North Shore Historical Society Inc. - North Sydney Council
North Shore Historical Society Inc. - North Sydney Council
North Shore Historical Society Inc. - North Sydney Council
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<strong>North</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Historical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>Inc</strong>.<br />
ABN 58 742 490 986<br />
PO Box 399 <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> NSW 2059<br />
Email: northshorehistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.au<br />
He Lives Doubly Who Also Enjoys the Past<br />
BULLETIN for OCTOBER 2013<br />
NEXT MEETING<br />
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 10 October in the Conference Room, Stanton Library, Miller<br />
Street, <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong>. Light refreshments are served from 6.30pm prior to the meeting which<br />
commences at 7pm.<br />
Guest Speaker: Stewart Reed<br />
Stewart Reed began his research into May Gibbs’ comic strips when doing research for the Was Thinking<br />
of Home Today exhibition at the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> Heritage Centre in 2004 at Nutcote. He continued when<br />
co-curating the Our Working Lives – in Gumnut Town exhibition at Nutcote in 2006 and the Inspired by<br />
May exhibition at the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> Heritage Centre in 2007/2008. Stewart was a Board Member of May<br />
Gibbs’ Nutcote from 2005 to 2008. He is now working on a catalogue of her comic strips.<br />
He has used the wealth of May Gibbs’ material in the Mitchell Library where there are dozens of boxes of<br />
notes, correspondence, original drawings, cuttings and proofs for her comic scripts. Unfortunately some<br />
of the original material is no longer extant – a by-product largely of the way May worked. Stewart runs a<br />
course on The Unknown May Gibbs for the University of <strong>Sydney</strong> Centre for Continuing Education.<br />
Topic: May Gibbs’ comic strips – a little known treasure<br />
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie was published in 1918 and in the years immediately following several more<br />
gumnut books were eagerly devoured by her readers. In August 1924, the two gum nuts were<br />
transformed into Bib and Bub. This comic strip first appeared in <strong>Sydney</strong>’s Sunday News and Adelaide’s<br />
Mail. The success of Bib and Bub lead May to create a second strip Tiggy Touchwood which ran from<br />
1925 to 1932 in a rival newspaper. Bib and Bub ran until 1967 (when May Gibbs was 90) and, including<br />
Tiggy Touchwood, she created approximately 2,300 strips. Their development is complex as the comic<br />
strips illustrations and text were recycled and the format varied from city to city. They also reflect May<br />
Gibbs’ interaction with the events and activities around her. This talk describes the variety of characters<br />
in the comics, how the original artwork was transformed into the final printed comic and her use of<br />
language, spelling and punctuation.<br />
At the Annual General Meeting 12 September 2013 the following Office Bearers were elected: -<br />
President<br />
Geoff Huntington<br />
Vice President<br />
Don Napper<br />
Treasurer<br />
Don Napper<br />
Secretary<br />
Robin Finlayson<br />
Minute Secretary<br />
Elizabeth Fountain<br />
Guest Speaker Organiser Vilma Bowers<br />
Outings Organizer<br />
Don Orr<br />
A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Brian Evesson on his retirement from the Committee.<br />
Christmas Afternoon Tea - Saturday 30th November 2-4pm - Don Bank Museum, 6 Napier Street,<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong>. Live entertainment and excellent catering for only $25.00 per person-<br />
Bookings/payment required now to Treasurer Ph 02 9460 0634 OR Secretary ph 02 9955 2504
VALE: It is with sadness I report the passing on the 11th September of long time member David<br />
Killeen. David was well liked and it was always a pleasure to have him at our meetings. A lasting<br />
memory is that of his performance at our Christmas Party two years ago when we were enjoyably<br />
entertained by the Gordon Quartette. On behalf of all members of the <strong>Historical</strong> <strong>Society</strong> I have offered<br />
our sincerest condolences to Jenny and family.<br />
NSHS History Competition Prize Winners<br />
At the AGM in September, prizes were awarded to the winner and runner-up of our Biennial History<br />
competition.<br />
First prize of $3,000 was awarded to Chris Monnox for his entry<br />
Billy Hughes, <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> and the Unraveling of the Nationalist Party [1929]<br />
The judges considered this to be a really well-written, well-researched piece that addresses a huge gap in<br />
the written history of <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> – namely the role and significance of politics beyond the municipal.<br />
The author outlines the pragmatism that brought Billy Hughes to the local area as a maverick ‘conservative’<br />
in search of a safe seat.<br />
In doing so he provides insights into the complex political demography of <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> – an electorate that<br />
was home to many people from boat builders and clerks to doctors and bankers.<br />
As the building boom of the 1920s gathered pace, the author explores the local appeal of Hughes to these<br />
people while also charting the changes to the area.<br />
Second prize of $1,500 was awarded to Beryl Mitchell's entry<br />
The Hobsons and Whitings of <strong>North</strong> <strong>Shore</strong>.<br />
Much effort obviously went into this extensively researched family history that ranges over a large<br />
timeframe and several individuals to present a story of two families who made fascinating contributions to<br />
<strong>Sydney</strong>’s cultural life through retail, real estate, philanthropy, sport and the press.<br />
Using relevant primary sources it is logically organised and includes sensible observations based on the<br />
evidence presented. Images are well chosen and complement the text.<br />
...................................................................................................................<br />
Mapping <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong>: maps and charts from the Heritage Centre collection<br />
Date: 28 October 2013 - April 2014: <strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> Heritage Centre, Level 1, Stanton Library, 234 Miller Street<br />
This exhibition features original maps and charts, some dating to the 19th century, which show changes to<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>Sydney</strong> over 150 years of development. Highlights include an 1879 trig survey chart which makes clear<br />
the dramatic alteration of the Milsons Point and Kirribilli waterfronts, 'resumptions maps' showing properties<br />
slated for demolition during the construction of the <strong>Sydney</strong> Harbour Bridge, and hand-drawn late 19th century<br />
survey maps of Careening Cove by members of the Loxton family; significant local landowners.<br />
GORE HILL MEMORIAL CEMETERY TOUR – SUNDAY 3 rd NOVEMBER 11.00am<br />
A bi-annual tour of the Heritage Listed Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery will be conducted by members of the<br />
Friends of Gore Hill Cemetery on Sunday 3 rd November commencing at 11:00am<br />
This is an opportunity for residents to participate in a two hour tour led by experienced and knowledgeable<br />
guides of some of the highlights of this amazing historic cemetery hidden behind the trees on the Pacific<br />
Highway at St Leonards.<br />
During the tour we will visit and talk about some of the leading historical figures from the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> of<br />
<strong>Sydney</strong> buried in the cemetery and will spend some time in the St Mary MacKillop precinct.<br />
Participants are advised to wear good walking shoes and to bring a camera to record the memorials in a sea of<br />
flowers. Following the tour there will be an opportunity to make enquiries about location of graves and<br />
deposition of ashes. This is a popular tour and bookings are essential Contact John May on 9906 5106 to reserve<br />
a place.<br />
CAN YOU HELP?<br />
The Crows Nest Community Centre wants to create a display about their history. Particularly about the people<br />
who have been named in the various rooms and halls at the centre.<br />
We are asking members if they were involved in the early years or know of someone who was, to contact Eliot<br />
Ball, at the Stanton Library on Wednesdays and Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoons. His office number is<br />
9936 8412 or 9936 8438 on the local history desk (1pm to 5pm Mon - Sat).<br />
Any information would be most welcome. Eliott's email is eliotball1@gmail.com.