Clutha District Council home

Clutha District Council

 

Search the Site Contact Us Site Map A-Z Latest News

                                         

Home                                 

About Council                    
News, Events & Notices      
Consultations      
Bylaws and Policies
Plans and Publications
Information Brochures
Application Forms
Job Vacancies
Youth Council
About Clutha
Photo Galleries
 
Council Services
Animal Control
Building Services
Cemeteries
Civil Defence
Clutha Country brand
Community Development
Community Housing
Community Directory
District Development
District Plan Online
Food Safety
Funding Schemes
Libraries
Liquor Licensing
Noise Control
Parks and Reserves
Rates
Resource Consents
Roads
Rubbish & Recycling
Rural Fire
Swimming Pools
Water
 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Wednesday 25 March 2009

 

Mad or Bad? Researching the life of Amy Bock

 

The Balclutha Library is delighted to announce it will host a session with Dr Jenny Coleman, the author of a biography on one of South Otago’s most notorious characters – Amy Bock.   

 

Amy Bock gained notoriety in 1909 when she disguised herself as a man and married a woman at Kaka Point, just south of Balclutha. Later the same day she was publicly exposed and arrested.

 

A century on, a series of events this April will mark the 100th anniversary of the infamous wedding, including a presentation at the Balclutha Library by Dr Coleman, who has researched the life of Bock.

 

Dr Coleman is a senior lecturer and coordinator of the Women’s Studies Programme at Massey University, Palmerston North. She has published and presented numerous research papers in the areas of the nineteenth century women’s movement in New Zealand, female journalists, and feminist biography.

 

Her full length biography of Amy Bock is due for publication in 2010.

 

Researching the life of New Zealand’s most notorious female criminal confidence artist included forays into Bock’s convict heritage, as well as searching the archives of courts, education departments and mental asylums.

 

Council Library/Service Centre Manager Vicki Darling said Dr Coleman’s presentation would take the audience behind the scenes to the actual sources consulted in the writing of the biography.

 

“This will be a fascinating insight into the life and times of one of South Otago’s most well-known characters – albeit for the wrong reasons,” Ms Darling said. “There is a real sense of excitement starting to build around the events surrounding the Amy Bock wedding re-enactment and we’re delighted to be part of this.”

 

Dr Jenny Coleman will be at the Balclutha Library on Wednesday 8 April 2009 from 7.30pm. Anyone interested in attending should register with the library.

 

ENDS

 
 
 
 

Home

Search the Site

Contact Us

Site Map A-Z

Disclaimer

www.newzealand.govt.nzClutha District Council, PO Box 25, Balclutha 9240

Some of this website may be subject to copyright © Clutha District Council 2009