Williamstown writer Dorothy Richards was inspired to write a book about her many aunts and adopted aunts. 85640 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By ALESHA CAPONE
WILLIAMSTOWN writer Dorothy Richards is proud to carry on her family’s literary tradition.
Her sister Peg was a journalist at The Sun Herald and her brother-in-law was a war correspondent.
In addition, Mrs Richards’ eldest son is a journalist and has written a book called ‘There Were Three Ships’ about his family’s history.
His mother, 96, also drew inspiration from her family to write a book, which has just been reprinted since first being published in 1998.
During her Hobsons Bay childhood Mrs Richards grew up with 33 aunties including her father’s five sisters and several more “adopted aunts”.
“The first World War was just over, so my girlfriend had seven unmarried aunts, so many young men died, that’s why they were all single,” she said.
Later in life, Ms Richards became a founding member of the Society of Women Writers Victorian Branch.
“Because I belonged to a writing group I sometimes left my homework to the last day and I did it on the train,” she said.
“When I didn’t have ideas to write about, I wrote about my aunts.”
This ‘homework’ turned into her book titled ‘An Anthology of Aunts: Growing up in Williamstown’.
Mrs Richards is the oldest living ex-student of Westbourne Grammar and as a child won several awards for school attendance.
“I was a very healthy child, except for one week off when my younger sister died, I went through seven years of school without missing a day,” she said.
Despite her writing success, Mrs Richards said her four sons, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren were her proudest achievement.
Her book is available for $25 from the Book and Paper bookshop in Williamstown, Williamstown News and Lotto and the Williamstown Historical Society.
