RHSV History News February 2006 - Royal Historical Society of ...

Orderly Room, A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, 1900 (later the site of theArmy Medical Drill Hall, now the location of the RHSV).Volunteering andValour –An ExhibitionMarch 27 – May 26The context for this exhibition is our building; the site onwhich the Drill Hall now stands was continuously occupiedby the Army from 1866 – 1988.Originally known as the West Melbourne Orderly Room the smallweatherboard building was used by the Colonial Volunteer Forces.By the late 1930s the current building was under construction as HQto Army Medical Corps – and the many civilian medical personnel thatcould be called up.Using material from the RHSV collection, Volunteering and Valourtraces the origins of the volunteer forces and sets them against thepropaganda material used for recruiting in the First World War. Theexhibition concentrates on the Volunteer Rifle Regiments, the navalvolunteers and the significant collection of First World War recruitingand propaganda posters. It contrasts the highly patriotic official returnedsoldiers certificates with more personal letters, and memorabilia of soldiersand nurses. Highlights of the exhibition are Volunteer Corps Oaths ofAllegiance, the Victorian Volunteers’ Trophy of 1864, war correspondentDonald McDonald’s fascinating Boer War scrap book and the propagandabroadsheets illustrated by Norman Lindsay.The exhibition will be accompanied in April by tours of the building anda practical workshop on how to create boxes to store memorabilia. Referto the “What’s On Sheet” in this newsletter for details.HistoryNews RoyalIssue No. 261 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2006Historical Society of VictoriaWelcome to2006…..Planned for this year is a busy calendar of publications,exhibitions and public programs.Responding to membership suggestions; we will re-introducesome lunchtime lectures, and run workshops on the “hot topics”of membership development and sustainability, publishing andcopyright. We are innovating a new winter series of lectures buildingon the themes of historical geography and drawing on our roots withthe Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, and in November wewill hold a conference on the Year 1856.Access to our rich collections – library, manuscripts and imagesis encouraged. A grant from the Helen Macpherson Trust hasmeant that rare pamphlets will be conserved and made accessible.RHSV collections and indexes are continuously being added toour HistoryVictoria Database and access to collections of affiliatedsocieties is available on the Victorian Local History Database. Adviceon collections management and computerised cataloguing is alwaysavailable. Following a grant from the Potter Foundation we areinvestigating digitising images from the collection. For thoseunfamiliar with computers the expert volunteers at the RHSV arealways keen to assist with locating material.History Victoria Support Group continues to support regionalhistorical societies. Seminars, advocacy and advice are always available.Through our networks we aim to support the regional growth ofhistorical societies. We can also support the growth of special interestgroups. Following the success of last year’s Victorian MulticulturalCommission Community Heritage Grant we hope to encouragemore ethnic groups to affiliate and gain benefits from the RHSV.The RHSV is a service organisation. Our objectives are to supportthe membership by providing and promoting research opportunitiesinto all aspects of Victorian history; to support historical societies bycreating networks, in skills development and facilitating collectionsconservation and access; and to continuously advocate for the RHSVand the history of Victoria to have a strong profile within the widercultural life of Victoria.We wish you all a Happy New Year and encourage you to makeuse of the research resources and expertise available at the RHSV.We look forward to welcoming you to the many events plannedthroughout the year.Volunteers’ Information DayWednesday, 22nd February10.00am – 1.00pmDeatils page 3

BEHIND THE SCENESA successful stocktakeThe problem with the RHSV’s LibraryCollection is that it is so interesting ! Thereis nothing to compare with a stocktake toreinforce what an inheritance we have to presentto members and researchers.Yes, the stocktake of publications held on openshelves is almost complete and the misplaced,overlooked and new and old books have beenlocated, checked and shelved.Library volunteers, members, friends andprofessional officers from kindred libraries gavelong hours of hard work over several weeks tocomplete the work and we thank them all fortheir generous effort.As an outcome, we have two objectives for 2006– first to complete the total conversion of thecatalogue to computer accessible form and,second, to integrate the Swift Collection intoour library stocks. John Rose and his ‘off-siders’have reconstructed metres of metal shelving toenable this to proceed.The stocktake has been an activity wheremembers have found untapped skills and intendto continue volunteering for special tasks. Weinvite new volunteers to assist us to achieve ourgoals as we have a long way to go.Archival BoxesAn outcome of the Along the Murray five-dayexcursion was a contribution of $300 to theSociety, the result of a raffle of a Christmascake baked and donated by Janice Bate plus ananonymous donation to round the figure up.This money is dedicated to the purchase of boxmakingmaterial to encase special