Alan Marshall AM, (2 May 1902 – 21 January 1984) was an Australian writer, story teller, humanist and social documenter. Personal correspondence between Gwenda Sanderson and Alan Marshall, dated between 1979 and 1983. There are 21 letters in all, the last 3 of which were dictated from the Hurlingham Nursing Home in Brighton. Background information for the letters (daugher Merrilyn Sanderson 10 October 2025): My mother, Gwenda Sanderson ( nee White ) grew up in the western district and knew Alan Marshall's sister. Gwenda was an aspiring author, and reached out to Alan for support and advice regarding her writing. Alan proved to be a generous and inspiring mentor and as you will see, they established a rapport. In 1966 Gwenda moved from Mortlake to Montmorency (quite a culture shock!) and around 1983 she and her husband, Stan moved to Diamond Creek. Letters: 1. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 15 August 1979 2. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 22 August 1979 3. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 28 August 1979 4. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 7 September 1979 5. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 19 September 1979 6. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 11 October 1979 7. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 18 October 1979 8. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 1 November 1979 9. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 10 January 1980 10. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 24 January 1980 11. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 15 February 1980 12. Gwen Hardisty on behalf of Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 27 May 1980 13. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 17 June 1980 14. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 29 July 1980 15. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 4 August 1980 16. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 22 August 1980 17. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 5 February 1981 18. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 5 August 1981 19. Gwen Hardisty on behalf of Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 11 May 1982 20. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 27 Octopber 1982 21. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 21 February 1983 alan marshall, gwenda sanderson, gurrawilla, elsie louise mcconnell, black rock (vic.), korny kenna, folk tales, australian folk tales, davie carson, tommy stratton, neil black, black emily, noorat, purnim encampment, pompey austin, aboriginal characters, john manifold, john hooker, collins publishers, eltham history, alan marshall (pioneers and painters), james bonwick, mount shadwell, mount noorat, john smith, blacksmith, mary turner-shaw, on mount emu creek (book), wooiwyrite, western district victoria, merrilyn sanderson, mortlake, the land (poem), collected verse (book), austin family, hammers over the anvil (book), eeyeuk, dennis family, peg dennis, noorat church, jim smith, miss dennis, mrs polly, mrs angus gillies, mental health, frank smith, country life (english paper), field (english paper), peter mcleod, bill beechey, angus gillies, mag dennis, east driscoll, camperdown, bill white, alec irvine, jack irvine, staughton's stable, cumming family, jallalabad, miss baird, private catholic school, jack peoples, shaw's, weatherley, miss ann gordon, ballangeich, writer, author, sun (newspaper), william collins (aust.) ltd, chatsworth homestead, russia, i can jump puddles (book), nat gould, race horses, ethell dell, gertrude page, geoffrey farnell, east driscoll (story), shamrock smith, the catholic ball (story), lance skuthorpe, the blood of johnny meagher (story), winter-irving, sarah midgeley, richard skilbeck, miss edith (story), sun competition, mandeville hall, hampden council, alan marshall commemorative plaque noorat, russian theatrical troupe, noorat show, eliza sturgess, sam johnson the baker, elsie johnson, crupper, martingale, a.j. black, shaw women, miss laura, squatter, duke of edinburgh, royal family, 'texas' green, member for kalgoorlie, duke of gloucestor, the girl in pink, prince of wales, may creedie (story), mrs scott of mortlake, smouldering fires (book), lindsay russell, mary murray of our valley (book), the fellowship of australian writers, jim hamilton, journey to aboriginal victoria (book), mary gilmore, peter mcallum institute, may creedie (book), gwen hardisty, heart attack, bulletin (magazine), stephenson, gloria swanson, jennifer marshall, daniel (grandson), cathy (daughter), sandringham hospithal, east brighton nursing home, alan marshall writes alone (review)

One of a collection of books by local writer Alan Marshall held at EDHS. This one is of "anecdotes and yarns" as described by Marshall before its publication in July 1981 in the Canberra Times. Alan Marshall's Australia, the Australia of "I Can Jump Puddles" has vanished. No longer do we have time to sit on the sliprail and exchange yarns, to drive buggies down long, quiet dusty roads, or to watch the king-hit merchant operating in some small hotel. Even the Cu-nims hold no terrors for a Boeing 427! And yet - Alan Marshall's Australia lives for all those who read this book. Meet Lance Skuthorpe who tethered an old bull in Bourke Street and offered £5 to anyone who could ride it for half a minute and Binjarrpooma, the Arnhem Land terror. Accompany Alan in his horse-drawn caravan or buggy to country sales, pubs and stations and listen with him to great bush eccentrics, lairs and yarn spinners. Go further back and remember Conversation Lollies, the cigarette cards you collected and the school yard games. Can you recall how to test an axe blade, choose a pocket knife, or the penetrating power of Goanna Oil? But this book is more than a nostalgic journey into the past ; it is history for the young and a timely reminder for us all - it is our roots. - Front end papers viii, 165 p. : ill. ; Two copiesISBN 0908090390alan marshall, prose, short stories, ancedotes, australia, tales, yarms