Category: SEHA News

This is a summary of some of the articles taken from the newsletters and other correspondence sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

Berwick Pakenham Historical Society https://bphs.com.au/
• The Society was open each day from October 5 to October 8 to celebrate History Month and had a pleasing number of visitors.

Brighton Cemetorians http://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/
• The Cemetorian has many interesting articles on the people buried at the Brighton Cemetery. The September 2023 edition includes profiles on Albert Thurgood (1874-1927), who played for Essendon in the VFA; William and Amanda Pooley, the parents of Father Wilfred Pooley who established Maryknoll, a Catholic community in 1949; Stella Vagg (1898-1942) of Cobden, buried with her husband Frederick Vagg, who died at the Caulfield Military Hospital in 1923, from wounds received in WW1; Theodore Nave (1899-1993) Naval Officer and code-breaker.

Chelsea and District Historical Society
• The August 2023 newsletter revisits an article by Frank McGuire on the first 20 years of the Society. There is also an article written by Nancie Edward whose family moved to Edithvale in 1911. The October newsletter has photos of their resource centre and a history of the Chelsea Bush Nursing Hospital.
• The Society is celebrating 60 years with an exhibition of some of the photographs, artefacts and stories collected since 1963. The exhibition, Six Decades of History, will be open to the public over 3 days – Friday, November 24 to Sunday, November 26 at Chelsea Court House, 6 The Strand, Chelsea. Open daily between 10.00am and 3.00pm. Entry is free and local history books will available for purchase.

City of Greater Dandenong
• Talk – Emigration, dress and Australian colonial society, 1820s – 1860s. This presentation will consider the nature of colonial society and the emigrant’s experience through the lens of dress. What did people bring with them to start a new life in Australia and how did this match with what they found on arrival? Location: Benga House, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, 66 McCrae Street Dandenong. Date: Wednesday November 15, 2023. Time: 1:30 – 3:30pm. Bookings https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/greater-dandenong-council/events/emigration-dress-and-australian-colonial-society-1820s-1860s

Cranbourne Shire Historical Society
• The CSHS has received recognition for 51 years of membership with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV). On September 14, RHSV president Professor Richard Broome presented the Society with a certificate of recognition to four of its members – Barry and Polly Freeman, Sue Tobin and 93-year-old Derry Francis who was an original member of the Cranbourne Shire Historical Society when it was formed in 1968.

Dandenong and District Historical Society http://ddhs.com.au/
• At their AGM on October 15 the following committee was elected – President: Chris Keys; Vice-president: Christine Ware; Secretary & SEHA delegate: Jenny Ferguson;Treasurer: Bruce McBain; Committee members: Sally Carson, David Nassau, Susan Stone and Lorraine Webb.

Dromana and District Historical Society https://avoca.vicnet.net.au/~dromana/
• Invitation to launch of book The larger than life of Melbourne Brindle by Fred Wild on November 17, 2023.

Frankston Historical Society https://www.frankstonhs.org.au/
• The October-December newsletter provides an update of activities at Ballam Park Homestead, of which the Society is the custodian. Ballam Park Homestead was built in 1855, for Frederick Liardet, the second son of Wilbraham Liardet, pioneer of Port Melbourne.

Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries https://www.focrc.org/
• The September 2023 Raves from the Graves has an interesting article on the life of Gertrude McKenzie (nee Curtin, 1904-1960) – an extraordinary woman who operated a flight school, having gained her pilot’s licence in 1937 and who was elected to the Mordialloc Council in 1955, becoming their first female Mayor in 1958. Her grave was unmarked until the Aviation Historical Society of Australia campaigned to have a headstone erected. There is also an article on Amelia Chinn (1863-1928), Matron of the Cottage by the Sea in Queenscliff.
• The Group held a tour of the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery on October 22 with the theme of Murder, Mayhem and Misadventure.

Hastings – Western Port Historical Society https://www.hwphs.org.au/
• The September 2023 newsletter has an extensive report of their 50th anniversary celebration held on July 16.

Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society
• The September 2023 newsletter has an article on a proposed High School and a proposed Hotel in Bayles, neither of which eventuated; the October newsletter looks at the establishment of the Country Women’s Association in Koo Wee Rup in 1929. The inaugural president was Margaret Kerr Paterson, who was also on the first committee of the Victorian CWA when it was formed in 1928. As a matter of interest, her father, Samuel Davis, was a jockey who won the 1864 Melbourne Cup, on Lantern. The November newsletter had an article on the racehorse Koo-wee-rup, who sadly had to be put down after breaking a leg in 1871.

