By Parker McKenzie
Historian Helen Coulson, best known in the hills for her book Story of the Dandenongs, passed away at the age of 103 on Good Friday, 15 April.
The Echuca Historical Society, which Ms Coulson helped found, announced her passing on Facebook on April 17.
“Her contribution to the heritage of Echuca and the history of Victoria is unsurpassed and valued by all,” the Society said.
“Her contribution and dedication to EHS has been outstanding over many years and will be greatly missed.”
Ms Coulson wrote Story of the Dandenongs in 1959, chronicling the history of the area and the early pioneer life into the post-war era from 1838 to 1958.
Prior to her 100th birthday in 2018, Ms Coulson spoke to the Star Mail about the longevity of her history book.
“I’m quite pleased to hear that it’s still being used as a reference book,” she said.
“I suppose there have been other books since then, but the fact that it would’ve been the first to encompass that area makes it special.”
After growing up in Upwey in the 1920s and 1930s, Ms Coulson moved to Horsham in 1948, where published her first history book. The now-defunct Dandenong Ranges Council commissioned the Story of the Dandenongs. It has since been reprinted several times and remains one of the definitive resources for those interested in the history of the hills.
Tributes for Ms Coulson from members of the Dandenong Ranges community have revealed the impact her work made on those interested in the history of the hills.
Monbulk Historical Society president Armin Richter said “the book is the most important historical book that has been written about the Dandenongs.”
“The book was very well researched and compiled. The added advantage was that it had been researched and written between 1952 and 1958, at a time when some of the district pioneers were still around to be able to give personal first-hand recollections dating back to as early as the 1870s and 1880s,” he said.
“Many historical accounts that appeared in Helen’s book were not known or recorded anywhere else. As a result, it is also a widely quoted publication.”
Vice President of the Save the Dandenong Leagues Carolyn Ebdon said Story of the Dandenongs is the first reference if there is a historical fact to be checked.
“ I first got a copy of her book in the 1980s. I know that when I was it that, I suddenly realised how wonderful the Dandenongs are again,” she said.
“You’ve really fallen in love with it all over again, that’s what led me to seek out and join the Save the Dandenongs League. I attribute my joining the League really to Helen Coulson’s book and I’m sure others felt the same.”
Ms Ebdon said she had the opportunity to meet Ms Coulson in Echuca for her 100th birthday in 2018.
“I was really pleased to meet her and I shook her hand and thanked her personally,” she said.
“I remember that it discussed that we should try to organise or that perhaps the council should be trying to organise a reprint and then it was forgotten about, unfortunately. I don’t think anything’s happened since, but I’m sure it would be just as popular.”
