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Here are the reports from the August 2017 meeting which was hosted by the Hastings Western Port Historical Society

seha-reports-august-2017

The content of these reports are the sole responsibility of each individual Society and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South Eastern Historical Association. In future, if you do not want your report posted on our website then please notify the Secretary

This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. August 2017.

Bass Valley Historical Society

• The Dinner meeting held on June 2,  had Roger Clark, founder and editor of the Waterline News as guest speaker http://www.waterlinenews.com.au/

 Brighton Cemetorians 

• The Cemetorian June 2017 has articles on some of the interesting burials at Brighton Cemetery including William Hutchinson (1864 – 1924) Victorian Politician and active Presbyterian; Captain Alexander Campbell (1805 – 1890) early Victorian settler who was in charge of a whaling station at Portland Bay from 1836 and Dora Bartels, a devout Catholic who undertook a novena to the Blessed Peter Julian Eymard, and was cured of her long standing pain and discomfort. This was considered a miracle and Peter Julian Eymard was later made a Saint, due partly to the miracle of Dora’s recovery.

Chelsea & District Historical Society

• The Society operates a museum in the old Chelsea Court house. The City of Kingston is currently undertaking an extensive and authentic renovation of the Court House and it will be closed until late 2018/early 2019.

Cranbourne Shire Historical Society

• The Guest speaker at the Christmas in July dinner held July 23 was Geoff Whiffen, who spoke about the Cranbourne Turf Club, which was established 150 years ago in 1867. Geoff is Chairman of the Turf Club.

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

• The Guest speaker at the Annual luncheon held June 17 was Briony Webster, Marketing Manager at the Dandenong Market who talked about the events and activities that commemorated the 150^th anniversary of the market in 2016.

Dromana & District Historical Society  http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dromana/

• Guest speaker Leigh Vinnell, spoke on the Dromana Tunnel at the June meeting. The Dromana tunnel runs under Arthurs Seat and was completed in 1973 as part of the South Eastern Sewerage outfall scheme taking sewerage from Carrum to Gunnamatta.

Frankston Historical Society     http://www.frankstonhs.org.au/

• The Historical Society manages Ballam Park Homestead, built in 1855 for Frederick Liardet.

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

• Raves from the Graves newsletter has articles on some of the people buried in the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery including William Calder (1860 – 1928) first Chairman of the Country Roads Board and the namesake of the Calder Highway and Maria Millard who died at the Cheltenham Benevolent Asylum and was buried with two others in an unmarked grave. The Friends Group are raising money to restore the oldest headstone at the Pioneer Cemetery. There are links on their website if you wish to donate.

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

• The June newsletter has a report on the fire at the 1885 Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Hastings. It is thought to have been deliberately lit. John Woolley was the guest speaker at the May Morning Coffee; he spoke about his family history including Woolleys Beach and Woolleys Road.

Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Historical Society

• Barry Gracey, the President of the Pozieres Rembrance Association was the guest speaker at the Annual Dinner held May 28. The Pozieres Remembrance Association believes that the 7,000 men killed in the Battle of Pozieres in 1916 are not adequately recognised and they have purchased some land that was central to the battle in Pozieres for a memorial garden and to help protect the resting place of the 4,000 soldiers who were never found and still lie in the fields around Pozieres. To this end they are selling 7,000 bricks at $50.00 each to help raise money for the memorial (so far no money has come from the Australian Government). If you are interested in supporting this cause then you can donate via their website http://www.pozieresremembered.com.au/ The July newsletter had an article by Heather Arnold on local pioneers John Mickle, John Bakewell and William Lyall. The August newsletter had an article, also by Heather Arnold, on the soldiers listed on the Five Mile School (also called Koo-Wee-Rup North School) World War One Honor Roll

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

• On June 23 the Society unveiled a plaque on the first grave at the Lang Lang Cemetery – two year old Louisa May Pickersgill, who died in 1887. The plaque was unveiled by Ted and Calvin Jewell, great grandsons of James Baker, the original grave digger.