Mordialloc College Alumni Association (MCAA) http://mordialloccollegealumni.org/
• The Spring 2023 Ventured has an amusing article by Trevor Philpot, who was at the school in the 1970s. He wrote about the game bonker-ball, which evolved out of the old time favourite, wall-ball, where a dozen or so boys would take random turns at hitting a tennis ball with the hand into the ground then up onto a brick wall. If you stuffed up the shot, you were out, and the numbers quickly dwindled until there were only two left. Then it was a grand final of sorts. But bonker-ball twisted the rules of wall-ball somewhat. … The difference with our game was that every time you missed a shot and were out, everyone else was obliged to punch you on the arm as hard as they could, as you sprinted from the court. Once you crossed the line and were off the court, you were safe. Trevor finished the story with – No bones were ever broken in bonker-ball. The newsletter also has various profiles of past students.
• The School is celebrating 100 years on February 16 and 17, 2024

Mordialloc & District Historical Society
• The September 2023 newsletter has a report on the popular walking tours conducted by Peter Ratcliff; a day at the Mentone Races in 1945 by Leo Gamble and a short history of racing at Mordialloc by Veronica Hahn.
• The Kingston Council is installing a lift in the Museum which will diminish their work and storage space, thus the Society is looking at ways to increase this space and have proposed a first floor extension.

Mornington & District Historical Society https://morningtondistricthistory.org.au/
• The August 2023 newsletter looks at Port Phillip Bay shipping. The Society conducted a tour of the Mornington Cemetery on October 29.

Narre Warren and District Family History Group http://nwfhg.org.au/
• The August 2023 Spreading Branches showcases some photos from the Max Thomson collection, on the theme of picnics. There was a report on the recent AGM where Patrick Ferry was the guest speaker. Di Christensen has provided a story on Luke McCoy of Diamond Hill, a location just east of Dandenong, who died in 1898. The Dandenong Choral Society held a concert as a fundraiser for Luke’s widow and children. The concert raised £6 8s, and a separate fund raised £80.
• The November 2023 Spreading Branches announced that Barbara Sharp was awarded the member of the year at the recent AGM. There is an article, by Barbara Sharp, on Laurie Dyer (1915-2002) Methodist Pastor. In 1945 Laurie was teaching religious instruction (RI) to 3,500 children, visiting 30 State Schools, and 300 children in hospitals. He rode his bicycle 500 to 600 miles in the month in all weather… Laurie had taught RI at many schools over a long period of time. At Narre Warren North school his was the longest teaching appointment, visiting the school one day a week for 35 years. He remained involved with the Methodist Church in various roles until his death. The issue also contains photographs of the Group’s recent tour of the Dandenong Cemetery which was held on October 29, and focussed on people with a connection to what is now the City of Casey and Shire of Cardinia.

Phillip Island & District Genealogical Society https://www.piadgs.org.au/
• Reflections August 2023 has an article by Pamela Rothfield on Eliza Coghlan, who lived to the age of 113 and is the source of the name Coghlan Road on Phillip Island. In her 80s and 90s, she thought nothing of traversing 8 kilometres to Cowes, carrying substantial loads such as turkeys and other produce for sale. Eliza died at Rhyll in 1910.

Phillip Island & District Historical Society https://phillipislandhistory.org.au/
• In the October 2023 newsletter there is an article by Pamela Rothfield on Robert Walpole, the source of the name of Walpole Street in Cowes. Pamela writes – In 1883, Robert, who by this time was well connected, was appointed as the Secretary of the Calcutta Exhibition in India, marking the beginning of his career as an event organizer. Robert’s career flourished as he was chosen to serve as the Commissioner for Victoria at two prestigious World Fairs: the Centennial International Exhibition in Melbourne in 1888 and the Paris Exhibition in 1889. He and his wife Jane moved to Phillip Island in 1908.
• The November newsletter reports on the opening of the new Cultural Centre at Cowes, named Berninneit on November 2, 2023. This is the new home of the Historical Society. The Museum has many digital displays, which you can also view on their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDA8QncrWfz0-hrLagM5lsg
• Christmas Dinner 2023, will be held on Friday, December 8, at St Philip Parish Hall, 102 Thompson Avenue, Cowes. 6.00pm for a 6:30pm start. The dinner will be catered for by our Island’s amazing chef, Jayne Messendorf. Cost – $45 per head , BYO drinks. Please RSVP to Judy Gittus at gittus43@gmail.com

Rye Historical Society https://ryehistoricalsociety.au/
• White Cliffs newsletter October-December 2023 reports on the reopening of the Museum on August 6. The refurbishment works were made possible by a bequest from the founding president, Pauline Powell. The Museum has been named in Mrs Powell’s honour. From the collection – a Maori Club. In the late 1800s a group of Maori lived at Rye on the beach, where they were keen fishermen. The club came into the possession of early settlers, the Thompson family, who later donated it to the Historical Society.

