Dr Gaff-Smith’s book Midwives and Paddle Steamers will be launched by Kay Hull, who was the Member for Riverina back in 2003 when she launched another of the author’s books, Midwives of the Black Soil Plans.

Midwives and Paddle Steamers is the 11^th published book by Dr Gaff-Smith, who is a midwife with more than five decades of experience.

The book will be launched in Wagga’s Victory Memorial Gardens on May 2, ahead of International Midwives’ Day on May 5.

Proceeds from the books will go to the Rhodanthe Lipsett Indigenous Midwifery Charitable Trust.

As the title implies, Dr Gaff-Smith’s latest book recounts the history of midwives around the Murray River.

Her series on southern NSW has followed the stories of these incredible women from the “Alps to the Ocean”.

“One of the most amazing things is the courage of these midwives,” Dr Gaff-Smith said.

“There were so many stories of them crossing swollen rivers and creeks to give aid. At least one midwife drowned.”

Dr Gaff-Smith jokes that publishing a book is a “little bit like giving birth” with a few pangs along the way.

But she has been able to visit museums, libraries and historical societies as she has preserved the history of midwifery.

One of her favourite stories from the new book is of an Italian midwife, who had settled with her husband near Kerang in Victoria.

What was unusual about this woman was that she had actually studied at a university in Sicily, at a time when women were unlikely to have had the opportunity for formal education.

Of course, not all the stories from that era are happy. At a time when childbirth could be perilous, there were tales of women dying during childbirth and the impact this had on their families, Dr Gaff-Smith said.

Midwives and Paddle Steamers marks the end of Dr Gaff-Smith’s series, so the obvious question is what’s next?

In a departure from her previous works, Dr Gaff-Smith is now working on a children’s book.