RHSV History News April 2012 - Royal Historical Society of Victoria

HistoryIssue No. 299 April-May 2012NEWSRoyal Historical Society of VictoriaSpirit of the TimeThis beautiful exhibition brings from our stores some of themost treasured examples of the early collections of the RHSV.Victorian Community History AwardsIt’s here again! Entry forms for the Victorian Community HistoryAwards will be available from 1 May through Public RecordOffice Victoria (www.prov.vic.gov.au) and Royal HistoricalSociety of Victoria (www.historyvictoria.org.au) websites.All members and affiliated societies will receive an entry form withthe June edition of History News. A copy can be mailed on requestfrom 1 May. Entries close in August, so start your engines for thebiggest event in Victorian Community History yet!Help Build the Foundation – PreserveVictoria’s Past for the FutureThe Royal Historical Society of Victoria has worked for 100 yearsto preserve Victoria’s history, during good times and bad, war andpeace, periods of support for history and periods when we hadto struggle to collect and preserve the stories, documents andimages of our past.Your contribution to this mighty project is always appreciated. Buthere are two more ways to help.1. Support Victoria’s History at TAX TIME!!!Donations to the Royal Historical Society of Victoria Foundationare fully tax deductible. If you make a donation before you doyour tax return, it will help preserve Victoria’s history and giveyou the best value possible for your donation.2. Support Victoria’s History WHEN YOU REVISEYOUR WILL!!Exhibitioncloses20 April.When we revise our wills, we want to show our love and supportfor our children and grandchildren, and we also want to supportthe causes and organisations we believe in.Please consider including in your Will, when you next revise it, abequest to the Royal Historical Society of Victoria Foundation.It is through such bequests that a firm foundation can be builtfor preserving Victoria’s history into the future. We are buildingthis bedrock through the Royal Historical Society of VictoriaFoundation, and we need your help!Prof Bill Russell,Chair, Royal Historical Society of Victoria Foundation.Notice of 2012 AGMAll members are advised that the 102nd AnnualGeneral Meeting of the Royal Historical Society ofVictoria Inc. will be held as follows:Date: Tuesday 15 May 2012Time: 5.00pmPlace: 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, 3000BUSINESS:1. To confirm the minutes of the 101st Annual General Meeting.2. To receive the Annual Report for the year ended 31 December2011.3. To receive and consider the Financial Statement for the yearended 31 December 2011.4. To appoint the Hon. Auditor for 2012.5. To adopt revisions to the Constitution by Special Resolution.6. To elect Office-bearers and Members of Council.7. To receive expressions of interest for History Victoria SupportGroup.8. To elect any member or members who have been nominatedfor election as Fellows.9. To announce Awards of Merit recipients.10. To transact any special business of which notice has beengiven in accordance with the Rules of the Society.It is proposed under pt.5 to adopt a revision to the Constitution– details can be found on page 2The AGM will be followed by a lecture presented by Dr Peter YuleThe Controversial and Mysterious Life of WL BaillieuCALL for NOMINATIONSSix positions are available for election at the AGM. Nominationsfor Members of the Council and office-bearers of the Associationwill close on Tuesday 8 May 2012.Nomination forms are available from the Executive Officer.CALL for EXPRESSIONS of INTERESTAffiliated societies are encouraged to provide expressions of interestfor membership on the RHSV’s History Victoria Support Group.These should be forwarded to Executive Officer by Tuesday 8May 2012.Kate Prinsley, Executive Officer – 26 March, 2012RHSV GRANTThe RHSV was delighted to receive a grant from Department ofSustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communitieswhich will support the employment of our Local History Officer.1