items in theSociety’s book collection, some of the RHSV’smany treasures. We now are fortunate not onlyto have the funds to undertake this activity butwe have two members skilled in the design andproduction of archival boxes.rhsv NewsPresident’s Report2005 ended with a wonderful range of activities, full of interest, atthe RHSV and affiliated Societies.We are all of course dedicated to ensuring the conservation andpreservation of the heritage we are responsible for, and in that vein,I’m very pleased to say that the wonderful art deco drill hall that is our basehas just been given a new terra cotta tiled roof. You can’t see it very wellfrom the A’Beckett Street side, but if you sneak around to the back lane you’ll the wide expanse oforange tiles, newly laid and pristine. It’s the roof we needed to ensure that our priceless collectionwill be dry and secure during these downpours we get from time to time, and which some say willincrease as global warming moves the climate around and makes Melbourne a tropical outpost! Atany rate, the old tiles were cracked, and had shifted, and the roof did regularly leak, so it’s a great reliefto see that job done. Meanwhile, the library stocktake has been undertaken in a painstaking way bya phalanx of volunteers – another of those critical, careful jobs that makes conservation a reality.Conservation of materials was also on the agenda at the History Victoria Support Group workshopheld at Colac’s very modern and well-appointed History Centre towards the end of November.The seminar, titled “Researching, Storing and Exhibiting Your Local History” was packed out withnot a spare chair to be found. People had come from many parts of Victoria. To hear informativepresentations from David Endacott (on storage boxes) and Alleyne Hockley (on mountingexhibitions), and as well we had two treats in store after the sumptuous lunch provided by theColac team. One was Peter Mansfield’s two part presentation – the first on the extraordinary butlittle studied Victorian Premier Graham Berry, with his powerful presence, 20 or 21 children, andlong career as Editor of the Geelong Advertiser; the second a fascinating visit to how our librariesand mechanics institutes operated in the 1800s. One of the many fascinating points Peter madewas that some of the rather boring theological treatises we may see dominating the shelves of thesurviving old libraries are there today because the stories by women novelists that people actuallyread aren’t there any more – they have all fallen apart over the years through over-use. Finally wehad a wonderful lantern slide visit to the Otways, based not just on a collection of actual slidesused by the Shire Valuer in his travels around the time of the First World War but also on his ownoriginal ponderous but informative commentary. Thanks to all the Colac and HVSG people for agreat day out.As 2006 gets rolling there are some areas where the support of every member is needed. One is thatwe do need to keep renewing our membership base, so if you know people interested in historythat would enjoy our activities, don’t be bashful in suggesting to them that they join up. The secondconcerns our wonderful library and collection. We have not been able to add significantly to ourcollection in recent years, or to undertake as much rebinding and conservation work as we wouldlike. Donations to our library and museum fund are tax beneficial, so if you can see your way clearto a donation or perhaps even a mention in your will, we’d be very grateful, and it would be helpingto keep alive a collection that’s been part of our heritage now for 95 years.And just a reminder, our February 17 day at Flemington Races, hosted by Andrew Lemon FRHSV,is not to be missed. See you there!Bill Russell‘The Year 1856 in Victoria’ - RHSV Conference -First Call for Papers:Dates (probable): Fri. evening 17th – Sunday 19th November 2006The widest significance of the year 1856 for Victoria lies in attaining its first fully elected government. Rolls compiled for the 37 Electoral Districtsin the Legislative Assembly, each comprising between two and nine Divisions, and the six Legislative Council Provinces, contain the names,addresses, occupations and the nature of qualification of all those eligible to vote. The rolls provide a microcosm of Victorians of the period.Other beginnings include the Eight Hour Day movement and openings of the Melbourne Public Library (State Library of Victoria) and the Lying-In Hospital (Royal Women’s Hospital). An example of local perspective is that J. B. Humffray thought the opening of the telegraph line to Ballaratin 1856 would have greater impact that the Eureka uprising two years earlier.Municipalities inaugurated in 1856 were the towns of Beechworth, Belfast, Kilmore and Williamstown, and the Road Districts (later Shires) ofBelfast, Connewarre, Eltham, Gardiner, Lauriston and Elphinstone, Portland, Templestowe, Upper Yarra, Warrnambool, and Willowmavin.There were births, deaths, marriages and immigrant arrivals aplenty, which had personal and local significance.Societies and individuals are encouraged to prepare material focused around any aspect of the year 1856 for presentation at the conference. It maytake the form of a long paper (c30-40 min), a short paper (10-15 min) or a poster to be displayed for the duration of the conference. Publicationof material received will be investigated. Further information will be given once a Convenor is appointed.Go to it. Start thinking and researching now. Help build the picture of Victoria in 1856.

