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.
Australian Museums and Galleries Association https://www.amaga.org.au/
• AMaGA will be conducting the Sector Census in July. The census is designed to build a comprehensive, comparable picture of Victoria’s museums and galleries sector. They are encouraging members of SEHA to participate in the Sector Census, as they note that Volunteer-run museums and historical societies are a vital part of Victoria’s cultural landscape, and it’s important that this census reflects the full breadth of the sector, and not just larger institutions. More details to follow.
Bass Valley Historical Society
• The AGM and general meeting were held on March 1, 2026. A report was given on the plans to celebrate Corinella’s 200th anniversary of the first European settlement; a series of events will be held on December 12 and 13, 2026.
Brighton Cemetorians https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/
• The March 2026 issue of The Cemetorian has profiles of some of the people who lived and worked at the Cemetery including Charles Walker (1894-1961) WW1 soldier and the manager of the cemetery from 1923 until 1961; Ron Walker (son of Charles, 1929-1967), who took over the role from his father, until his sudden death in 1967 and Brian Gales (1933-2016) who was the manager from 1978 until 1995. Interesting stories of living in a Cemetery.
Chelsea and District Historical Society https://chelseadistricthistorical.org.au/
• The March 2026 newsletter has an article on the history of Patterson River by Heather Scott; and an article on Hugh Rigby, who arrived in Carrum in 1898 from Rochester to farm, and also built Seacombe House guesthouse in 1900. The Society has a new website – https://chelseadistricthistorical.org.au/
• The Society opened the historic Chelsea Courthouse in May as part of the Australia Heritage Festival. They also had a display, Sandbelt Stories, which was a joint exhibition by Kingston Historical Societies. The Courthouse display focused on the Aspendale to Carrum area including Chelsea Heights, Aspendale Gardens and Patterson Lakes.
Dandenong & District Historical Society
• The Combined Annual Lunch with Springvale Historical Society will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Dandenong Club at 12.30pm. Guest Speaker: Simon McKeon – History of McKeon Pharmacy and family. Details are here – https://seha.org.au/event/dandenong-springvale-historical-societies-combined-luncheon/
Dingley Village Historical Society
• The Society petitioned the Kingston Council asking for the use of the Dingley Kindergarten and custodianship of the Le Bon agricultural collection, which was donated to the Council some time ago and is not currently on display. Sadly, they were unsuccessful.
• As part of the Australian Heritage Festival, the Society participated in the joint exhibition with other Kingston Historical Societies in the Sandbelt Stories exhibition; they had a display of photos in the Community Centre and Historical Society rooms in May.
Dromana & District Historical Society
• On March 17, the Society launched three books, by Robert Wight, on the veterans who served their country and appear on the World War I honour rolls of the local area. These are the Dromana & District Honor Roll 1914-1917; Rosebud & District Honor Roll 1914-1918 and Rosebud State School No. 2627 Roll of Honor 1914-1918.
Friends of Cheltenham & Regional Cemeteries https://www.focrc.org/
• The April edition of Raves from the Graves had a comprehensive article by Eric Smith, on the McQueen family, who had arrived in Victoria from the Isle of St Kilda in 1852. Many of the family are buried at the Pioneer Cemetery and the Memorial Park Cemetery. Part two of this story will appear in the next issue. There is also an article on John Kingston, a market gardener of Heatherton, based on the notes of Sue Beazley.
• The Group held a successful Cemetery tour on March 22, with the theme Tragedies of the 1920s. They were also part of the Kingston Historical Societies joint exhibition, Sandbelt Stories. FOCRC teamed up with the Mordialloc and District Historical Society and held a display at the Mordialloc Museum in Mentone in April and May, as part of the Australian Heritage Festival.
Hastings – Western Port Historical Society https://www.hwphs.org.au/
• On March 19, the guest speaker at the Morning Coffee was the Dunny Man, John D. Gardner. The March 2026 newsletter has an article by Lynda Tredwell on Villers-Bretonneux. Research has been undertaken by member, Jeff Taylor, on the historic road grader, which sits in the garden at the Museum. He contacted the Champion Vintage Road Grader Club in Canada and they have provided Jeff with information and old photographs. Champion made these graders from 1877 with the Hastings grader being made about 1900.
Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society
• The March, April and May newsletters have a three part history of the town of Yallock, written in 1957 by Henry John Boxshall (1880 – 1968). Henry arrived in Yallock with his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth and his seven siblings in 1895; his grandfather, James and great-uncle William were Dendy migrants and settled in Brighton in 1842. Boxshall Street in Brighton is named for the family.