RHSV & COMMUNITY NEWS2PRESIDENT’S REPORTHugh’s DoOne of the happiest events to take placein the RHSV’s headquarters in A’BeckettStreet was a birthday celebration for prolificAustralian historian Hugh Anderson in midFebruary. A crowd of some seventy family,friends and admirers of all ages packed intothe exhibition gallery to hear songs, ballads,recitations and some speechifying in honourof Hugh’s recent 85 th birthday. Officiallybilled as ‘The Hugh Anderson Event’, it wasimmediately and suitably dubbed ‘Hugh’sDo’, in good Australian tradition.Hugh’s extraordinary career as historian,folklore expert, publisher and schoolteacherwas briefly summarized in the previousissue of History News. It was a fitting tributethat four folklore legends in their own rightasked to be part of the Do, and it was ahistoric moment to have them performingat A’Beckett Street together. The singerswere Danny Spooner, Dave de Hugard,and David and Lynne Lumsden, and theaudience joined in.Appropriately, the Do featured excerptsfrom brilliantly remastered recordingsmade by Hugh back in the 1960s, keepingalive the bush stories and songs sung byold Creswick identity Simon McDonald.Hugh’s Do became the opportunity tooto launch Hugh’s new edition of theMcDonald story, complete with CD, asTwo Axe Mac.Historian, Professor Kate Darian Smithfrom the University of Melbourne gavea sketch of the contribution made byHugh Anderson in ensuring Australianfolklore and literature was appreciated asa proper field for academic study. FinallyHugh delivered some well chosen wordson the need to foster the publication oflocal history. His comments are publishedelsewhere in History News. We are hopingthat, if permissions are obtained, we will beable to sell a special CD with highlights ofthe day: The Best of Hugh’s Do.Finally, as they used to say, justice wasdelivered to sandwiches and beer.Barbara Nixon OAM FRHSVThe written text from the Order ofService and the beautiful eulogiesdelivered at the Thanksgiving Service- and Celebration of the Life of BarbaraNixon- held at St.John’s Church,Camberwell in Melbourne on Fridaythe 24th February 2012, can be foundat www.jamesnixon.comWalking Tour of FlagstaffGardensAlthough it was one of the hottest daysof summer, a select group of RHSVmembers spent two hours of the last Sundayafternoon in February traversing the shadygroves of the Flagstaff Gardens to exploreat first hand the history of this most historicpart of Melbourne. We strayed a littlebeyond the boundaries, too, to look at oldstructures still surviving in La Trobe, Kingand Dudley Streets, and in particular one ofMelbourne’s too often neglected treasures,St James’ Old Cathedral. The site of theoriginal Flagstaff, the oldest Europeanburial places, pioneer memorials and theobservatories were visited too, and ourunderstanding of the history was enrichedby the research work compiled by RHSVvolunteers: thanks particularly to BrianWard. Tea and coffee at the Radisson was agood way to finish the afternoon. With theFlagstaff Gardens literally across the roadfrom the RHSV, we will run further walkingtours in the spring.Greetings fromMiddleburg, VirginiaIt seems to be a rare treat these days for aresearcher to find time for research. So hereI am until mid May, based at the NationalSporting Library and Museum to studythe origins of steeplechasing in Americaand to compare it with the fortunes of thesport in our country. Middleburg is horsecountry to the tips of its equine ears, setin beautiful rolling countryside, distantfrom Washington DC as Woodend is toMelbourne. The NSLM has a superb artgallery and library and no doubt a muchgreater endowment than the RHSV (itspatrons included the late Paul Mellon, oneof the greatest collectors of sporting artand a great philanthropist) but we havesome things in common. A small, dedicatedstaff keep the place operating along with adevoted band of volunteers and a wonderfulcollection of books, newspapers and images.The highway through here is dotted withmarkers and memorials to battles in theCivil War, less than 150 years ago. Virginiawas one of the Confederate States of thesouth so the action became willing. Thereare plenty of local historical societies andmuseums for me to visit. Meanwhile itwas great to find myself arriving in DCat cherry blossom time and an unusuallywarm spring. I’ll be back when Melbourne’sautumn turns to winter.Andrew LemonConsitutional ChangesIt is proposed in compliance with Clause24 ALTERATION OF RULES ofthe RHSV Constitution to amend theConstitution by Special Resolution asfollows.Section 13 OFFICE BEARERS OFTHE ASSOCIATION• to amend Section 13.1.4. To deletethe Executive Officer from the listof Office Bearers of the AssociationSection 14 COMPOSITION OFCOUNCIL• to amend from Section 14.1 Todelete the sentence that states“The remaining member [of theCouncil] shall be the ExecutiveOfficer of the Association. (Asamended at 2007 AGM.”