News from the Newsletters – November 2021

This is a summary of some of the articles taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies, November 2021. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

Balnarring & District Historical Society

The August 2021 Snippets has a comprehensive history of the property Elgee Park at Dromana and a report of the formation of the Balnarring East & Palm Beach Progress Association in 1927. There is also a report of the wedding of Emma Vansuylen and William O’Neill in 1884. Her father gifted the couple a block of land – 154 acres – at Crib Point, the land faced Hann’s Inlet.

Brighton Cemetorians       http://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/

The Cemetorian has many interesting articles on the people buried at the Brighton Cemetery. The September 2021 issue includes Musician James Billingsley (1913-1941); Actress Miss Fanny Dango (Mrs Samuel McKay, 1878-1972); William Hay, politician and grazier (1816-1908) and Alice Devany (nee Rendell, 1891-1924), sadly found drowned in the Yarra River. There was also a report on the unveiling of a plaque on the grave of World War One nurse, Sister Leah Rosenthal QAIMNSR, MM, ARRC on May 16, 2021.

Chelsea and District Historical Society

The July newsletter profiles Committee member and Historical Society historian Margaret Diggerson, who moved to Chelsea in 1933 when her father was transferred to the Chelsea Railway Station. The August newsletter features committee member Ron Jacobs, who has lived in the area for 80 years and was a City of Chelsea councillor for 15 years. The September newsletter includes a brief history of Aspendale, and the October newsletter congratulates member, Marjory Flynn (nee Olsen) on her 100th birthday.

Friends of Cheltenham & Regional Cemeteries     https://www.focrc.org/

Raves from the Graves June 2021 has a lovely article by Sue Beazley on Sister Esther, an Anglican Nun, who commenced working at the Mission to the Streets and Lanes in 1888. The next year the Mission purchased land at Cheltenham for a home for ‘fallen women.’ A home for neglected children was established at Brighton in 1894; St Georges Hospital in Kew in 1912, their work was never-ending. Sister Esther, born Emma Caroline Silcock in 1858, died in 1931. The newsletter also has an article on the history of Cheltenham Railway Station, also by Sue Beazley. Raves from the Graves September 2021 has the final instalment of the memories of Fairlie Taylor and her life in Cheltenham and Beaumaris from early times. There is an article on Edward Youngman Cotton (1817-1891) who arrived on the Exile ship, The Maitland in 1846. It also includes part two of Sue Beazley’s history of Cheltenham Railway Station.

Hastings Western Port Historical Society   https://www.hwphs.org.au/

The September newsletter has a history of the Tyabb Youth Hall, built in the 1880s and after years of neglect now requires major work. ‘On June 24, 2021, Shirley Davies, OAM, Past President and inaugural member of our Society, was surprised by Laurie French with the presentation of a sign ‘Shirl’s room’ for the room in the museum which she used when working at the Museum’. Congratulations Shirley. The Museum at Hastings is getting a new roof, guttering and insulation.

Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

The July newsletter has a history of Rythdale by Heather Arnold; the August newsletter takes a look at floods and fires in the area in the 1920s and 1930s; the September newsletter has a short history of Cora Lynn in the early years, also by Heather Arnold. October and November newsletters has lists of the students and teachers from 1957 to 1963 from Koo Wee Rup High School.

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

The Museum has a new sign acknowledging the Bunurong People.

Mordialloc College Alumni Association (MCAA) http://mordialloccollegealumni.org/

The September 2021 Ventured includes memories of past students including brothers Ray and Ian Maddocks, who were at the school in the 1940s.  The Alumni Committee is establishing an Honour Board of veterans who attended the school. This is a huge project to match students on the school roll with those on the Nominal Roll and then trying to find family members for both confirmation and more information. They have received a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the project.

Mornington & District Historical Society  https://morningtondistricthistory.org.au/

The August newsletter reports that Janet Groves, a long-term member has received Life Membership. Val Wilson has a delightful story of her house in Kent Street, Mornington, built in 1925 as a State Savings Bank house.

Mornington Peninsula Family History Society https://www.mpfhs.org/

The August 2021 Past Times has an article Ilma Hackett on the Harley Motorcycle Club house at Balnarring. ‘Built between 1926 and 1928 The Club House was a centre where members could come at weekends for both social and sporting events. On the longer reliability runs it was a halfway point. It was also where the Club’s trophies and photographs were displayed’.By the 1980s the use had declined, and it was sold in the 1990s.

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

The August 2021 Spreading Branches featured a report on the Volunteers Morning tea and award presentations which this year took place at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society Museum. In common with all our organisations they are run entirely by volunteers, and it is interesting to see the number of different people who volunteer for the many roles in the Society. The newsletter also promoted the October Cemetery walk at the Cranbourne cemetery – sadly it was cancelled once again.

Phillip Island & District Genealogical Society http://piadgs.org.au

From Reflections August 2021 – ‘The first meeting to form the Phillip Island and District Genealogical Society was held in the Phillip Island Library in June 1991 and the group was incorporated on 14 October 1991’. Congratulations on your 30th birthday!

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

The June 2021 newsletter has an article on Bill Richardson’s Cottage built in 1876 in Rhyll. Bill was a jetty, boat and house builder. The July 2021 newsletter reports on another historic house in Rhyll – Heath Hill, built by James and Annie McIlwraith shortly after they moved to the Island in December 1868. There is also an article on two Shire Halls, the first one was opened in 1884 and burnt down in 1933. The next hall was built in 1934 and was used until 1978. The August 2021 newsletter features Rimutara, the house built in 1887 by William and Annie McFee in Rhyll. The September 2021 newsletter reports on the AGM – Graeme Clauscen – President; Anne Davie – Vice President; Judy Gittus -Treasurer, Pamela Rothfield -Secretary. Committee – John Jansson, Julie Box, Bruce Proctor, Gaye Cleeland, Bev Forrest, Phil Dressing and Doug Waugh. The featured Rhyll house this month is Stradbroke House, built in 1902 for William and Louisa Smith.

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

Whitecliffs July-September 2021 has a very informative and comprehensive article by Noel Erbs on the Canterbury Jetty. Canterbury was at one time the name for an area 4km west of Rye. The jetty was built in the 1870s. The newsletter also has a history of early boat wrecks off Rye by John Hazledine. October-December 2021 Whitecliffs looks at pre-World War One farming in the Rye area.

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

The July 2021 newsletter has an article on John Maddox, the Frankston hermit. There is also an article on the Somerville Hotel; a photo of the students at Tyabb State School in 1962 and an article on Edward and Mary Counsel. The Counsels were amongst the first settlers in Somerville.

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

The essay in The Plod of July is on the history of Mitchell House, the Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre, which is housed in the Station Master’s Residence.  The August Plod essay looks at Alternate Energy where prior to electricity ‘residents utilised a wide variety of energy sources to “get the job done”.’ A variety of machines are discussed including the McIlwraith Stirrup Water Pump – energy required was physical effort and the Primus Blowtorch – kerosene. The September Plod essay has a history of the Hollins Selections, Crown Allotments 31 to 34, Parish of Wonthaggi, County of Mornington, selected in 1885 by the Hollins family. The article was written by Margaret Rixon (nee Hollins). The October Plod essay is part 1 of Hotels and Licensing in the Wonthaggi district – Kilcunda, Dalyston, Archies Creek and Wonthaggi.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *