People are welcome to visit the library to see two complementary programmes – Alice on the Line, which is an exploration of life at the Old Telegraph Station, and the Hartley Street School Project, which looks at schooling in the 1930’s.

A key feature of these two educational programmes is role playing the lives of real Alice Springs residents, based on what they experienced in past.

“It is through this type teaching and learning strategy that students can truly understand and explore the attitudes, values and behaviours of the past,” said Megg Kelham, a Freelance Educator, Broadcaster and Historian.

The two programmes also involve taking students to visit actual local heritage sites, dressed in period costume.

Two talking books, exploring life in Australia’s last gold rush town from the perspective of women and children, include multi-media presentations. The presentations combine eye-witness accounts of life in the 1930’s with family photographs, moving text and modern day sound effects.

“By removing the written literacy skills normally required for students to learn about the past, it makes them more able to actually think about the experiences of the past,” said Ms Kelham.

These valuable educational resources are on display at the Alice Springs Public Library until Monday 26 March.

For further information contact:

Freelance Educator, Broadcaster and Historian Megg Kelham (08) 8952 8024

Mayor Fran Kilgariff (08) 8950 0525 or 0419 376 060

ASTC Chief Executive Officer Rex Mooney (08) 8950 0525 or 0427 161 956

ASTC Media Officer Fionn Muster (08) 8950 0546 or 0417 884 449