• to add the word “at least” tosection 14.1 which to read “TheCouncil shall consist of thirteen(13) members of whom at least 6(6) shall be elected for a two yearterm at each general meeting”.GRANTS OPPORTUNITIES2012 Exhibition GrantsMA (Vic)’s Exhibition Services encouragesVictorian collecting organisations toapply for grants relating to exhibitiondevelopment, touring or infrastructure.Grants of up to $10,000 are available.Applications are welcomed from allVictorian museums.See Museums Australia Victoria web sitefor examples of past grant recipients andprojects.Further information: Museums Australia(Victoria)2012 Community Heritage GrantsThe NLA’s Community Heritage Grants(CHG) program provides grants of up to$15,000 to community organisations suchas libraries, archives, museums, genealogicaland historical societies, multicultural andIndigenous groups. The grants are providedto assist with the preservation of locallyowned, but nationally significant collectionsof materials that are publicly accessible.The 2012 grant round is now open andapplications close on 4 May.Further information: National Libraryof Australia –www.nla.gov.au/chg or02 62621147

EXHIBITIONSSpirit of the TimeExhibition closes 20 April.This beautiful exhibition brings from ourstores some of the most treasured examplesof the early collections of the RHSV.Whereas the Museum of Victoria and StateLibrary had already begun collecting whenthe RHSV was established – our founderscollected the memories of the lesser known.Spirit of the Time is an exhibition withan enduring message. It shows how thefounding members of the society donatedletters, images, books and maps that theyfelt told the story of their settlement ofVictoria. For many it is the only placewhere they will find themselves recordedin history.‘The Punt, Echuca’; showing EdwardHopwood’s punt carrying horse drawn wagonwith wool bales.[Part of Edwin Carton Booth, ‘AustraliaIllustrated’, London, Virtue, 1873-1876;drawn and engraved by J.C. Armytage, handcoloured](RHSV Collection – ART-0437)Loads of Riverina wool being punted across theMurray river en route to Melbourne by trainsome years before the iron rail bridge linkedto the Deniliquin-Moama line was opened inDecember 1878. In the shallows are sectionsof Henry Hopwood’s floating pontoon bridge,launched in July 1857 to allow faster crossingof stock and light traffic. Hopwood kept hisconvict background hidden in his spectacularrise to be the acknowledged ‘King’ of Echucabefore his death in 1869.Melbourne Theatres in TransitionThe Impact of Screen on StageThis new exhibition explores the rich and colourful historyof Melbourne’s theatres. Opens 15 May.There has been theatrical entertainmentin Melbourne since its early days. From1842 there was a rickety venue attachedto the Eagle Tavern on the south sideof Bourke Street known as the TheatreRoyal. A more substantial theatre wasthe Queen’s in Queens Street opened in1845.Then from the time of the Victorian goldrush Melbourne was rich in theatre.Within three years of the influx ofgold seekers the city could boast twosignificant buildings: the Olympic inLonsdale Street and the Theatre Royal inBourke Street, both opened in 1855.By the 1860s the old Princess’s inSpring Street (adapted from Astley’sAmphitheatre, a circus building) and theHaymarket Theatre next to the EasternMarket in Bourke Street had been added.The Prince of Wales Opera Houseopened opposite the new Theatre Royalin 1872. It was at this theatre in August1896 that the cinematograph was firstprojected. It was part of a vaudeville showand at first went almost unnoticed.By this time the Olympic had closed andthe Haymarket and the Theatre Royalwere destroyed by fire: Theatre Royalbeing rebuilt within six months. In 1876the Academy of Music later renamed theBijou opened though this theatre also wasburned and rebuilt in 1889.Two important and still existing theatresopened in 1886: the New Princesses andHer Majesty’s in Exhibition Street. TheKings Theatre in Russell Street opened in1907.By 1901 a new Opera House had beenbuilt on the site of the old one which from1911 was known as the Tivoli.This then was the theatre scene inMelbourne just the before the outbreakof WWI. There were ‘crowded houses’for the stage shows in Melbourne’s‘Theatreland’ of Spring and BourkeStreets as well as small venues such asSt George’s Hall, Athenaeum Hall andthe old waxworks hall. Musicals, opera,drama, melodrama, farce, vaudeville andreviews were popular with theatregoers.But the stage was being challenged bythe screen. There was something aboutthe black and white flickering ‘movingpictures’ that attracted large audiences inthe CBD and in the suburbs to existingtheatres and local.Soon there were plans for new purposebuilt ‘picture theatres’ and for adaptingthe old halls exclusively for the cinema.Many of the new theatres were built in adistinctive ‘Moderne’ style of architecturenow known as Art Deco.This exhibition looks atMelbourne theatres and thechanges that occurred afterthe introduction ofcinema.Illustration of StateTheatre (now ForumTheatre), FlindersStreet, Melbourne,c 1929; RHSVCollection BL016-0003.SPECIAL VIEWING – MELBOURNETHEATRES IN TRANSITIONYOU ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL VIEWINGMembers and their guests are invited to a Special Viewing and FloorTalk to be given by Dr. Mimi Colligan, curator of the exhibition, onTHURSDAY 24 MAY5pm – Refreshments 5.30pm – Floor TalkPlease RSVP by Monday 21 May9326 9288office@historyvictoria.org.au3

BOOKS RECEIVEDBOOKS RECEIVED:We note below relevant items sent to theSociety. Interested groups or authors areinvited to contribute to this valuable serviceto members in History News and throughpossible deposit in the library. Some itemsmay later be reviewed in the VictorianHistorical Journal.Anne Jackson, William Philpott, PioneerVictorian First Class Cricketer,Malvern Historical Society, PO Box184, Malvern 3144, 2011, pp. vi + 57Philpott (1818-1891) arrived in Melbournein 1844, played cricket for the MCC, andcaptained Victoria against Tasmania in1851. He built in Malvern in 1856 andimported two pipe organs both of whichstill exist in Melbourne. He sold up in 1872and returned to England with his wife. Thisis a neat exploration of the scant evidenceabout him.Maureen O’Brien et al. (eds), UponThis Rock…Our Lady Help ofChristians Parish, East Brunswick,Celebrating 100 Years, 1911-2011,2011, pp. iv + 170, $20 + $10 postageA solid compilation of short historicalpieces and recollections, supplementedby a rich collection of photos that conveythis parish’s evolution in the changing 20 thcentury world. The product of many pens,the finished book provides substantial linksto the parish’s past as well as substance forits future.Norman Houghton, ‘Drink up, Gents’, AHistory of Hotels in Colac and District1841 to 2011, Norman Houghton, PO Box1128, Geelong, 3220, 2011, pp. iv + 88Another publication from the prolificlocal historian of the Otways and Colacdistrict. A comprehensive account ofpubs and shanties, well-illustrated, anddefining periods of operation, ownershipand lessees.ET (Ray) Raison, Queenscliffe,The Founding Years, QueenscliffeHistorical Museum, PO Box 135,Queenscliff , 3225, 2011, pp. 152The publication of this book is testimonyto the author’s careful research principallyon the early years of Queenscliff. Hismanuscript is published posthumously withselected photos and an added bibliography.The text follows well-worn paths inQueenscliff’s local history – Aboriginaloccupation, European exploration, townestablishment and development of services,bay steamers, fishing, schools, militaryestablishments.Linton and District Historical Society, AWalk-Drive Tour of Linton, Linton andDistrict Historical Society, 2011, pp. 40A very useful product from a local historicalsociety concerned to preserve knowledge ofits built heritage mostly resulting from its19 th century development as a gold townand centre of local government in the Shireof Grenville.Robert D La Nauze, Engineer toMarvellous Melbourne, The Lifeand Times of William Thwaites,Australian Scholarly Publishing ,Melbourne, 2011, pp. xvi + 217, $39-95Thwaites (1853-1907) and his work on theMelbourne water and sewerage schemesin the late 19 th century, while known, havenot received the public acknowledgementand acclaim they deserved. La Nauzehas not only provided emphatic evidenceof Thwaites’s important contributionsto engineering but also an account ofhis life and times as a Melbourne-bornchild of goldfields immigrant parents:education at the Model School andthe University of Melbourne underthe considerable influence of WilliamKernot, later engineering professor, andwider involvement in the developmentof Victoria’s infrastructure. This bookprovides many insights to the urbandevelopment of Melbourne and to thedevelopment of a local professionalism inengineering.Hugh Anderson with Dawn Anderson, TwoAxe Mac, The Story of Simon McDonaldof Creswick, Red Rooster Press, 38Canning Street, North Melbourne, 2011,revised and enlarged edition, first published,1974, pp. xvi + 160, $35 + $5 postageHugh Anderson first recorded SimonMcDonald’s memories in 1967 along withthe folk songs he sang. McDonald (1907-1968) came from a family that remainedin the goldfields area as gold declined,always struggling, working itinerantly inthe bush and