Melbourne 2006Supporting Heroes of the Past and PresentWith the countdown well and truly on until Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, preparations are feverishly underway, bothon and off the field.The Commonwealth Games will be adefining moment for Victoria’s history,and hosting this event provides a platform forcommunities to celebrate the people, eventsand sports that have shaped their local identity.It is an opportunity to re-live and sometimesunearth community history through displaysand exhibitions of sporting heroes and events.In regional centres, suburban neighbourhoodsand rural towns, the Victorian Government issupporting individual municipalities and theirhistorical societies to celebrate the Games intheir own way.The State Government’s Getting InvolvedGrants Program to local councils includes aCelebrating Local Sporting History and Heroescomponent. There was an allocation of $500,000to 42 History and Heroes projects across theState. This includes a range of projects thatwill help foster community spirit and providebenefits to the community long after the Gamesare gone.Councils have partnered with local historicalsocieties and community members to capturepeople’s imagination through the collationand celebration of their histories using novelapproaches in documentation or location.In Wangaratta, digital story telling has been usedas a popular contemporary form of recordingsocial and cultural history. Tall Tales of Sportfeatures 17 short stories from local characters.These include stories of a 71-year-old bike rider,contributions from the local baseball club, theface of local sport in the district, and ‘back yardsports’ and how the concept contributes to localsport and the community.Tall Tales of Sport will be showcased atWangaratta’s local Commonwealth GamesCommunity Newscelebrations in the park on the night of theOpening Ceremony. Following this the digitalstories will be available on DVD for localschools, clubs, libraries etc.The City of Whitehorse has worked with TheWhitehorse Historical Society to developBats, Balls and Blue Ribbons, an exhibitionof 30 Whitehorse residents to showcase theachievements of past and present elite athletesand share inspirational moments enjoyed bysome unsung community members.Barbara Gardiner, committee member fromthe Whitehorse Historical Society said, “Itwas an enjoyable process enabling us, Box HillHistorical Society, Whitehorse Council and thecommunity to work together. Not only is theexhibition on display now, but copies of all newphotos received from members of the publichave been recorded and are available forever.”For the first time, Council will include exhibitsin more unlikely spots, so whether you’reshopping at Box Hill Centro, or visiting thededicated displays at the Box Hill CommunityArts Centre, or Whitehorse Civic Centre, besure to take a moment and reflect on localachievements.Find out more about the many Sporting Historyand Heroes exhibitions across Victoria bycontacting participating Councils; Alpine Shire,Ararat, Ballarat, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Benella,Boroondara, Campaspe, Colac-Otway, Darebin,East Gippsland, Frankston, Greater Dandenong,Hepburn, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Konxand Latrobe, Macedon, Mannignham, Melton,Mildura, Monash, Moonee Valley, MorningtonPeninsula, Nillumbik, Northern Grampians,South Gippsland, Stonnington, Strathbogie,Swan Hill, Wangaratta, Whitehorse, Whittlesea,Yarra City, and Yarra Ranges.