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

• The June newsletter reported on the activities to commemorate the  125^th anniversary of the  Mornington Football Disaster where 15 members of the Club were returning home by boat from Mordialloc. The boat capsized and there were no survivors. There is a monument in the town for the footballers http://www.morningtoncemetery.com/Denominations/Misc/Football/Football-Disaster.shtml and a book Fifteen Young Men by Paul Kennedy was published in 2016.

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

• On August 14 the Group has an all day seminar Getting your family history into print. More details at https://seha.org.au/event/family-history-seminars-getting-your-family-history-into-print

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

• The Society was successful in their application to Museums Australia (Victoria) to obtain the services of a Roving Curator. Kitty Owens spent three days at the Museum and, amongst other things, examined the collection and noted some significant items and made suggestions on improving the interpretative material to tell the stories of the display objects.

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

• The Society celebrated their 50^th anniversary on August 4.

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

• The Whitecliffs newsletter from July-September 2017 has the first part of an article, written by Noel Erbs, on Water Supply and Sanitation on the Peninsula. There is also a comprehensive account of the many recent activities of the Society.

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

• The June 2017 newsletter has many historical facts and anecdotes. It also has an obituary of John Graham O’Neill, long term Tyabb resident, who conducted a poultry farm in O’Neill’s Road – the road being named after his ancestors.

 Springvale & District Historical Society

• The ‘Chapeau fantastique’ or ‘Mad Hatter’s collection’ is an exhibition of 270 hats – from Medieval to Modern. The exhibition is open Wednesday to Friday from 12 noon to 4.00pm at 7 Hillcrest Grove Springvale.   Also open for groups by appointment –  9547 6460.

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

• The essay in the May 2017 Plod, written by C.Landon is entitled Tom Gannon’s Obsession. Tom Gannon was the editor of the Powlett Express and in 1955 began writing articles on claims of sightings of strange animals around Wonthaggi. The June Plod essay, also by C. Landon, is about John Sparks, a local lad who enlisted in the Great War and was Killed in Action in France in 1916. The July essay is about Bridge Creek School – Bridge Creek was an area between Dalyston and Kilcunda.

Here are the reports from the May 2017 meeting which was hosted by the Dandenong & District Historical Society. Before the meeting we had a tour of the City of Greater Dandenong Archives Facility. It’s  a great facility, I will post a report soon.

seha-meeting-reports-may-2017

The content of these reports are the sole responsibility of each individual Society and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South Eastern Historical Association. In future, if you do not want your report posted on our website then please notify the Secretary.

This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. May 2017. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

Bass Valley Historical Society

• The Dinner meeting, held on March 3 had Anne Bevis, President of the Wonthaggi Genealogy Society as the guest speaker.

 Brighton Cemetorians 

• The Cemetorian March 2017 has an article on some of the interesting burials at Brighton Cemetery including Victor Prince (1868 – 1947) an actor and comedian; Howard Vernon (1848 – 1921) an opera singer and comedian and the father of Victor Prince. Howard was born John Norman Lett and his son was born Richard Victor Prince Lett. Howard was known for his role in Gilbert and Sullivan operas produced by the J.C Williamson Company. William James Woodmason (1865 – 1940) was a market gardeners and dairy farmer and owned a farm on the corner of Glenferrie Road and Malvern Road. His son, also called William, had a jersey stud and started the Melrose Dairy on the farm.

Chelsea & District Historical Society

• The AGM is on April 23. The Society gave a local history talk to the Grade 3 students at Edithvale Primary. The April newsletter has a short article on and a photograph of the Bangalore Private Hospital at 15 York Street, Bonbeach; Bonbeach High School opened 60 years ago in February 1957.

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

• The Gipps-Land Gate April 2017 has an article, by Laurie McCoy, on Norden Motor Body Works in Dandenong. Laurie has worked for the Company for over 40 years. It was started by Ron Anson and Dennis Lantsbury (hence Norden – Ron spelt backwards and Den from Dennis) in late 1959. They used to specialise in making any type of truck body including tippers, vans, stock crates, tippers but now 90% of their work is designing wheel chair access vehicles for the disabled. They have an interesting website norden.com.au. There was also an article by Chris Keys on the Ordish Family in Dandenong, with lots of photos, genealogical information and other information – they have connections to other local Dandenong families such as the Kirkhams and Keys. Ordish Road in Dandenong South is named after the family and they also had clay pits and made the Ordish firebrick.