Somerville, Tyabb & District Heritage Society https://home.vicnet.net.au/~stdhs/
• The September 2023 issue has articles on the visit of Sir Robert Menzies to the Hastings Shire Offices, illustrated with colour photos from the Horton family and a reprint of a 1904 Weekly Times article on fruit growing in Somerville.

Wonthaggi and District Historical Society http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/
• The September 2023 Plod essay, written by Frank Coldebella – Danny Carr, The Man who could make anything. Danny undertook a fitting and turning apprentice at the State Coal Mine, starting in 1942 and after the mine closed established an engineering works in McKenzie Street. He is now in his 90s and still going strong.
• The October 2023 Plod essay looks Wonthaggi in War time – WW1, WW2 and the Vietnam War. The November 2023 Plod essay looks at the life of Wonthaggi resident and Master Muralist, Dennis Leversha. Dennis was born in Castlemaine in 1945, studied painting at what is now RMIT; painted stage sets at the Princess Theatre; became a teacher and ended up in Wonthaggi, where he began to paint murals, which can be seen in the town and throughout Gippsland.
• Wonthaggi and District Historical Society Annual Memorial Dinner. Theme – Memories of Wonthaggi Technical School and Wonthaggi Higher Elementary School. Guest speakers will share how their time at these schools contributed to their employment, experiences and success in life. When: Friday, November 24, 2023 at 6.00pm. Where: Wonthaggi Workmens Club, 75 Graham Street, Wonthaggi. Cost: $45.00 per head, two course meal.Bookings: Admission by pre purchased tickets only, Wonthaggi Workmens Club – phone: 03 56721083, email enquiries: enquiries@wonthaggiworkmens.com.au. Bookings close November 17.

This is a summary of some of the articles taken from the newsletters and other correspondence sent to the Secretary from S.E.H.A. Groups and Societies. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

Balnarring & District Historical Society
• The May 2023 Snippets has an article, by Cheryl Jackson, on Fred Bleasdale (1883-1966), a Bittern farmer who enlisted in the Great War. On his return at his Welcome home he was presented with a framed certificate from the Shire of Flinders, which is now in the collection of the Historical Society. There is also an article about Ern and Annie Stone, who came to Balnarring in 1908 to take over the running of the Junction Store, the area’s general store; and a history of the Balnarring C.F.A.’s involvement in brigade competitions.

Bass Valley Historical Society
• The guest speaker at the Bass Valley Historical Society meeting held on June 4 2023 was Libby Skidmore, who presented a paper – “The Yellow Peril”, the story as reported in the newspaper of 1928 of an adventurous trip by car through Gippsland.

Brighton Cemetorians http://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/
• The Cemetorian has many interesting articles on the people buried at the Brighton Cemetery. The June 2023 Cemetorian has a profile of Washington Greville (1862-1927) who claimed to be the rightful heir to the Earl of Warwick; Patrick Macgillicuddy Alexander (1940-2005) a poet; Thomas Vincent Cormick (1917-2002) World War Two veteran and John Cox (1860-1926) who was gored by a bull that he was preparing to show at the Royal Melbourne Show.
• The AGM was held on August 6 and the guest speaker was Terry Young of the Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria. Terry’s grandfather arrived in Victoria in 1896 and had a market garden in various locations including Bentleigh and Coburg. Terry’s father took over the garden in Coburg after his father returned to China. Terry is the creator of the Chinese Market Gardens of Melbourne website https://chinesemarketgardens.wordpress.com/ The Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria have indexed the Certificates Exempting from Dictation Test records (1904-1959), which list many Chinese people, names and occupations https://www.cafhov.com/resources/vic-cedt-index/

Chelsea and District Historical Society
• The June newsletter has a report of their successful Memories of the World Wars Exhibition, held at the Court House in April. There is also a tribute to Dorothy Meadows (1928 – 2023). Dorothy was a long-time member of the Chelsea District Historical Society and was co-author of the publication, Women of Chelsea. Dorothy was active in a number of local community groups and a respected teacher at Mordialloc High School. The newsletter also has a history of the Beazley family – Henry and Susannah (nee Lineham) Beazley – who settled in the Carrum/Chelsea area in the 1890s.