Museums Australia (Victoria)Regional Exhibition TouringInitiative (RETI)The Regional Exhibition Touring Initiative (RETI) is an innovativeprogram developed by Museums Australia (Victoria) to support andimprove museum sector touring activity in Victoria. RETI has beenassisting museums to develop touring exhibitions for regional Victoriasince 1999. The program is administered by Museums Australia (Victoria)with funds received from the Community Support Fund through ArtsVictoria.Now in its seventh year RETI has supported fifty-eight regional Victorianmuseums and has devolved a total of $220 000 towards the developmentof touring exhibitions.The RETI FundMuseums Australia (Victoria) invites collecting organisations to applyfor support under the Regional Exhibition Touring Initiative grantsprogram for the development and touring of historical or cultural heritageexhibitions including art, science, social and natural history, to metropolitanand regional Victoria.Three grant categories are available:Category A – Starting from Scratch (up to $4000)Category B- Touring (up to $4000)Category C- Infrastructure for Touring Exhibitions (up to $5000)Closing date: Thursday 13 April 2006Professional DevelopmentThe RETI program also offers ongoing advice and professionaldevelopment opportunities in exhibition development and touring. In2006 the following information sessions, seminars and workshops areavailable:Getting started: preparing your RETI grant application – FebruaryBright idea- What next? – MarchPreparing the exhibition brief – AprilProject management – What is it? – JuneShaking the money tree: pathways to funding – JulyDesign savvy on a shoestring budget – AugustMarketing: an introduction – SeptemberOn the road: preparing your exhibition for tour – OctoberStorytime – RETI lunch - NovemberFor further information on available grants and program details pleasecontact Georgia Rouette, RETI Manager, on 03 8341 7342,Freecall 1800 680 082 or email reti@mavic.asn.auVolunteer Small Equipment GrantsTiming of 2006 rounds is yet to be confirmed. Information on the roundwill be posted on the Family and Community Services website when theround opens. Watch at www.facs.gov.auCommunity NewsVictorian Community Foundation – HolsworthLocal Heritage TrustFollowing a review of the Holsworth Local HeritageTrust, grants of up to $1,000 were announced last year tosupport the publication of local and other history in ruralVictoria .The outcome was six historical societies were awarded grants:These were:Casterton and District Historical Society for a publication on theCasterton CenotaphAustralian Institute of Geneological Studies Bendigo Area for apublication on the origins of Bendigo Street NamesCressy and District Historical Group for a publication 1838 Cressy1938 Centenary CelebrationsDromana and District Historical Society for a publication titled ADream Time of DromanaHalls Gap and Grampians Historical Society for a publication titledVictoria’s Wonderland: A Grampians HistoryMerrigum and District Historical/Education Society Inc for apublication The Rodney Store 1905 – 2005The selection committee were pleased with the quality and variety ofapplications and encourage more not for profit historical societies, clubs,schools and museums in rural Victoria to apply for the next round ofgrants.Productivity Commission’s draft report,conservation of Australia’s Historic HeritagePlacesThis draft reoprt was released on 9 December 2005 and it can be read atthe following website address: http;//WWW.PC.GOV.AU/INQUIRY/HERITAGE/DRAFTREPORT/INDEX.HTML. Printed copies areavailable from Jill Irvine, phone (02) 6240 3223Public hearings to discuss the draft reort will commence in late January.For further information visit the following website: http//www. Pc.gov.au/inquiry/heritage/.Victorian Folklife FundTwo innovative projects received funding from the Victorian Folklife Fund:the establishment of a Newport Folk Orchestra with the emphasis ofreviving the practice and teaching of the aural tradition of folk music inthe Newport area; and the preparation of a definitive collection of songsand recitations by Simon McDonald (1907-68), widely considered oneof Australia’s finest traditional musicians.The panel of the Fund were pleased with the breadth of applicationsreceived and encourage more applications in 2006Bursaries AvailableMUSEUMS AUSTRALIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE“Exploring Dynamics, Cities, Cultural Spaces, Communities”The 2006 Museums Australia Conference Committee is pleased to beable to make a number of bursaries available for the Museums AustraliaConference to be held in Brisbane May 14 – 17 2006Most bursaries are available to assist unpaid workers (volunteers), part-timeworkers and full-time students from local, regional and remote museumsto attend the full conference program.For conference details and information about the bursaries contact KerriLaidlaw Museums Association 2006 Conference Co-ordinator on 073215 0843 or conference@museumsaustralia.org.au , or MA(Vic) 038341 7344Applications close Friday February 24 2006.

REPORT FROM HISTORY VICTORIA SUPPORT GROUP:Approximately 60 people attended the 26November History Victoria Support GroupSeminar Day hosted by Colac and District HistoricalSociety. Those present were from 20 historicalsocieties from Colac, Camperdown, Birregurra,Cobden, Koroit, Terang, Inverleigh, Winchelsea,Cressy, Geelong, Leigh Shire, Snake Valley, and Avocaas well as from Castlemaine, Daylesford, Knox,Sunshine, Upper Yarra, Traralgon and Wangaratta.The venue was ideal, with the opportunity forthose attending to see the exhibitions and researchfacilities provided by the Colac Historical Societyin the History Centre, COPAAC, Gellibrand Street,opposite the railway station.After introductions and welcomes by Prof. BillRussell, RHSV President and Keith Chambers,Colac President and Cr Warren Richies, Mayor ofColac-Otways Shire, we were given details of the1891 Women’s Petition indexing project by VickiCourt, RHSV Information Technology Manager.This searchable database can be accessed on www.parliament.vic.gov.au/WomensPetition/.Excellent speakers David Endacott (DaylesfordHistorical Society) and Alleyne Hockley (CastlemaineHistorical Society) presented demonstrations onthe use of boxes and bags for storage and ideas forcreating display boards, as well as display techniques.An entertaining and informative talk was given byDr Peter Mansfield (Geelong Historical Society) onresearching and writing local history using archivesand historical sources, using case studies about hiswork on Premier Sir Graham Berry and coloniallibraries. This talk was complemented by Dr PeterYule, RHSV Vice-President, when he thanked PeterUntangling the web at StonningtonSOCIETY Newson behalf of those present.Colac Historical Society members used theirwonderful magic lantern to show slides of theOtways and the coastline between 1916 and1922, which were originally photographed andprojected by the Shire Valuer who travelled aroundto townships when the Otways were opening upfor selection during World War One, which was afascinating and enjoyable contribution to the day’sactivities.Morning and afternoon tea and lunch werebeautifully and generously catered for by membersof Colac Historical Society, and during these breaksopportunities were taken for sharing of ideas anddiscussion about matters of mutual interest. Specialthanks goes to members of the Colac HistoricalSociety for hosting the Seminar Day so splendidly.Local historical societies continue to call up onthe assistance of members of the History VictoriaSupport Group, and there are several bookingsconfirmed over the coming months. If a groupof societies in your district would like to hold aseminar or workshop on topics such as collectionscataloguing and management, or ways to encourageand increase membership, or other similar topics, justcontact me or Margaret Hunter or Vicki Court andwe will respond immediately.The HSVG is planning more seminar daysthroughout 2006. Watch out for deatails in HistoryNews and on MC2.Joan Hunt, Convenor, History VictoriaSupport GroupDeveloping a web site can be a daunting task for many historical societies. Itis important to find someone with the knowledge to help guide each societythrough the whole process.The Malvern Historical Society Inc was recently given the opportunity to work with Working Edge inPrahran, an organization training Work For The Dole participants.The Society provided the text, the photographs and ideas gained from looking at web sites world wide. Theideas and concepts were then developed by the creative staff at Working Edge, at no cost to the Society.By the end of the project the Society was the proud owner of an exciting website and the participantshad learnt a wide range of web design skills.Malvern’s website presents history in a variety of creative ways. Web explorers are able to discover a movingtimeline, read and hear a range of oral histories (funded through a City of Stonnington Community Grant)and be challenged by the children’s puzzles! They can also enjoy one of the virtual walks, read about wellknown residents and enjoy the local legends! There are over 150 photographs with links to another 10,000photographs, plans and documents