well as the people that lived, worked and grew up on the farm.

Mr Balmforth lived on Glenleith and his family had strong links to the area from the early 1900s. He used Glenleith as the focal point for the book and drew on his own family’s memories and experiences as well as those from a wide range of other locals who spent time or worked on the property

The personal recollections and photographs of those who have supported this project capture a snapshot to an era long past. Details from early records outlining the establishment and ownership of Glenleith, have been recorded together with the families who lived on the property. Input from the Balmforth, McMahon, Menzie, Shaw, Harwood, Johnson, Prentice, Woolford and Rainbird families along with many others provide detailed family history of those who have helped compile the information included in the book. The photographs used have been provided by a wide range of people who have an interest in the activities of the district and depict the people and activities those early days.

Chapters are devoted to the families who lived on the farm, the farm layout, hop picking, the Plenty State School, St John's Church, Plenty football teams, Plenty Memorial Hall, local identities as well as a large number of newspaper articles that  provide an overview of the activities of  the area from the late 1800s.

Glenleith Memories and Stories has been professionally published in A4 format, 100 pages with more than 170 black and white photographs. The book will be available as from December 22 and can be ordered direct with Steve at a cost of $39.95 per copy plus postage if required. The book will be available from the New Norfolk Newsagency from 22nd December 22 and on that day Steve will be present from 10am for personal book signing.