This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. November 2016. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

Chelsea & District Historical Society

• The September 2016 newsletter has an article about the Aspendale Palais also known as The Road House. It was built in 1925 and had a hall with a dance floor, a café, golf course and beach access. The November 2016 newsletter had an article on the Aspendale racecourse written by Margaret Jacobs.

Dandenong & District Historical Society   http://ddhs.com.au/

• Christmas luncheon. When: Sunday, December 4 at 12.30pm. Venue: Dandenong Club, cr Heatherton and Stud Roads, Dandenong. Cost: $30.00 per head. Bookings and payment to be received by Wednesday, November 23. Dandenong & District Historical Society P.O Box 8029, Dandenong, 3175. More information: 03 9794 8967 or email dandhist@internode.on.net

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

• The September newsletter has an article on the 150 year old Hastings Jetty Fish shed

Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Historical Society

• The September newsletter has an article on the Eleven Mile bridge at Cora Lynn, the October newsletter has a short history of Tooradin and  the November newsletter a history of Western Port Road, all written by Heather Arnold.

Lang Lang & District Historical Society   http://www.langlang.net/historical.html

• • At the recent AGM, Jean Hayden was returned as President, Peter Hayden as Sectary and Joy Adderley was elected Treasurer after the retirement of Joy Kay, who has had the Treasurer’s role for a number of years. The 2017 calendar of historic street scenes is available for sale; email Jean the President on ralph6@dcsi.net.au if you wish to purchase a copy. The 2017 calendar of historic street scenes is available for sale; email Jean the President on ralph6@dcsi.net.au if you wish to purchase a copy.

Mordialloc & District Historical Society 

• The Society had a training session with Victorian Collections in July and in August some members attended the Kingston City Council Historical Society network meeting.

Mornington and District Historical Society     www.morningtondistricthistory.org.au

• The August newsletter has an article on the Bates family of Moorooduc and Mornington. Albert Bates was a Shire of Mornington Councillor, who was killed in a motor car accident in 1917. The Mornington community raised £40 to erect a clock on the front of the Mechanics’ Institute as a memorial to Albert. The Mornington & District Historical society restored the clock in 2004.

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

• Spreading Branches August 2016 has a report on the AGM, where Cameron and Marianne Rocke presented their research into the history of the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick. There is part 2 of Max Thomson’s memories of Narre Warren in World War Two and an article by Di Christensen on Frederick Percy Williams, a chaplain to the 58^th Battalion of the 15^th Brigade of the 5^th Australia Division, who fought at the Battle of Fromelles.

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

• The September 2016 The Nepean has an article on the Sorrento Baths, based on the recollections of Marius Webb. The Society has republished the book Miss Gymkhana, R.G Menzies and me by Kathy Skelton, her memoir of growing up in Sorrento in the 1950s. It is being officially launched in November 13.

Phillip Island & District Historical Society   http://www.pidhs.org.au/

•  Christmas Function. When: Saturday, December 3 2016 at 6.30pm for 7.00pm at the St Phillip’s Parish Hall, Thompson Avenue, Cowes. The guest speaker is Graeme Clauscen, President of the Society, ‘Big game hunting with a camera’ Cost is $30.00 by pre-purchased tickets. Either send payment to Judy Gittus, Phillip Island & District Historical Society  P.O Box 816, Cowes, 3922  or Direct Deposit to Bendigo Bank BSB: 633-000 Account 151829389 and email Judy with details to j.gittus43@gmail.com  RSVP by November 25 to Judy Gittis on 03 5952 6498.

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

• The Whitecliffs newsletter has part four of an article looking at road names in Postcode 3941 written by Noel Erbs. John Bertacco has written an article about the history of rabbits in Australia and there is a reprint of a 1900 obituary of Rye pioneer, Samuel Sherlock.

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

• There is an article on the Omega band, also known as Cooks Band who played at dances all over the Mornington Peninsula and as far away as Korumburra, Tooradin and Koo-Wee-Rup in the 1940s. There are obituaries of locals William Rennie Rae and Gloria Taylor (nee Perriam)

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

• The essay in the August  Plod, written by Geoff Johnston, is about Clara Letitia Johnston (nee Ah Chow, 1883-1972) Clare married Julius Johnston in 1910. When they were on their honeymoon in Blackwood, they discovered some gold, which was valued at £600, a large amount of money in those days. This money allowed them to move to Wonthaggi where they purchased several blocks of land which they built shops on.  In Wonthaggi, they operated ‘The Hamburger shop’, one of the first of its kind in Wonthaggi (or possibly anywhere) Clara was very entrepreneurial and operated and invested in many other businesses as well. The September Plod essay is A story of Wonthaggi by the man who opened the first business in Wonthaggi about Mr Cain’s butcher shop and other early businesses. The October Plod essay is Kit Sleeman’s memories of bath night when he was young and the carious hot water services including the Donkey, coal fired hot water service.
•  Annual Dinner. When: Friday, November 25 2016 at 6.30pm at the Vick’s Bistro at Capital, 140 McKenzie Street, Wonthaggi. The theme is  Wonthaggi Garages and a range of speakers will entertain with a history and stories associated with local garages. Cost is $30.00 per head by pre-purchased tickets – available at the Railway Station Museum – open Saturday 10.00am to 2.00pm and Thursday 10.00am and 1.00pm or Direct Deposit to Bendigo Bank BSB 633 000 Account 1323 14543 with your name. RSVP to Mr Laurie Culph on 03 5674 4658 by November 18.