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.

Bass Valley Historical Society
• At the meeting held on December 7, 2025 participants were invited to give a short talk about favourite Christmas gift they had received in the past.

Brighton Cemetorians https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/
• The December 2025 issue of The Cemetorian has profiles of some of the people buried in the Cemetery including Margaret Ellen ‘Nell’ Crook (nee Scott, 1898-1963). Nell taught swimming to a very large number of people of all ages and occupations, from small children to the nuns from Star of the Sea Covent; Sisters – Sarah Simonson (1864-1923), Isabella Grant (1867-1928) and Hannah Monash (1869-1931, the wife of General Monash) were daughters of a convict. An article by Paul Richards looks at the lives of some of the jockeys and horse trainers buried in the Cemetery. There are also photographs of the 170th anniversary function held at the Cemetery on October 19, 2025.

Chelsea and District Historical Society
• The December 2025 newsletter has three family stories from their Archives – the memories of Les C. Williams, O.A.M., J.P., whose family moved to Lochiel Avenue, Edithvale in the 1950s; Aileen Johnston (nee Serpell) and her family who came to live in the Chelsea district in 1933 and Alexander Ogden Johnston, a blacksmith, who came to Chelsea in 1913.

City of Greater Dandenong Heritage
• The City of Greater Dandenong presents – The Place To Be: Dandenong Town Hall exhibition on until February 20, 2026 at Benga House, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong.
• For other events and news, subscribe to their newsletter https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/heritage-hill

Dandenong & District Historical Society
• The November 2025 issue of the Gipps-Land Gate has a history of Laurel Lodge by Christine Keys, based on the research of Colin Skidmore; Christine has also written an article on the early years of the Dandenong Show. There is also a history of Dandenong West State School, No. 4217, which opened in 1925.
• Events for 2026 – meeting April 19 2026 https://seha.org.au/event/talk-70-years-of-st-gerards-catholic-church-dandenong-north; Annual Luncheon July 18, 2026 https://seha.org.au/event/dandenong-and-springvale-historical-societies-annual-luncheon

Dromana & District Historical Society
• The December newsletter has an article on the event to mark the centenary of the Red Hill Hall; the Society has started the process of moving their collection to Victorian Collections from DB Textworks and Filemaker PRO.

Friends of Cheltenham & Regional Cemeteries https://www.focrc.org/
• The December edition of Raves from the Graves has profiles of people buried in the Cemetery. There is an article by Heather Arnold on William McClure, of Tootal Road, Springvale, who died in 1917, after being accidently shot while at work at the London Bank in Koo Wee Rup. Rosemary Reddick has written an article on 25-year-old, Constable George Howell who was shot at point-blank range in 1952, whilst trying to apprehend a thief. His funeral was attended by 6,000 people. Rosemary has also written an article on the St Albans old General Cemetery in NSW.

Hastings – Western Port Historical Society https://www.hwphs.org.au/
• The December 2025 newsletter has a report on the Morning Coffee held on October 9, 2025, where Samuel McLennan, the owner of Heart, the Rubbish Boat, was guest speaker. This is his website – https://projectinterrupt.com/ In September, John Woolley gave a talk at the Hastings Library on the History of Esso and BHP in Western Port.

Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society
• The December 2025 newsletter has an Acrostic History of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, a look at some themes from the local history, where the first letter of each theme spells a seasonal greeting (MERRY CHRISTMAS). The February 2026 newsletter article is What happened in Koo Wee Rup 100 years ago in 1926. Both articles by Heather Arnold.

Mordialloc & District Historical Society
• The December 2025 Bulletin notes that the editor, Graham Whitehead, has stepped down from the role due to medical reasons. The newsletter is full of news from the Society including a report of two history walks led by Peter Ratcliff which were organised in conjunction with Mordialloc Rotary and Heart Health. Wayne Imlach has written an article on the 1976 plans to concrete Mordialloc Creek.

Mornington and District Historical Society https://morningtondistricthistory.org.au/
• The November newsletter looks at the life of Frederick Luplau (1859-1936) of Kent Street, Mornington, in an article written by Val Wilson.

Mornington Peninsula Family History Society https://www.mpfhs.org/
• The guest speaker at the February 7, 2026 meeting is Christine Leonard – Convict Lives: Mothers’ trials and triumphs. Christine will talk about researching her ancestor, Ann Simmons, who arrived in Tasmania as a convict in 1825. https://seha.org.au/event/mpfhs-convict-lives-mothers-trials-and-triumphs

Narre Warren & District Family History Group http://nwfhg.org.au/
• The November 2025 Spreading Branches has a report on the Lang Lang Cemetery walk held in October; an article by Lynne Bradley is on Cemeteries in Victoria and the communities which they serve. Marianne Rocke has researched the history of the Beaconsfield Tip, which operated from 1938 until 1979, and how the land was used before it became the tip. Penny Harris Jennings is the guest speaker at the February 18, 2026 meeting – https://seha.org.au/event/nwdfhg-meeting-talk-unlock-your-surname

Phillip Island & District Historical Society https://phillipislandhistory.org.au/
• The December 2025 newsletter has an article by Pamela Rothfield – Christmas in Rhyll, a Hundred Years Ago. There is also a report of the Christmas function where guest speaker, Gary Vines from Biosis, spoke on the Phillip Island Chicory Kilns project. You can read more about this project here – https://www.biosis.com.au/biosis-completes-conservation-assessments-for-victorian-chicory-kilns/

Wonthaggi and District Historical Society http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/
• Fifteen Minutes of History program was held from January 3 to January 11, 2026. The topics covered by the different speakers were – Wonthaggi Cordial Factories; Childhood memories of living in a shop in McBride Avenue; Wonthaggi Ski Club; Wonthaggi State Coal Mine: An overview of mines and mining operations; The Amazon Shipwreck; Seed collecting, Wonthaggi Wetlands: A legacy of our mining history; Wonthaggi’s First Fitness Club; Bunurong Coast: Our underwater world and Wonthaggi’s Internationally Famous Axeman.