on the Stonnington Local History web site.The historical assets of the Malvern Historical Society Inc, the Prahran Historical And Arts Society Inc,Stonnington City Council (and its predecessors the Cities of Malvern and Prahran) and the StonningtonLibrary and Information Service have been combinedto form the Stonnington Local History Collection.Enjoy the web site! As you will see it is an excellentexample of the community working together.www.vicnet.net.au/~malvernTask Force has also developed a Prahran Historicaland Arts Society web pagehttp://home.vicnet.net.au/~phas and is presentlyworking with both the Prahran Mechanics Instituteand the Glen Eira Historical SocietySee also: MC2 for further links - http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/help/links.htmlAROUND THE SOCIETIESThis column is compiled by Joan Hunt onbehalf of History Victoria Support Groupusing information provided by Societies eitherdirectly or contained in their newsletters. Fornext issue please send details of forthcomingevents to joanhunt@netconnect.com.auAIGS BENDIGO AREA is holding aFamily And Local History Expo on SundayMarch 26th 2006 at the Kangaroo Flat LeisureCentre, Browning Street, 10am till 4pm. Over60 stallholders including many from northerngoldfields societies will be ready to assist patronsin many aspects of research. Entry $8, phoneLyn 5443 0706BALLARAT GENIES: At 7.30pm on Tuesday 28February Joan Hunt will speak on ‘Researching YourFamily History’ at the Ballarat Library meeting room,178 Doveton Street, and Jeff Atkinson will be the 18March meeting speaker on ‘Researching ConvictHistory’. The Ballarat & District Genealogical Societyhas recently published Part 2 of the microfiche indexto Ballarat East Petty Sessions registers housed atthe Public Record Office Victoria, Ballarat ArchivesCentre. See www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au or phone5333 1535.BEAUFORT: Research is still limited due to thework being done on restoration of the Court House,the re-opening of which will take place in the newyear. Restoration of the weigh-bridge house iscoming along slowly, and the Society is currentlylooking at a site for this most interesting building, 3msquare with four tables, two finials with lamps, whichwill be a visual asset to the township of Beaufort.Contact Secretary Shirley on 5349 8227BENDIGO: As part of the Queen’s Baton sectionof the 2006 Commonwealth Games program theSociety is organizing a ‘Bendigo Icons’ exhibition atDudley House 17-19 February. Having attended aMuseums Australia workshop the Society will soonbegin a new cataloguing program. Website: www.bendigohistory.com or phone 0437 199 432.BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY HISTORYGROUP: A busy year ahead – March 4th,Commodore Dacre Smyth will speak on “The Shipsthat brought us to Australia” at the Mayor’s Room1st floor Brunswick Town Hall and at a night to beconformed there will be a combined meeting ofthe Moreland City Council and the three historicalsocieties within the City of Moreland to celebrateten years of democratically elected Councils. Furtherinformation phone Francesca 9387 1194CARISBROOK HISTORICAL SOCIETY:The Society next meets on February 21 when theguest speaker will be Stuart Robertson talking on“Point Nepean History’ . The society is part of theGoldfields On-Line project. Further information canbe found at Central Goldfields Community web siteat www.c.gold.com.auCORNISH: A “Gathering of the Cornish” will takeplace during the annual Eaglehawk Dahlia and ArtsFestival during March 2006, the theme of which is“Back to Eaglehawk”. Contact Lindsay Chapmanat linalic@alphalink.com.auHAMILTON: 7.30pm 14 February Walking Tour– meet at the History Centre; following the walk acup of tea the history centre. See http://home.vicnet.net.au/~hamhist/ or phone Ian on 5572 4933. The

