This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. August 2015. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

Chelsea & District Historical Society

• In the June newsletter reports that in 1955, sixty years ago, four Children’s Centres opened in Chelsea – Aspendale Infant Welfare Centre, Carrum Infant Welfare Centre, the Nola Barber Kindergarten at Aspendale and Edithvale Pre-school  – obviously it was baby boom time in the area. In the I remember when column Ron Jacobs talks about being a ‘lollyboy’ at the Chelsea Plaza Picture Theatre – not only did he earn some pocket money but he also saw the pictures for free!

Hastings Western Port Historical Society     http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dromana/hastings/aHastingsFrontPage.html

• The June newsletter has an article about Jim Barclay whose murdered (and headless) body was found in the Wonangatta area in the High Country in 1918. The Barclay family were early pioneers of the Hastings area. You can read about the murder in John Ricketts’ book Victoria’s Wonnangatta Murders, available at Farrell’s Bookshop in Mornington or the Karingal Newsagency in Frankston or from the author – P.O Box 160 Beaconsfield Upper 3808 or 5944 3644.

Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Historical Society

• The May newsletter has an article about growing up on a dairy farm at Cora Lynn – the reminisces of Frank Rouse; the June newsletter has some advertisements from the Koo-Wee-Rup Sun  of 1925. The Society is in the process of digitizing the Koo-Wee-Rup Sun form 1918 to 1981.  The July newsletter has an article from the Koo-Wee-Rup Sun about the Yannathan State School reunion held in November 1964. It includes a long list of attendees,  if you are interested in the names you can read the full transcript here http://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/yannathan-state-school-re-union.html

Mordialloc & District Historical Society 

• The newsletter has reports of the Societies many activities.

Mornington and District Historical Society     http://morningtondistricthistory.org.au/

• The May newsletter reports on the launch of the book The names on the Mornington Honour Roll by Val Wilson held on April 24.
• There is also an account of a visit of Diane Basilone Hawkins, whose uncle John Basilone (1916-1945) served with the United States Marine Corp in the Second World War. The 1st Marine Division spent 9 months based at Mt Martha in 1943 at the Balcombe Army Camp. The John Basilone Foundation supports veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. http://www.sgtjohnbasilone.com/

Narre Warren & District Family History Group          http://nwfhg.org.au/

• Spreading Branches May 2015 has an account of the Berwick Cemetery tour covering the 100 military personnel who served in World War One; the Groups tour to Springvale Cemetery and the trip to Williamstown. The Williamstown trip was help in conjunction with the West Gippsland Genealogical Society.

Nepean Historical Society          http://nepeanhistoricalsociety.asn.au/

• The May/June 2015 Nepean reports on the successful street stalls held by the Society, in three months they raised over $2,500 and a sausage sizzle raised nearly $1,300. The Society turns 50 in September.

Rye Historical Society       http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com/

• The Whitecliffs newsletter (July-September 2015) includes an extract from the book White Pearls and Jersey Gold by Linda Berndt about the Jennings family of Rye. The book is available from the Society for $30.00. John Bertacco has written an article about the New South Wales/Victoria border. The border consists of the Murray River and the ‘straight portion’ the Black-Allan line named after the surveyors, Alexander Black and Alexander Charles Allan, who surveyed the line in 1870. They were assisted by Surveyor William Turton, who ‘received little recognition for his contribution. You can read more about the Black-Allan line here http://www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/217783/Surveying_the_Black-Allan_Line.pdf

Somerville Tyabb & District Heritage Society      http://home.vicnet.net.au/~stdhs/

• The June 2015 newsletter has a short story about Les Brown, a plumber from Pearceale in the 1930s and Ernest Duffield a tailor who worked in Somerville in the 1920s to 1950s.

Wonthaggi and District Historical Society      http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/

• The May Plod newsletter has an article, by C.R. Landon, about May Day celebrations in Wonthaggi; the June Plod has an article, by Kit Sleeman, ‘Elephant hunting in Wonthaggi’ about  elephants who had visited Wonthaggi with the various  Circuses. The July Plod  has an article, also by Kit Seeman,  on Sir Arthur Warner, who was the Victorian Minister for Transport and made the decision in 1958 that the Wonthaggi mine would close in ten years. He was also a keen sailor and got ship wrecked in Bass Strait, luckily all the crew made it to safety just outside Wonthaggi. However so afraid was he of the reaction to his presence by the locals that he spent the time on the beach, rather than go to Wonthaggi, and was smuggled back to Melbourne.