The remarkable lives of Paul and Hettie Wenz were brought to life at the local launch of The Wenzday Project, held at the Forbes Museum on Monday evening.

The project is designed to spark creativity and inspire new generations of writers, drawing on the legacy of this couple whose stories span continents, wars, and the Australian landscape.

At the launch, Dr Merrill Findlay shared insights into the Wenz collection, revealing works dating back more than a century that speak to our history and the power of storytelling.

Among the highlights were French-language works by Paul, opened to the audience on the night with the help of two special guests.

Paul’s writings share his experiences raising sheep at Nanima, the property he and Hettie made home here in Forbes.

His learnings and insights provide a guide to others looking to make a new life and living in this very different environment.

Yet his pen wrote of so much more.

Dr Findlay shared how Paul and Hettie were stranded in France during World War I, and Paul used his skills to document life under siege in Reims, his family’s home city.

The couple’s car - shipped all the way from Nanima - was repurposed as an ambulance and Red Cross vehicle, while Paul volunteered as a driver and a translator.

The Wenz collection also reflects Hettie’s passions, with her books ranging across music, poetry, travel, and the classics.

Together, their library and legacy tells a story of incredible lives in our region more than a century ago.

The collection is now housed at Forbes Museum and you can actually find translations of Paul's work in print at The Book Dispensary.

Now, through The Wenzday Project, Dr Findlay hopes the Wenzes' spirit of storytelling will be carried forward.

She is working in collaboration with Monica Wren and Maree Yapp of Galari River Arts, to run writing and bookbinding workshops, inviting local writers to share their own stories of our shire.

The first, the writing workshop, is this Saturday, 23 August and to be run by Dr Findlay who is a published author, experienced editor and mentor.

The Wenzday Project welcomes written submissions, 500 to 5000 words, to be published on the project website for future generations.

All details are online at https://wenzdayproject.wordpress.com/

Tickets to the workshops are available online through events.humanitix.com or scan the QR code on the poster at the Book Dispensary.