Hamilton History Centre at the Mechanics Institute,43 Gray Street, Hamilton is open daily 2-5pm exceptSaturday. 14 March AGM with Mr Robert GreedHAWTHORN: On Sunday 12 February at 2.30pmhistorian Leonie Foster will speak on shipwrecks onthe Australian coast, at the Hawthorn Library meetingroom, 584 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, and at the 8April meeting gardening expert John Patrick will talkat the Fitzroy Gardens on the history of the gardens.Contact 9278 4666 for details.INVERLOCH: Wednesday 25th January will bethe next meeting, starting at 2.30pm at the RSL Hall,Bolding Place. Information has been provided aboutthe coal mines at Jumbunna and Outtrim, includingmaps and images on slides. Contact Secretary Normon 5674 1717 or PO Box 46, Inverloch 3996.KYNETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY: RuralHistory Day Sunday February 12. John Dunham,host and joint owner of “Coliban” will introducehis farm, its historical context and suggest new waysof approaching the history of a rural community.Workshops and Displays will feature a panel of CentralVictoria’s distinguished historians, their research andpublications. Further information 0418 545 648LANDSBOROUGH AND DISTRICTHISTORICAL GROUP: This group meets inthe Barkly Room on the first Thursday of the month.The society has just taken part in its LandsboroughSummer Festival and apart from showing off itsactivities ran a raffle raising close to $1,000 to be puttowards a printer, copier and scanner.MALMSBURY: The first meeting for 2006 willbe on “Merchants of Malmsbury” at the Café, cnrMollison & Barker Streets starting at 7.30pm onWednesday 15 February. A Community Services grantof $750 from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council willsupport the records preservation project. ContactSecretary Ian on 5423 9188 or email ianthomas@myoffice.net.auMIDLANDS-MARYBOROUGH: A MysteryExcursion will be held on Wednesday 15 February,starting from Worsley Cottage, 3 Palmerston Street,Maryborough at 6.30pm, via car convoy. A historyof the society was launched in December. Web-site:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mbhs or phone SecretaryMargaret on 5464 1063.MORNINGTON: President of the MechanicsInstitute of Victoria, Jim Lowden, will present “AHistory of the Mechanics Institutes” in the Old PostOffice Museum at 10.30am on Tuesday 14 February,and at the meeting on Tuesday 14 March JonathanMayne will answer the question “What is Quilling?”and demonstrate his wonderful quilling machine.Contact Secretary Val on 5975 2958 for details.NHILL: The Society sells a number of local histories,available from PO Box 170, Nhill, 3418 adding $4 forpostage and handling. Books include ‘The Progress ofNhill & District introducing Kaniva of Today’ ($10);‘Gallipoli Heroes of Western District’ ($20); ‘1889-1989 Yesteryears at Yanac ($10); and ‘The Golden Yearsof Nhill’ ($7.50). Phone: 5391 2135 or email ndhs@netconnect.com.au.NILLUMBIK HISTORIC SOCIETY: SundayFebruary 12. Grand Opening of the Barn and judgingof the BIG Tomato competition.OUYEN: The Local History Resource CentreOuyen is working on anninversay events of the arrivalof the first closer settlers in Ouyen. The painting ofthe Courthouse will be completed by March. The nextmeeting will be held at the courthouse on February24th, 10.30am.AROUND THE SOCIETIESSALVATION ARMY: Archives and Museumare situated at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne underthe care of Territorial Archivist Lindsay Cox. Anexcellent “Heritage Newsletter” tells of a HistoryProject entitled “Keeping It Alive” which is alreadyreceiving donations of artefacts (film, a band mace,photographs, anecdotes, and recollections). Windowdisplays entitled “125 Army Years” can be seen atTerritorial Headquarters in Hamilton Street, MontAlbert. Contact lindsay_cox@aus.salvationarmy.orgor phone 9639 3618.SEHA: The South Eastern Historical Associationwas established in 1965 with initial meetings in theMordialloc district and in 2005-6 is celebrating its40th birthday. SEHA has operated throughout thearea from Mentone/Moorabbin to Phillip Island/Wonthaggi and Inverloch since then and continuesto meet on a quarterly basis. As part of our 40thbirthday celebrations we are planning a publicationcovering the activities of the SEHA and our membersocieties since 1965 including many discoveryschool/trips throughout Victoria. We are appealing forinformation - tour programs, newspaper cuttings andother information on these activities. Material