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The stories and memories of Catlins residents have been preserved for future generations with the launch of Stories from the Catlins at the Owaka Community Library and Information Centre on June 24.
The book gathers oral histories from local people whose experiences span wartime, farming, family life and personal adventure.
It was presented by Age Concern Otago, supported by Clutha District Libraries and funding from the Clutha District Creative Communities Scheme.
Contributor Kathleen Gallagher recalled growing up with the lasting effects of World War 2 reaching well beyond the battlefield.
Her father served in Italy alongside double Victoria Cross-winner Charles Upham, and was captured and escaped twice before eventually returning home.
"He didn't talk about things much, but he had nightmares," Mrs Gallagher recalled.
"If he heard a plane, he had to shut the curtains. I think that's probably why he died very young."
One of Mrs Gallagher’s own stories is remarkable.
She and husband Ron once sailed a ketch through six days of relentless storms from Dunedin to Sydney.
With sails blown out and the autopilot broken, she found herself steering the yacht, operating the bilge pumps and caring for seasick crew members.
"If you got off steering one little inch, you had to do a circuit, circle and get back on the right track again.
"When we got to Sydney I saw a postcard that said, ‘how do I get off this bloody thing?' and that's how I felt about sailing over to Aussie."
Introducing the launch, Age Concern South Otago co-ordinator Robyn Bell thanked the storytellers for sharing their experiences.
The organisation was grateful to Clutha District Libraries staff for recording and hosting the project and the Clutha District Creative Communities Scheme and Age Concern Otago for making publication possible, Mrs Bell said.
Preserving the stories was important for future generations and she hoped the project was "only the beginning" of recording memories from across South Otago.
Stories from the Catlins will be held in local libraries, while recordings will also be available through heritage websites.