Cranbourne Shire Historical Society
• Christmas in July was held at the Tooradin Sports Club on July 9. The guest speaker was to be Megan Angel, who has recently restored the Dalmore Hall. However, she is also a C.F.A. volunteer and was in Canada helping fight their bush fires; she couldn’t make it home in time, so Colin Butler ably read her talk for her. The Dalmore Hall was in a state of very poor repair and Megan did a wonderful job restoring it to be a residence.

Dandenong and District Historical Society http://ddhs.com.au/
• The Society celebrated its 60th birthday at a function held on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at the Dandenong Club. Members of the Society gave interesting short speeches on the history of Dandenong and the Society. Gaye Guest also spoke on the campaign to save the 1877 Keysborough Methodist Chapel from demolition. Follow the group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfKeysboroughHistoricChapel

Frankston Historical Society https://www.frankstonhs.org.au/
• The May-June newsletter reports of happenings at the Ballam Park Homestead, of which the Society is the custodian. Ballam Park Homestead was built in 1855, for Frederick Liardet, the second son of Wilbraham Liardet, pioneer of Port Melbourne.

Hastings – Western Port Historical Society https://www.hwphs.org.au/
• The June 2023 newsletter had an article by Lynda Tredwell on Vivian Bullwinkel, World War Two nurse, POW survivor and later the President of the Royal College of Nursing.
• Planning is underway to bring the ‘Church Porch’ back home. Originally built in 1887/88, for the Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the church building was constructed by volunteers, many from the Hastings community, and was situated in Salmon Street, near Herring Street. The building was moved to Frankston during 1952 where it remained for the next 19 years, before being demolished to make way for a new brick dwelling. The church porch was saved and spent the following years on a property in South Cranbourne before it was kindly donated to the Hastings-Western Port Historical Society in 2018.
• The Society celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Hastings Club on Sunday July 16. It was a well attended event where members of the Society spoke about different aspects of the history of the town or the Society. The speakers included Valda Cole, O.A.M., Shirley Davies, O.A.M., and John Woolley who also acted as MC. Valda and Shirley had the honour of cutting the birthday cake.

Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society
• The June 2023 newsletter has a short history of Hospitals in Koo Wee Rup – the Bush Nursing Centre opened in July 1918; the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in May 1923 and the Westernport Memorial Hospital in December 1955. The July newsletter looks at Annie the circus elephant, who died at Koo Wee Rup in October 1948 after eating carrot fern. The August newsletter article is on the early licensees of the Royal Hotel in Koo Wee Rup – Denis and Alice McNamara, John O’Brien and John and Marie Daniher. All articles written by Heather Arnold.
• The Annual Luncheon was held on May 28 and the guest speaker was Gerry Cunningham, who spoke about the early days of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. Gerry’s 1972 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Thesis from Monash University was titled The Draining and Settlement of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp.

Mordialloc College Alumni Association (MCAA) http://mordialloccollegealumni.org/
• The Winter 2023 Ventured has an article by Paula McCarthy and Michelle Roberts on the school houses, which were initially named Carrum (Blue), Cheltenham (Green), Mentone (Yellow), and Mordialloc (Red). The names reflected the immediate areas from which the school drew its students. In 1994 they were renamed Bunurong, Yerlonga, Kalura and Iwala.
• There are obituaries of Dorothy Meadows, O.A.M. (1928-2023), a past teacher; Ron Jacobs, O.A.M., (1928-2023) local historian, Councillor and a past student of the school; plus short reports on the activities of past students.

Mordialloc & District Historical Society
• The Society has launched a new Bulletin, and the second issue is dated June 2023. The Bulletin reports on the Heritage listing of the 1911 Water Tower at Mordialloc Railway Station. The Museum is having a lift installed which requires some re-organisation of the workroom and collection, but which will make the display area on the first floor fully accessible. There is a history of Nylex Industries in Mentone; the original Nylex clock and sign has recently been restored and installed in front of Bunnings on the Nepean Highway.