can besent to the President, Margaret Hunter on the e-mailaddress margaret583@optusnet.com.au, or posted to1/87 Chute Street, Mordialloc; I can be contactedon the telephone number 0417 323 460. An albumof our activities is posted on our mc2 site, which alsocontains other information on the Association.SNAKE VALLEY: On Tuesday 14 Februarya “Main Street Stroll” will identify historic sitesalong the way, finishing at the Society’s rooms. Thecurrent information-packed newsletter requestsinformation on local time capsules and old scholars’reunions. Responses have been received to requestsfor information on unidentified photographs fromthe collection. Phone Helen on 5344 9440 or emailhelen1940@hotkey.net.auST KILDA: At the St Kilda library communityroom on Sunday 12 February a learned panel willdiscuss the history of the Triangle site. Meeting startsat 2.30pm, followed by discussion at 3.00pm. The 12March speaker will be Alan Attwood talking about hisbook on John King, the only survivor of the Burkeand Wills Expedition of 1860-61. The February StKilda Walk entitled ‘Little Jerusalem’ will take place at10am on Sunday 5 February and at 3pm on Saturday11 February, led by Meyer Eidelson. See website:www.vicnet.net.au/~hsoskTALLANGATTA: From Friday 10 to Monday13 March New Tallangatta’s Golden Anniversarywill take place. Activities will incude visits to boththe old town site and the new town at Bolga, anagricultural show, 50s parade, 50s dance, storytelling,and memorabilia display, with four days of celebrations.Contact President Ray Crispin on (02) 6071 2473for details.T R A R A L G O N A N D D I S T R I C THISTORICAL SOCIETY: The society nextmeets on February 14 7.30 when the guest speakerwil be Frank Beer speaking on The Merchant Navy– the history and my personal experiences as amerchant seaman.WARRACKNABEAL: The Society has severalbranches which help to preserve different aspectsof Warracknabeal’s history. The Historical Centreis located in the old State Savings Bank at 81 ScottStreet. The original banking chamber has beenpreserved, complete with ledgers, ink and pens. Therest of the building, the original residence, houses awonderful collection of historical household items.The Warracknabeal Heralds are on microfilm andcan be used for research purposes, as can many familyand organisation histories. Wheatlands Museum islocated on the Henty Highway just south of the town.There is a large collection of agricultural machineryincluding an impressive lineup of early tractors, manyof which have been restored to working condition.Society members also run Wheatlands Warehouselocated at the northern end of Scott Street, wherethere is an extensive range of secondhand goodsavailable at reasonable prices. Phone 5398 1901 oremail jara@netconnect.com.au.Western Victoria AssociationHistorical Societies – AGM weekend;This network formed in 1963 and aims to celebratehistory throughout the Western region bounded bythe Murray River, the SA border and the SouthernOcean. The meeting will be hosted by the Port FairyHistorical Society. Further information from thepresident 5568 2791WOADY YALOAK: The Annual Australia DayBreakfast will be held on 26 January 2006 at theScarsdale Hall from 8am, and everyone is welcome.Website: www.wyhs.goldlinksweb.com or phone5342 8754 on Wednesdays.HistoryNewsROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC.239 A’BECKETT STREET MELBOURNE 3000Phone: 9326 9288Fax: 9326 9477website: http://www.historyvictoria.org.auemail: office@historyvictoria.org.auABN 36 520 675 471Registration No. A2529Office Hours: Monday to Friday9am to 5pmLibrary Hours: Monday to Friday10am to 4pmPresidentExecutive OfficerDevelopment OfficerAdministrative OfficerIT ManagerESTABLISHED 1909Prof Bill RussellKate PrinsleyBrendan WatkinsGerardine HorganVicki CourtDesign and Artwork: Kiplings BusinessCommunications 0419 135 332Printed by: Mail Communications 9558 1511The RHSV acknowledges the support of the VictorianGovernment through Arts VictoriaItems for publication should be sent to theExecutive Officer, RHSVemail: office@historyvictoria.org.auCopy closes 10th of the monthPrice $1.50PRINT POST APPROVED PP336663/00011ISSN 1326-2696