Dromana & District Historical Society  http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dromana/

• The Society turned 30 in April and the guest speaker at the birthday function was Les Littlejohn on the Passiflora Plantation, a passionfruit plantation in Red Hill in the 1930s.

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

• The Friends held a tour of the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery on March 26, the 152^nd birthday of the Cemetery.

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

• The March newsletter has an article, written by David Taylor, on visit to the Museum by members of the Warnambool Flagstaff Hill Battery members. There is an historic link between Hastings and Warnambool because when the Hastings Battery was disbanded the four Armstrong forty pounder guns were sent to Warnambool. On March 4, a mural, by artist Simon White, depicting the maritime history of Western Port was unveiled in a laneway off High Street, Hastings.

Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Historical Society

• The March newsletter has a transcription of Koo-Wee-Rup Sun report on the the inaugural meeting of the Koo-Wee-Rup branch of the Country Women’s Association held October 25, 1944. Genealogical information on all the people mentioned in the article was researched by Heather Arnold. The April newsletter has a report of the ‘Back to Bayles’ held on February 25, 1967 from the Koo-Wee-Rup Sun. Around 700 people attended the event and 250lbs of chops and sausages were consumed at the ‘monster’ barbecue. The May newsletter has extracts of letters written from the 1910s and 1920s to ‘Aunt Connie’ at the Weekly Times from from Koo-Wee-Rup children.

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

• The Society held a well attended Cemetery tour in March and are now working with the Cemetery Trust to place a plaque on the first grave in cemetery. The first recorded burial was 2 year old Louisa May Pickersgill in 1887. The guest speaker at the April meeting was Bob Taylor, the last Station Master at Lang Lang.

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

• The February newsletter has an article, written by Val Wilson, on the Victorian Acclimatisation Society. The Museum had over 100 visitors on Australia Day and over 60 people attended the historic town walks. It is 125 years since the Mornington Football Disaster where 15 members of the Club were returning home by boat from Mordialloc. The boat capsized and there were no survivors. There is a monument in the town for the footballers http://www.morningtoncemetery.com/Denominations/Misc/Football/Football-Disaster.shtml and a book Fifteen Young Men by Paul Kennedy was published in 2016.

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

• Spreading Branches February 2017 has a report on the move later this year of the Society to the Cranbourne Library Complex. The Group are holding a series of family history seminars – check their website for details. The May Spreading Branches had a report on the recent World War One themed walk through the Harkaway Cemetery.

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

• The March 2017 The Nepean has an obituary of Dorothy Houghton, M.B.E., life member of the Society, heritage advocate who work helped keep some of the original Collins settlement in public ownership and the first woman elected to the Flinders Shire Council.

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

• The Whitecliffs newsletter from April-June 2017 also has an obituary of Dorothy Houghton (1920-2017) indicating the important role Mrs Houghton played in advocating for and preserving the heritage of the area. There is also an article by John Bertacco on Corinella and the 1826 settlement.

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

• The March 2017 newsletter has an article by Joy Coleman on her ballroom dancing classes, just before World War Two ended, where her mother Eileen Webb, played the piano. The teachers were some of the young married women of the town and ‘local experienced male dancers’.

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

• The essay in the March 2017 Plod, written by Frank Coldabella, is about camping. Frank’s thesis is that ‘camping is the single defining experience of pioneering life that connected people to country’. The April 2017 Plod had an obituary of Dr Peter Brooks, made up of the many eulogies presented at his funeral held on April 3. Peter, who was born in Wales, and his wife Alison came to Wonthaggi in 1967 and they became and remained part of the community.

This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. February 2017. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

Bass Valley Historical Society

• The December 2016 Dinner meeting had Doug Boston as the guest speaker. The Boston family has been in Korumburra since 1893.