his own life reflected this.This is a welcome republication of aninteresting collection, complete with CD,and further testimony to Hugh Anderson’slifetime work in collecting, publishing andresearching Australian folklore.Rosalind Smallwood, Hard to Go Bung,World War 2 Soldier Settlement inVictoria 1945-1962, Australian ScholarlyPublishing, Melbourne, 2011, firstpublished 1992, pp. xvii + 258, $39.95The heartbreaks and misery oftenassociated with soldier settlement in theperiod after World War 1 were not repeatedin the post -1945 schemes. This new editionis a reminder of the important work doneby the Soldier Settlement Commission andlater the Rural Finance and SettlementCommission, especially by enterprisingpublic servants like Les Simpson. Thelargely successful experiences of the settlersare also effectively conveyed.Margaret E Fleming, Gum Trees, Lagoonsand Flat Plains, A History of Yarroweyah,K o o n o o m o o a n d Ya r r o we ya hNorth 1878 to 1962, 2011, pp. 280A very substantial, well-researched andclearly presented account of the settlementof this area in Yorta Yorta country innorthern Victoria. Waves of farmingsettlement from the selections of the1870s through to soldier settlement andsome irrigation after World War 2 and theassociated developments of infrastructureform part of the book. In addition, thereare family histories compiled with theassistance of many community membersand with a comprehensive index that willnot only serve those with local connectionsbut many genealogists as well. Obviously alabour of love, but also a valuable additionto our knowledge of small Victoriancommunities.Ken James and Noel Davis, A Historyof the Metcalfe Group of FireBrigades, Noel Davis, Malto Park,Elphinstone, 3448, 2011, pp. 374.The Metcalfe group comprises ninebrigades in the area north and east ofCastlemaine. For each brigade there isan account of its formation, practices andpersonnel. In addition, there is a valuablecompilation of accounts of rural firesfrom 1851 to the present taken from thenewspapers. The authors show the extentof their research, something that they havealso done for other institutions in their area.The importance of fire brigades in theirlocal communities is attested by this book.Carol Holsworth, James McCullochHenley, Anglo-Chinese Linguist andAdvocate in Victoria, New South Walesand Queensland, Carol Holsworth, 13Nabilla Cres., Bendigo, 3550, 2011, pp. 108The author has pursued Henley’s trail fromVictoria in the 1850s to Queensland in the1870s. Of Scottish origin and well-versedin Cantonese, Henley was well-equippedto provide interpreting and advice to andabout Chinese communities. This wasalways a difficult task and Henley and othershave often been unfavourably portrayed asa consequence of their roles in mediatingbetween Chinese groups as well as betweenEuropean and Chinese communities. Thisis an intriguing study based on considerableresearch and expertise and part of theauthor’s continuing commitment to thestudy of the Chinese in Australia.4

RHSV NEWSH u g h ’ s D oOn Tuesday 14 February, the RHSV held a function celebrating the 85th birthday of Hugh Anderson.Hugh is a former Council member and Vice President of the RHSV and has been a Fellow of the RHSV since1974. He is recognised as the outstanding scholar of Australian folklore including poetry and colonialballads, and has produced an extraordinary body of published works since 1953.Following is Hugh’s address to attendees.When Andrew Lemon mentioneda birthday celebration, Iwondered why anyone wouldcome to such an event, but I was pleasedwhen fine musicians Lynne and DavidLumsden, Danny Spooner and Dave DeHugard said not only would they attendbut sing and play for you.I thank them for their generosity. Thanksgo to those who have spoken very kindwords about me, and also to the RHSVfor arranging this “Hugh’s do”, asAndrew Lemon calls it.There is a fiction that writers are asinteresting as their creations. Those Ihave known though are pretty stodgy,perhaps second only to tax accountants.You have only to look at their statedrecreations – Tom Kenneally saysswimming, Alan Marshall I remembersaid caravanning, Geoff Blainey saidchopping wood, but more recentlychopping firewood. Anderson sayswriting!Some mention has been made ofthe number of titles to my name. Isometimes have the impression peoplethought if I had done less, I may havedone better, but I have simply done thebest I could at the time. I have alwayssaid the field is open to anyone to dobetter.I regard myself as a journeyman writer.An amateur in the real sense of the word.All