About 200 people, many of them descendants of pioneering families in the district, gathered on a reserve at the south end of Roxburgh for a function which included the launch of a book titled Our Memories, Our Stories.
The book was published by the Teviot Valley 2007 Society, which was set up to mark the 150th anniversary of settlement in 2007. It includes interviews with 35 of the district's identities and pioneering families, compiled by Dianne King, of Alexandra. The oral histories of those people were recorded as one of the anniversary projects and the book evolved from that.
Society chairman John Rowley, of Teviot, said the 240-page book would be highly valued by generations in future for its historic and heritage values.
He paid tribute to the work of society committee member, the late Allan Michelle, who was a driving force in the oral history project.
"Allan met with the interviewees, enthusing them without making them too anxious," he said.
Mrs King then interviewed the people and recorded their stories and anecdotes.
Mr Rowley paid tribute to the "empathy, enthusiasm, considerable time and hard work" Mrs King put into the book project.
Roxburgh Community Board chairman Stephen Jeffery said the investment in the district by its forefathers was enormous.
"We owe it to them to show the same drive and spirit [they displayed] to ensure our valley thrives for another 150 years." Farming and, to a lesser extent, orcharding had been the backbone of the valley for 150 years.
"Gold came and went but it did leave us with our settlements. It is heartening to find many of the founding families' descendants still living within our valley today," Mr Jeffery said.
It was a big weekend for Roxburgh resident Hettie Gunn. As well as cutting the cake as the eldest ex-pupil at the Millers Flat School 125th anniversary on Saturday, she was invited to cut the ribbon, officially gifting a metal sculpture created by Roxburgh artist Bill Clarke to the district yesterday. Mrs Gunn features in the book.
The 3m by 7m artwork was commissioned by the society and installed at the Roxburgh reserve in June last year.
Plaques with names of families and individuals who played a part in the valley's history were displayed yesterday.
They will be attached to the back of the sculpture.