Chelsea & District Historical Society

• The February 2017 newsletter has a list of meeting dates for the year. Whilst their Museum is closed for refurbishment they have been busy scanning and cataloguing all their documents and the Council has worked with them to scan their photograph collection. Work continues on indexing local newspapers. Forthcoming events: Chicken and champagne luncheon on April 6 and Annual Fashion Parade on September 28.

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

• Forthcoming events: February 19 – first meeting for 2017; February 22 – official opening of Society’s rooms at 39 Clow Street, Dandenong; April 23 – General meeting. More details in the Events columns on this website.

Dromana & District Historical Society  http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dromana/

• The book W.H Blakeley: pioneer saw maker, farmer and trade unionist by Helen Blakeley was launched on February 8.

Frankston Historical Society   http://www.frankstonhs.org.au/

• The Historical Society operates Ballam Park Homestead Museum built in 1855 by Wilbraham Liardet, pioneer of Port Melbourne.

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

• The December 2016 newsletter has an article, written by Lynda Tredwell, on the Battle of Hastings, which took place 950 years ago on October 14, 1066. Shirley Davies has investigated the history of two historic houses in Salmon Street which have recently been sold. No. 95 Salmon Street was originally owned by Martha Robinson. Martha’s sister, Mary Reid, owned a shop on what is now Marine Parade. No 118 Salmon Street was lived in by Jimmy Mentiplay – the Mentiplays, who were a fishing family, came to Hastings in the 1860s. There is some concern about the fate of the houses as they do not have heritage protection.

Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Historical Society

• The December 2016 newsletter has an acrostic history of Koo-Wee-Rup, connected to the letters Merry Christmas; the February 2017 newsletter takes a look at what happened in Koo-Wee-Rup, 100 years ago in 1917, both articles written by Heather Arnold.

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

• The Society has nearly sold out of 2017 calendars containing historic views of Lang Lang. They have recently received a donation of the original certificate of title for the land where the Yannathan Union Church was built. The Church was built in 1890 on land owned by Joseph Carson and the land was transferred to Trustees on June 27, 1904, the date of the title.

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

• The November 2016 newsletter has an article, written by Val Wilson, on Charles Wright who owned the Mistletoe Hotel in McKenzie Street in Melbourne. His will left £50 for his headstone at the Moorooduc Cemetery and the bulk of his estate was left to charity. His property in Mornington was to be leased and the money given to the Mornington Shire Council for the relief of the poor in Mornington and Hastings. The payments continued until 1940.

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

• Spreading Branches November 2016 has a report on a walk through the Harkaway Cemetery conducted by the Group on October 30. One of the graves highlighted in the tour was that of Emma Beer, who married Henry Scott in 1866, when she was 18. Unfortunately Henry already had a wife, Annie, in Sydney. In the October of that year Henry was charged with her murder and he was executed in March 1867. Emma then married Charles Box, had three daughters and then died at the young age of 27. The Group have planned a series of seminars for 2017 – more details in the Events columns on this website.

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

• The December 2016 The Nepean has an article on a ships figurehead which is part of their collection. It has spent two years with conservator, Noel Turner. The figure head is thought to have come from a ’Peruvian barque’. They have received a tenor drum and a uniform from the Royal Caledonian Pipe band formed in 1925 and renamed the Flinders Shire Caledonian Pipe Band in 1975. The donation came from Malcolm Macaffer and his daughter, Jenny. The Macaffer family have a long term connection to the Band.

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

• The Whitecliffs newsletter from January – March 2017 has photos of their revamped Museum and part five of an article looking at pre-1931 road names in Postcode 3941 written by Noel Erbs. There is also an article on the Charlotte Fenwick, a ferry that operated between Rye and Melbourne in 1914.

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

• The December 2016 newsletter has some advertisements from a 1911 cookbook published in Somerville, with over 300 recipes from local families. Somerville Scouts have just celebrated their 100

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

• The essay in the November 2016 Plod, written by Kit Sleeman, is about his memories of attending the Royal Melbourne Show in the 1940s and 1950s, amongst the highlights was seeing Big Chief Little Wolf,  the wrestler. The February 2017 Plod essay is on the February 1937 20-shaft mine explosion, in which sadly 13 men perished.