Mornington & District Historical Society https://morningtondistricthistory.org.au/
• The May 2023 newsletter continues the memories of Rose Wilmhurst, who held the position of ‘Lady’s Companion’ in the household of Sir James and Lady Grice, of Moondah, in Frankston from 1908 until 1912.
• The Leslie Moorhead lecture will be held on Tuesday, October 10 2023 at 10.30am. The guest speaker is Lorraine Smith, the Journey of a lost manuscript. Lorraine and her husband run a second-hand book shop in Warrnambool and discovered an Elizabethan era manuscript on vellum, inside a copy of Alice in Wonderland. This is the story of their research into the manuscript.

Mornington Peninsula Family History Society https://www.mpfhs.org/
• The August Peninsula Past Times has an article by Lynne Emblin, co-author of Naming Mornington Streets: The People and Their Stories, about tracking down the correct Ross of Ross Street. Lynne writes – I rejected not one but two men named Ross before I found the Ross of Ross Street. Here is my first rejected story, a story of an early settler and a successful business man – John Sanders Ross. There is also an article by Diana Palayan about the history of wooden rocking chair, which has been in her family since 1876. This article serves to remind us that it is important that we write the history of our more important or sentimental possessions, for future generations, so their story does not get lost.

Phillip Island & District Historical Society https://phillipislandhistory.org.au/
• Note the new website address https://phillipislandhistory.org.au/
• The June-July 2023 newsletter has an article by Pamela Rothfield on the First House on Phillip Island, which according to a Weekly Times article of August 29 1925, was built in 1861. The article includes a photograph. As Pamela writes the Island was not opened up for subdivision and general settlement until November 1868…[however] Captain John Barnard Lock, a master mariner was engaged in trading oysters between Western Port and Geelong….. By 1860 he had secured a license which permitted him to erect a home on the foreshore at Rhyll. The Weekly Times article may possibly be referring to his house.

Rye Historical Society https://ryehistoricalsociety.au/
• White Cliffs newsletter April –June 2023 has an article by Tony Heyes about sightings of Melbourne from the Rye foreshore and how sometimes you can see more than just the tops of the tallest buildings, and this is due to atmospheric phenomenon, refractive looming and sometimes a Superior Mirage. There is also a review of and images from the 1973 book by T.K. Fitchett, Down the Bay: the story of the Excursion Boats of Port Philip. From our Collection: Accoutrements made from Jet.
• White Cliffs newsletter July-September 2023 has a short history of the Rye Cemetery by Ian McBeath. The Cemetery was gazetted in 1868, although there had been burials from 1859. From our Collection: a card signed by returned ex-servicemen at a Welcome Home to Rye event held at the end of World War Two.
• On Sunday, August 6 the Museum was officially re-opened by the Mayor of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Cr Steve Holland.

Somerville Tyabb & District Historical Society http://home.vicnet.net.au/~stdhs/
• The June 2023 newsletter has an article on the Hawken family – Henry and Susan (nee Coad) and their five youngest children settled in Somerville in c.1888. The children were Henry, Annie, Emily, Bert (Albert) and Tot (Edith). Emily married John Scott, son of one of the very first settlers; Annie and Edith (aka Tot) married brothers – James and Augustus (aka Gus) Murray, also descendants of very early settlers. Bert married Anne Pedlar and Henry married Florence McLellan, daughter of an early settler family from Moorooduc. Hawkins Road in Baxter, which was originally spelt Hawkens, is named for the family.

Wonthaggi and District Historical Society http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/
• The May 2023 Plod essay, written by C.R. Landon, looks at the original settlement at the coal fields – Tent Town. Within a few weeks of the establishment of the mine, 300 men were living in tents, some with their families and this soon grew to 700 residents. The tents were laid out neatly in streets, named Bourke, Collins and Spring and shops and a church soon followed.
• The June Plod essay looks at President Fay Quilford’s memories of growing up near Mortlake. The July Plod essay looks at dance halls and dances in the area and two wonderful Wonthaggi women, Doll Keily, who loved to dance the Charleston, and Ruby Connelly, orchestra leader extraordinaire. Mrs Connelly was the leader the Cairo Orchestra, the most sought after band in the area and said We’d play thirty dances in a night: sets, waltzes, foxtrots, one-steps, the three-hop polka, the Yale blues, which was a slow one. They liked the slow ones. They also loved the Quadrilles. The girls would form a circle and they’d swing around with such energy that some of the girls ended up under the seats!
• The August Plod looks at Hanley’s Dairy, which operated on McKenzie Street from 1960 until 1983, based on the memories of Peter Hanley.