About the Author

Maud Crang was born in Wentworth in 1915, the youngest child but one of Ruby and William.

She recalls a happy childhood growing up with her two sisters and five brothers while living in the stately home "Abberburnie".

Maud Crang signs a book following the launch ceremony watched by Pam Niejalke, the former Wentworth Librarian and long-time friend who officially launched 'Maud's Book of Houses'.

Maud started her education at St. Ignatius School, just a hop, step and jump from her home and the Wentworth Public School, but much of her later schooling was completed away from home as a boarding student.

Amongst her many talents, Maud demonstrated superior sporting ability as a tennis player and being a member of the Crang family, where music and song is very much a part of their existence, one of her other skills is as an accomplished pianist/organist.

After graduating as an accountant, it was a natural thing for Maud to be employed in her father's accounting business, along with her brothers. Maud was soon manager of the office and carried out this role in her very thorough and capable way.

Maud also acted as accountant for Fisher's Stores at their Merbein Office.

Working as an accountant all her life was not enough and on retirement Maud followed the call to go to the Arukun Mission Station in Queensland.

This four-year experience in the outback was one "of enormous contrast" to previous positions that she had held.

Apparently the 'books' were very much "out of order" when Maud arrived at Arukun, but it didn't take the determined newcomer long to put them back in order.

Returning to her beloved Wentworth, Maud was able to continued to use her accountancy skills within the community as Treasurer of many community organisations.

Meanwhile, as a steadfast and loyal member of the Wentworth Historical Society, Maud realised there was a need and an urgency for local history to be recorded and the idea for her 'houses' book was born.

That was 1997, and Maud began to collect data on the houses of Wentworth by delving into the Rate Books and gathering information from many sources and local residents.

'Maud's Book of Houses' is the first publication to emerge from the Historical Society's Jeff Whyte Historical Room at the Wentworth Library.

They say we each have 'one' book in us - but, I'll let you in on a secret - there is more than one book in Maud - there are already others under way!

Back to Historical Society page