SOUTHERN Downs residents were invited to Warwick Library on Wednesday for a presentation by local publisher Deborah Wheeler on a recent tribute project to residents of Killarney.

A former librarian, the owner of the Grafton Rose Bed and Breakfast on Grafton St has been involved in publishing historical accounts.

They include an anniversary book for Thulimbah State School and a current project on the Kyoomba sanatorium.

She was approached by Killarney Memorial Aged Care to produce a book about some of the town's residents, titled I Remember in 2015.

"They already had the Regional Arts Development and council funding when they asked me," Ms Wheeler said.

"I'm a firm believer in the printed word and Killarney is such an amazing community which I've come to appreciate a lot more than I ever did before.

"RADF is important in all aspects of our community but it is particularly important that it is used to record our history because this stuff needs to be recorded before it is lost."

The book has detailed chapters on the lives of Killarney residents Barbara Cullen, Joe and Sheila Jensen, Jim and Penny Kiely, Liam O'Dea, Bernice Peterson, Tom Phillips, Daphne Pullen, Bernice Ragh, Frank Schneider and Terry Sweeney.

Ms Wheeler said she had always been interested in history and, while she enjoyed publishing for others, this project was special.

"This sort of thing is important because we never know who the person next to you is," Ms Wheeler.

"Someone might see Tom Phillips and see an old man and not know that he's a war hero.

"Someone might not know the elderly lady next door spent most of her life doing community work.

"It's important that these people are remembered and that they're remembered with dignity."

Anyone looking to pick up a copy of I Remember in 2015 can buy the book for $15 from Killarney Memorial Aged Care or Killarney Art Gallery.