Long and winding path for Longfellow’s Poetical Works

A book of Longfellow’s Poetical Works has travelled a long and winding path since it was first sold at Gunnedah Newsagency in 1945.

Newsagency owners Ann and John Sturgess received a phone call recently all the way from Mittagong, where Fiona Bensley had discovered the book and noted the green and gold label inside the front cover: THE GUNNEDAH NEWSAGENCY FOR BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND STATIONERY.

Even more intriguing was the beautiful cursive writing inside stating that the book had been awarded to Russell Brodbeck, St Xavier’s Primary School, Gunnedah, as first prize in an essay competition “conducted in conjunction with screening of public health films, Gunnedah”.

Ann and John are keen to hopefully pass the book on to a family member, if there are any connections of Russell Brodbeck still in the area.