Take a trip down memory lane with Dr James Lergessner’s latest book, Snippets of a Baby Boomer’s Diary – a collection of memories, thoughtful reflections and humorous anecdotes from the Baby Boomer years.
As part of Brisbane City Council’s Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence series, James will appear at a free event at Chermside Library this month, inviting attendees on a “hilarious romp down memory road”.
James said his work was a precious memoir of growing up in Brisbane over many decades.
“Compared to my other books, this one was intimate and personal and explained to all, given its universal themes and being generalisable to every Baby Boomer, what growing up was like from the 1940s to the present in Brisbane,” he said. “So, it is not just a freeze or moments in time of or about my own family. That is what makes it so intimate and accessible to others.”
Between 1946 and 1964, nearly four million babies were born in Australia, defining the post-war Baby Boomer generation. As wartime hardship gave way to new hope and prosperity, families sought to provide their children with better opportunities, from secure homes and education to weekend outings in the family car.
James captures these changing times through “engaging and insightful snippets,” chronicling everything from the conservative 1950s and the vibrant 1960s to the political turbulence of the 1970s and the consumer-driven 1980s.
“Many passages from the book tug at the heartstrings; none better than my first girlfriend in 1954, the Queen visiting our city the same year, and getting ready for a dance at Cloudland Ballroom,” James said. “Audiences so far love the humour in these stories’ retelling!
“The fact audiences everywhere react to small passages from this work and laugh wholeheartedly and without restraint at those brief episodes is really the clincher as an autobiography.”
Historian’s Legacy and Upcoming Talk
As a historian for City of Moreton Bay, James has been awarded $65,500 in grant funding for his works. He is also the author of other Brisbane-based titles, including Cloudland Ballroom and The Brisbane I Used to Know, published by Boolarong Press.
“I hope (the books will be) a rich legacy for future generations to enjoy as a record of iconic events in Queensland, whether historical or otherwise,” he said.
Bookings required. Secure your seats here or call Chermside Library on 3403 7200.
Meet James Lergessner
- Thursday, 24 July, 11am-12pm
- Chermside Library
- 375 Hamilton Road, Chermside
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