• The Annual Luncheon is on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 12 noon at the Tooradin & District Sports Club, Recreation Reserve, Tooradin. Guest speaker is musician, Stan Ciuchak, who will talk about the history of Australian bush songs, including Waltzing Matilda, and Click Goes the Shears. Stan’s presentation will be accompanied by music and song. Details are here https://seha.org.au/event/koo-wee-rup-swamp-historical-society-annual-luncheon/
Mordialloc & District Historical Society
• The March 2026 Bulletin has articles on the Mercantile Bank of Australia Ltd, at 12 Como Parade West, Mentone; Kelly’s Post Office and General Store at 14 Como Parade West, Mentone and Percy Fairlam, Photographer of Cheltenham. There is also a list of publications available for purchase at the Museum in Bakery Lane, Mentone.
• The Society was part of the Kingston Historical Societies joint exhibition, Sandbelt Stories, which was part of the Australian Heritage Festival in April and May. An exhibition was held at their Museum.
Mornington and District Historical Society www.morningtondistricthistory.org.au
• The February newsletter has photographs of the re-opening of the Museum in October last year. There is also an article on two 1920s sub-divisions in Mornington – Bella Vista Estate and the Bendigo on Sea. The May newsletter has a short obituary for Dr David Price, O.A.M. who passed away March 4, 2026, a Society member who was also their SEHA delegate – David just loved Mornington from the time he and his family came down from the city for holidays when he was a boy. David was a kind gentle man. His contribution and friendship to the Historical Society will long be remembered.
Mornington Peninsula Family History Society https://www.mpfhs.org/
• The February issue of Peninsula Past Times has an article by Diana Palayan on researching her great-grandfather, Alfred Hookham (1891-1975). At their Christmas meeting two long-term members and volunteers of the Society were honoured – a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to a valuable, hard working and recently retired member, Helen Murphy; Sue Raso was presented with Life Membership, who amongst other roles, was membership secretary for 33 years.
Narre Warren & District Family History Group http://nwfhg.org.au/
• The February 2026 Spreading Branches has an article by Marianne Rocke, on Land Titles. Marianne, the editor of Spreading Branches, has identified all the original owners of the parcels of land in the township of Berwick. The 330 town lots were mostly half acre lots. There were also 28 suburban lots which measured from 1½ to 33½ acres. The names are indexed on their Casey Cardinia Combined Index, as are the names on the Pakenham Parish Plan for Beaconsfield and Officer. Eileen Durdin continues her story on the Wanke family and some of their activities, this time from 1919, as gleaned from a diary kept by Oscar and Minnie Wanke.
• A Discovery Day was held on May 13, with presentations on the theme – Sharing the Knowledge: the changing ways we research family and local history.
Phillip Island & District Historical Society https://phillipislandhistory.org.au/
• The February 2026 newsletter Pamela Rothfield announced that she was retiring as Secretary after six years in the role; Marion Wallace is the new Secretary. The March newsletter announces this sad news – It is with sadness that we note the passing of Meg Davies, great-granddaughter of John and Georgianna McHaffie, who died this week at the wonderful age of 98. Meg was a valued supporter of the Society over many years and she will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences go to her family.
Wonthaggi and District Historical Society http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/
• The March Plod essay showcases some of the photographs held by the Society. The April Plod essay is From the Old Country to Wonthaggi by Linda Cuttriss – a story about her grandmother who came from England in 1925, to join her husband in Wonthaggi.
• The May Plod essay by Fay Quilford is More than a dressmaker!!! Sylvia Stibbs. Sylvia Stibbs, born in 1919, to Wilfred and Edith Stibbs, lived her whole life in Wonthaggi. After attending the local state school and Wonthaggi Tech, Sylvia began her dressmaking career as an apprentice to local tailor, Frank Hartley, for five years. At the same time, she attended night school classes in dressmaking and design in Melbourne. Sylvia also graduated from the Bambi Smith modelling and charm school. The Society’s interest in Sylvia and her achievements was sparked when they received a wonderful donation from her great nephew, a dress designed and made by Sylvia, in response to a Myer Emporium competition in Melbourne. As Fay writes – The stunning frock was sewn then the fabric was hand stencilled. It is breath-takingly beautiful. Myer wanted to buy the dress but Sylvia refused the offer. The frock has for many years been carefully stored by the family and passed down through her descendants. This frock is now part of the Society’s collection and is on display in the Museum. Sylvia died on April 4,
Leave a Reply