the same I kept my day job for 39years as a teacher and school principal,and writing was either done late at nightor during weekends and holidays.In some ways I have been lucky becausemy most productive years were whenpublishers welcomed what was calledAustraliana: a Literature Board thatsometimes gave grants for publishingor often guarantees against loss. Therewas even once a reduced book post!However, what I call “cottage publishers”like Red Rooster Press, are unable tosurvive in the present climate. Thelast straw – or is it nail in the coffin – iswhen the Tax Office says we are merehobbyists, and refuses any deductionsbecause of our small turnover and noprofits.I have also welcomed the financialsupport from Public Lending Right, torecompense authors for the use of theirwork in libraries. Once I could boast Iwas second only to Ion Idriess. I hopesome here recall his great popularity.Maybe writers go through several states.From the eager beginner who readilyresponds to questions, like, “On pagewhatever of your book you state suchand such. Tell me where you got thatinformation”. Today I find it hard toremember a particular book let alone thedetailed contents. Then you begin toknow less and less about more and more,marking the emergence of the ‘smartalec’ who tells you “If you only knewwhat I know, you could have written abetter book”. The middle period is whenone cringes under cross-examinationand remarks such as “What have youwritten? I’m sorry, I have never heard ofyou” ring in your ears. Time moves onand you reach old age, when mention ofyour name is greeted with “Anderson, Ithought he died years ago.”When I was sorting an accumulation ofpapers, I noticed many pages of notesand transcriptions in the fine youthfulhandwriting of our daughter Marcia andof our son Warwick, in his pre-med days.It was in the time before computers, andbefore they obtained freedom and lefthome. I offer belated thanks for theirassistance.More than anything else, I have beenparticularly lucky to have had the careand support of Dawn for almost 60years. In addition to this she has anabundance of all the talents I lack: she isan excellent grammarian and an accuratespeller, plus a good manuscript readerand a painstaking editor. She is withoutfault as a research assistant. I am deeplygrateful.Hugh Anderson is recognisedas the outstanding scholar ofAustralian folklore5

RHSV & COMMUNITY NEWSINSURANCE ISSUESAll Historical Societies should have received the form to renew their membership and insurance by now.Please return the declaration form and payment by the end of April to ensure continuity of cover.There are changes to some of the rates but the insurance available has not changed.To keep you up to date here are some explanations about the insurance.6Why do you need toconsider AssociationLiability Insurance ?Committee members of the society carrypersonal responsibility for their actions and,in certain circumstances, where they fail toact even when the Society is incorporated.Committees can incur legal liability throughthe services that they provide to theirmembers or to the members of the public.Association Liability Insurance providesprotection to the society against legalliability which may incur through theconduct of its activities or the provisionof services.Association Liability Insurance providescover for compensation and/or damagesawarded against the society. In addition,it provides cover for legal costs and otherexpenses associated with defending legalactions.As well as protecting the society againstthe threat of litigation, Association LiabilityInsurance also protects the directors,officers and committee members of thesociety against legal liability that they mayincur personally through the performanceof their duties to the society.The risks faced by society’s have increasedsignificantly in recent years throughincreased government regulation and agreater awareness of legal rights amongstmembers of the public. It is not just thesociety that faces these risks. Under certaincircumstances the individuals on the boardof management or management committeecarry personal responsibility for theiractions or for their failure to act.In addition, the new AssociationsIncorporation Act, 2009 has increasedthe legal requirements for organisationsand provides tougher penalties for boardmembers for a range of offences including:Conflict of interest, misuse of knowledgegained on Board, misuse of position onBoard, trading while insolvent, complicitinvolvement.In order to reduce the risks of somethinggoing wrong it is therefore essential