Published on Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 4:38:54 PM

It’s #TimeWarpTuesday and time for our next poetry instalment from our recent 2025 Local History Awards. 

Les Stevens entered six poems with four of those following the theme of his research into the mostly overlooked social history of the ubiquitous ‘outback dunny’, which we will feature next week. The other two poems submitted by Les bring, as judges remarked, “A well-constructed piece that draws attention, in a light-hearted manner, to the frailty of memory and what can affect it” (Heather Campbell). It is these odes to personal memories, family stories and anecdotes in the telling of history, that we celebrate today. 

Original Poetry or Performance Work 

Display Cover Page for Leslie’s poem ‘Fact or Fiction’

‘Fact or Fiction’ by Leslie Stevens as displayed in the 2025 Local History Awards Exhibition

AND

Display Cover Page for Leslie’s poem ‘Memories’

‘Memories’ by Leslie Stevens as displayed in the 2025 Local History Awards Exhibition

We hope you enjoyed rhyming your way back through time. Don’t forget to check back next week for more poems. It’s also never to early to start thinking about researching and or preparing an entry for the 2027 Local History Awards, just check out the ‘Past Awards’ page on the Local History section of the Library’s website for inspiration and ideas. Please also feel free to reach out to our Local History Coordinator if you want to find out more about entering, what’s involved or to brainstorm research ideas. We Need You to help preserve our local history, so please consider how you can get involved… 

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via telephone: 08 9373 5500, email: vicparklibrary@vicpark.wa.gov.au, by mail: PO Box 1109, East Victoria Park WA 6981 or in person at 27 Sussex Street, East Victoria Park. 

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