Help needed for eisteddfod project

A University of Queensland academic wishes to hear from people associated with the eisteddfod movement in Australia.

Senior lecturer in English Dr Cath Filmer-Davies said research was well underway for a history she is writing, entitled Eisteddfod: The Story of a Welsh Tradition in Australia.

"I have been fortunate to be in touch with quite a few eisteddfod societies thanks to the mailing list supplied by tbe Association of Eisteddfod Societies of Australia," she said.

"But I am also aware that there are also a number of eisteddfod societies which are not yet members of the Association. I need to get in touch with these."

"They are in all states of Australia. In addition, I would like to hear from adjudicators, competitors, choir conductors or others who have been associated with the eisteddfod, and have stories to tell.

"I already have had a very good response, and the book is set to read very well, with something of interest for anyone who has been involved in an eisteddfod."

Dr Filmer-Davies will travel to Wales in August for six weeks to research the origins of the parent Welsh eisteddfod tradition. She hopes to have the book completed by the end of this year for sale early next year at eisteddfodau in Australia.

Eisteddfod societies who would like to complete Dr Filmer-Davies' questionnaire, or who can supply any documents or photos (which will be carefully scanned and returned), and any individual who would like to send in their stories (with dates, names, times and places, please) should write to:

Eisteddfod project, Dr Cath Filmer-Davies, Department of English, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072.