Outback storyteller takes readers back in time

Historian Paul Roe has bought a selection of his stories together in print in a book called Bourke and Beyond which is now available locally. Photo TWH

A lover of the outback and its history, author Paul Roe has just celebrated the release of his latest book, Bourke and Beyond, which draws on decades of storytelling and history gathering from the far west of New South Wales.

“It’s taken me about 40 years,” Mr Roe said. “It’s much to my surprise as when I came to Bourke all those years ago, I never imagined writing the stories of Bourke, but in a way, Bourke’s written itself into my life.”

The book’s title reflects a radio program Mr Roe produced in the 1980s, where he interviewed more than 100 local identities.

“On 2WEB I was doing grassroots interviews with people who were around decades ago and telling their stories and helping them articulate them in a way that people could understand,” he said.

“I felt like I had the privilege of being a storyteller for Bourke in that sense.”

Mr Roe said the collection was inspired in part by Henry Lawson’s famous claim that, “If you know Bourke, you know Australia.” […]

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