49 Kisses Home

About the Book

49 Kisses Home represents the love, friendship, family relationships and home central to the hearts of women. Like leaves shaken from branches by winds of change they relocated to pioneer a new colony on the banks of the Murray River, living their lives in very primitive circumstances. Tales of joy, tragedy, entertainment, family, food and establishing the structures of a town are told through the eyes of almost fifty women as they live their everyday lives. Like women of today they are from a many different walks of life, economic circumstance, and family situations but through their stoicism, courage and enthusiasm for life they bring us to a deeper understanding of our own lives.

About the Author

Valarie Robinson is a former primary school Teacher Librarian who is interested in the recognition of history by contemporary society. She has co-authored a book on the centenary of the school at which she was teaching and has self published a patchwork book ‘Calico and Lace creating an Heirloom’. As a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother she sees the repeated patterns of everyday life, and the impact of the expectations of society and of technological changes. From a teacher’s perspective the necessity of building on strong foundations, or learning from the past, is paramount. She is presently a visual artist using installation and textiles on themes of historical narrative about unsung heroes and the roles of women. The leaf, the long dress, the tea cosy and zentangles are recurring motifs. Val researched the contribution of pioneer women to her hometown of Mildura, whilst completing Masters of Visual Art by Research through La Trobe University, in 2012. The untold stories of these women made such an impact on her she felt compelled to share them with you through the publication of this book.