Eden resident David O'Connor has compiled an anthology of Eden verse titled, 'This Other Eden'. 

Mr O'Connor said it was during the Eden Whale Festival last year when the idea came to him.

"I was listening to people read out their poetry during the poet's breakfast and I thought what great poetry."

"So I asked them what they were doing with it," Mr O'Connor said.

Mr O'Connor said the poetry should not be "smouldering away in someone's wardrobe". 

The only requirements for contributing to the book were that the poets had to be from Eden and the subject had to be about the town.

"We ended up with a dozen contributors," Mr O'Connor said.

Eden poets featured in the book iunclude Robert Whiter, Susie Sarah, Amanda Midlam, Jean Whiter, Kevvie Warren, John Cupit, Brett Ralph, Rosslyn Thomas, Robyn Symonds, Ralph Miller and EJ Brady.

It was worth it with the final product resulting in a glossy book, with colour photography of Eden, vivid imagery and uniquely local verse.

Mr O'Connor has been a singer, writer, actor and entertainer for the past 35 years and can now add editor of 'This Other Eden' to the list. 

Self-funded, 'This Other Eden' is not to raise money or draw profit but to simply share the local talent and the history and beauty of the area.

'This Other Eden' will be for sale for $14.95 from the Eden Killer Whale Museum, Eden Gateway Information Centre and the Eden Newsagency.

Ol' Mount Imlay  

From its hole in the sky there, sou'west of us all,

Where them rivers run always and the trees are so tall.

Overlooking the harbour of blue Twofold Bay,

Is the mountain the locals call ol' Mount Imlay.

The vikings, the blacks, ol'Captain Cook's sail,

The days men went whalin'with Tom killer whale;

Enemy submarines, Princes Highway,

Some say you've seen all this and more, Mt Imlay.

And I've seen you with snow, and I've climbed you myself,

And I've looked for you from the continental shelf,

And I've reckoned God willin' I'll get back some day,

Some way, ol' Mt Imlay.

Up on the bay's clifftops is fair Eden town,

With a wild reputation she's still living down,

For many've gone there and been led astray

'Neath the watchful attention of ol' Mt Imlay.

In the winter, if quick, y'might catch her, you know,

Taking off to wherever them mountains do go,

When the sky there's the blackest y'might hear someone say,

"Who's gone and pinched out ol' Mt Imlay?"

And I've seen you with snow, and I've climbed you myself,

And I've looked for you from the continental shelf,

And I've reckoned God willin' I'll get back some day,

Some way, ol' Mt Imlay.

- Brett Ralph

(excerpt from 'This Other Eden'.)