This is a summary of some of the articles taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies, June 2021. Compiled by Heather Arnold.
Balnarring & District Historical Society
The May 2021 Snippets has an article on Harvey Crimp, a teacher at Balnarring State School from 1913 from 1919; he and his wife Georgina were also involved in many community activities. Other articles are on Captain John Smith, who died at his property, Wingland, Merricks in 1898; Frank Johnson, who purchased a holiday house at Merricks in 1928, based on an interview with his grandson, Phil who is a keen sailor. The other story, Polling Day at Merricks, written by Wendy Doube is a lovely story about a day at the Merricks Polling Booth in 1968 with Phyllis Cole, of Larnoo, Merricks.
Brighton Cemetorians http://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/
The Cemetorian has many interesting articles on the people buried at the Brighton Cemetery. The June 2021 issue includes Selina Powell (1881-1964), who nursed with the Imperial Nursing Service during World War One; James Goold (1820-1883), early pioneer; Paula Barry (1928-2017) teacher, Principal and author who received an A.M. in 2016 for services to primary education; and Arthur Rice (1881-1951), considered at one time to be the strongest man in Australia.
Chelsea and District Historical Society
The May newsletter reports on their AGM, the new President is Kaye Musgrove. The Chelsea Clock, a landmark on the Nepean Highway had been dismantled, brick by brick to make way for railway construction. It will eventually be reassembled in a new location. The June newsletter announced that Dr Graham Whitehead, City of Kingston Historian since 1997 is retiring. You can read some of Dr Whitehead’s research on the Kingston Local History website https://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/
Hastings Western Port Historical Society https://www.hwphs.org.au/
The June newsletter has part two of the history of the Hastings Boy Scouts, written by Lance Hodgins. Part one was in the March issue. Interesting story and the June article includes their attendance at the 1934/35 Scout Jamboree at Frankston – over 20,000 Scouts and Guides attended, with 35,000 spectators on New Year’s Day 1935 alone.
Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society
The April newsletter has part two of a visit to the Koo Wee Rup region in 1886, an interesting look at the Swamp before drainage works started in 1889. The May newsletter has an article by Heather Arnold on Koalas at Yannathan; in 1887 a newspaper report said the area was swarming with ‘bears’ as koalas were called. There is also a report from the Koo Wee Rup Sun of September 7, 1981 of the centenary celebrations of the Yannathan Primary School. The June newsletter has an article, also by Heather Arnold, about the Koo Wee Rup Electric Light and Power Company, formed in 1927 to supply electricity to the town before S.E.C power arrived in 1935.
Lang Lang & District Historical Society http://www.langlang.net/historical.html
The June newsletter reports that the Society has recently received an elegant, carved lectern. It was donated in 1919 by the Head family of Yannathan to St John’s Anglican Church in Lang Lang. The Society also received some 16mm films from the late Gordon Sampson. They have since been digitised and one is of the 1956 Lang Lang Rodeo and another on the construction of the local water scheme, also in 1956.
Mordialloc College Alumni Association (MCAA) http://mordialloccollegealumni.org/
The March 2021 Ventured includes memories of past students, including Robyn Fleming who had completed Grade 6 at Somerville, then the family moved to Parkdale and she enrolled at the school in 1957, when she was still only ten years old. The Alumni Webmaster, Mitchell Sundstrom, was named the 2020 City of Kingston’s Young Citizen of the Year.
Mornington & District Historical Society https://morningtondistricthistory.org.au/
The June newsletter reports on the refurbishment to the Museum including internal painting and new shelving courtesy of the local Mens Shed. One of their members, Libby Gillingham, knits scarves out of teabag strings. Each scarf requires about 9,000 strings. It is a laborious procedure – staples need to be removed, the strings are then tied together and then knitted in garter stitch – the ultimate in recycling, as the heading said. The scarves are used as raffle or auction prizes to raise money for charity.
Mornington Peninsula Family History Society https://www.mpfhs.org/
The May 2021 Past Times has an article by Sheryl Opie on Carl Niehoff, born in Hanover in 1820. He and his family make their way to Victoria where they operated a hotel in Talbot. Carl and his children were talented musicians and had a family band. There are topical newspaper reports from 1919 about quarantines and lockdowns in response to the Spanish Flu.
Narre Warren & District Family History Group http://nwfhg.org.au/
The May 2021 Spreading Branches has a story by Marianne Rocke on Fred and Annie Sheard, murdered in their house in Beaconsfield in 1921. The murderer was never found. The Group is the custodian of the Max Thomson collection of photographs and this issue features some of the photos of Harkaway and Beaconsfield Schools. The accompanying article was written by Eileen Durdin.
Phillip Island & District Genealogical Society http://piadgs.org.au
Reflections May 2021 has a story by Elaine Alexander on her 7th great-grandfather, James Pride (or Pryde c. 1678-1748). He was a collier from Prestonpans and worked at the Prestongrange Coal and Salt Works. At the time workers were not much better than slaves and in 1746 James and other family members petitioned Lord Prestongrange asking for improvements in their working conditions. It is unlikely it had any effect and emancipation of miners and salters in Scotland did not occur until 1799.
Phillip Island & District Historical Society https://pidhs.org.au/
The May 2021 newsletter has an article on Jansson Cottage in Rhyll, built in 1892 for Captain Johan August Jansson and his wife, Hannah. Pamela Rothfield records 96 year-old Lorna Collins (nee McFee) memories of the worst storm in Victoria’s history on November 29 & 30, 1934. The conditions of this storm resulted in the loss of the Coramba, off Phillip Island. None of the seventeen crew members survived. The President of the Society, Graeme Clauscen, has recently written a book on the history of the Woolamai Surf Life Saving Club, Wild About Wooli.
Rye Historical Society http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com/
Whitecliffs April-June 2021 includes an obituary of and a tribute to Pauline Powell, founding member and inaugural President of the Rye Historical Society. Pauline passed away in January this year. There is an article about ‘Welcome Homes’ to Rye service personnel in 1946, including some great photos.
Somerville Tyabb & District Historical Society http://home.vicnet.net.au/~stdhs/
The March newsletter has some interesting newspaper articles looking at various aspects of the area’s history including the sale in 1914 of Samuel Peacock’s Tyabb Park Estate.
Wonthaggi and District Historical Society http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/
The essay in The Plod of April 2021 is by C. Landon, Shooting at North Wonthaggi, is about an incident in 1926 when Michael Dunne was shot at close range by his hunting partner, Henry Hitchings. His death was said to be instantaneous. There is an extensive look at the Coroner’s reports and the verdict was that it was an accident. The May Plod essay is an adaption of the presentation notes of Tony Hughes from the launch of his book, Two Rivers Run: the story of Gippsland’s first pioneer-settler, Samuel Anderson on May 1st, 2021. Tony’s book is available to purchase from the Historical Society. The June Plod essay is by Mark Robertson, The Joy of the Toy, a look at toys. Local resident, Edith Dowson, still has a doll she was given ninety years ago on her first birthday. The Society has a pre-World War Two clockwork tin toy of a monkey riding a donkey. It is Tippco make. They also have a Mamod steam-powered wagon in the original box.