THE Ron Rathbone Local History Prize not only encourages the Rockdale community to understand its past but helps it plan for the future.
The competition, which began in 2006 in honour of the former Rockdale mayor and passionate historian Ron Rathbone, fosters the research and writing of local history.
Kogarah Historical Society president Beverley Earnshaw said entries made a valuable contribution to the history of Rockdale.
"It stirs old memories," Ms Earnshaw said.
"It exposes old records. It explains why things happened as they did.
"Lack of knowledge about a place's history downgrades its significance."
Ms Earnshaw said the value of the competition was in its ability to preserve the past.
"It is valid to keep a record of what was there in the past and to document what it contributed to in later times," she said.
"The history of a place gives meaning to its heritage and it explains why it needs to be protected by telling its story."
Kogarah Historical Society member David Martin said such competitions were inspiring.
"It is really encouraging that Rockdale Council came up with a competition that encouraged the investigation of the local community's history," he said.
Mr Martin's entry last year investigated the personal histories of the 875 soldiers listed on the council's World War I honour boards.
His 46-page submission won him the grand prize of $5000.
Of his work, he says: "It provided some really amazing insights. It gives the history a much more human face".
However, the competition is not just about discovering the past, but also about uncovering the future.
The council's local history services specialist, Kirsten Broderick, said the competition was important because "the more we understand our past, the more effectively we can plan for the future".
