Author Gabbie Stroud to visit Bathurst as part of tour for The Things That Matter Most

Gabbie Stroud - best known for her non-fiction books Teacher and Dear Parents, which looked at the state of the Australian education system - is on the road to promote her new novel, The Things That Matter Most.

"In 2021, when I started writing this book, I took myself on a road trip to central NSW," she said of the novel's genesis.

"I stayed at Canowindra and visited Orange, Cowra, Blayney and Millthorpe. I didn't make it to Bathurst. Please forgive me!"

Ms Stroud said she was researching small towns where there were big temperature drops and "Central NSW is certainly the place for that".

"I remember driving back to Canowindra from Millthorpe and being astonished by all the mice on the road," she said.

"During that time - late May, early June - there was a mouse plague. I'd never experienced that before.

"I was also taken with a particular sign I saw on one of the roadsides. It was a billboard advertising 'divorce-proof' stockyards.

"I wondered if it was a wedding gift I should purchase for my nephew who was due to get hitched the following year.

"I stopped and took pictures. It seemed oddly hilarious to me until a lovely farmer's wife explained it. I still think it's funny, but I understand the joke more now.

"And I think it'd make a great wedding present too."

Ms Stroud also has a friend who's a teacher in Cowra and "my gorgeous little Cavoodle Johnny came from Orange".

"But Bathurst is a complete 'first date' for me, so I'm really looking forward to getting to know the place," she said.

IN OTHER NEWS AROUND BATHURST:

Ms Stroud will talk about her new book at an event at Bathurst Library on Tuesday, August 8 at 6pm.

The Things That Matter Most is set in St Margaret's Primary School, where the staff are hanging by a thread: there's serious litigation pending, the school is due for registration and a powerful parent has a lot to say about everything.

Student Lionel Merrick is cheerful, likeable, helpful and devoted to his little sister, but he has a secret.

Ms Stroud, who lives on the Far South Coast, said she grew up in a small country town, "so they always feel like home to me".

"I love the architecture, the recent history and the ancient - love to know what country I'm standing in."

In terms of her plans for Bathurst, she said she'll be "looking for a good bookshop, a pub lunch and a park to stretch my leg... country towns always have the most lovely parklands - usually right in town".

"I believe there's a car race in Bathurst too?" she said. "I'd like to learn about that ... might make the pilgrimage up Mount Panorama while I'm here."

Bookings are essential for Gabbie Stroud's talk at Bathurst Library. Call 6333 6281.

YOU never know what a visiting author, musician or singer might say when they are asked if they have a memory of - or association with - Bathurst.

Here are a few:

Guitar legend Ian Moss (ahead of a 2018 gig at BMEC): "I have fond memories of the early days with Cold Chisel, including playing on a stage set up inside the Mount Panorama racetrack. I have done the hot lap a few times at Mount Panorama. I have also played, with Cold Chisel, at Bathurst jail."

Singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian (ahead of a 2018 gig at BMEC): " My first recollection of performing in Bathurst I was schooled quite aggressively in the correct pronunciation of Bathurst. I might have been putting a bit too much emphasis on the 'R', but was informed it's actually more like Bath-hust. Whenever I'm jumping on stage in Bathurst, I'm very grateful and have never forgotten."

Radio presenter and musician James Valentine (ahead of a 2017 show at BMEC): "You had the Hardie Ferodo 500, which is what it was when I was a youth and the legends of the track, Brock, Moffat, Geoghegan hurled Monaros, GTs and Chargers around Mount Panorama. My father was a car dealer and so I grew up with cars and dreamed of a day when I would be old enough to travel with him to the legendary event. It never happened. But I have visited the town a few times since and did a lap in his honour. It was in a Volvo station wagon, so I don't think it really counted."