that themembers of the management committeeunderstand their role and know and respectthe laws that describe their duties andresponsibilities.What can go wrong?A society incurs debts with no means ofbeing able to pay outstanding amountsto creditors. The debts were incurred byone of the committee members withoutthe knowledge of the other committeemembers. One of the creditors, sued eachof the committee members for failure toconduct routine audits. The judgementmade against them individually because anannual financial statement stating that thesociety was solvent when in fact it was not.An employee is sacked by the committeeand files suit alleging discrimination on thebasis of age.A potential volunteer files suit alleging thathis request was denied because of falserumours that he had been convicted ofchild molestation.Another organisation files suit for libel afteran article criticising the way organisation.A member of the committee is sued forallegedly using the society as a businessconduit to benefit him or her.An employee files suit alleging the securityguard sexually imposed on her and thatthe board members were negligent in theselection of the guard.Bulk purchasingThe RHSV offers bulk insurance throughan insurance broker. The purpose ofarranging insurances on a bulk purchasingbasis is to make it affordable for all societiesthat participate. As a result of this we do notinclude flood cover. If we were to includethis peril it would benefit a few but increasethe premium for all. Similarly, the age limitshave been limited to 90 years of age forthose volunteers covered under voluntaryworkers personal accident.Are you responsible forinsuring the building youoccupy against loss ordamage?Many societies have been provided withuse of premises from local council or otherlocal authorities and may be responsiblefor insuring the building against loss ordamage. If your society falls into thiscategory it should be confirmed who isresponsible to arrange insurance.Other societies may own their own premisesand arrange the building insuranceseparately.The Asset Protection insurance arrangedthrough the Royal Historical Society ofVictoria can offer insurance for Buildinginsurance including Glass insurance.When arranging insurance for propertyinsurance for building insurance the suminsured must represent the replacementcost. To obtain an indication of how muchyour building may cost to reinstate visit thefollowing link http://www.bmtqs.com.au/ConstructionCostCalculator.aspx and selectwhat type of building you have.In order to reduce the risks of somethinggoing wrong it is therefore essential that themembers of the management committeeunderstand their role and know and respectthe laws that describe their duties andresponsibilities.How to register your Heritage Week eventThe Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communitieshas advised that a new Australian Heritage Week website and registration system forevents to be held over Australian Heritage Week 2012, Saturday 14 April until Sunday22 April 2012,is now available.If you have difficulty in listing your event through the registration system please emailthe Australian Heritage Week staff for assistance. .www.heritage-week.govspace.gov.au/)

AROUND THE SOCIETIESAROUND the SOCIETIESThis column is compiled by Lenore Frost andJenny Coates on behalf of History VictoriaSupport Group using information providedby societies either directly or contained intheir newsletters. For the June 2012 issueplease send details of forthcoming events by10 May to lenore10@hotmail.com.A U S T R A L I A N G A R D E N : Tocommemorate the centenary of the deathof Australian landscape designer WilliamGuilfoyle, a series of walks, talks and debateswill take place on 5 and 6 May.See theAustralian Garden History Society websitefor details: http://www.gardenhistorysociety.org.auALTONA/LAVERTON: Housed in oneof Victoria’s earliest homesteads, only 15minutes from Melbourne, the Altona LavertonHistorical Society enjoys a tranquil settingthat nevertheless has long had a reputationfor being haunted. The heartaches of theLanghorne family with whom this building isassociated pay mute testimony to these stories.Enquiries: www.alhs.com.au/cms12ADAM LINDSAY GORDON: A tour ofBrighton Cemetery titled‘Adam LindsayGordon: His Life and Beyond’will beconducted on Sunday 15th April at 10.30am.Meet at the main North Road gates nearthe corner ofHawthorn Road; cost $10.Refreshments will be provided. Bookings areessential: 5261 2899.ARARAT:The new lace exhibit set up inNovember 2011 has attracted a great deal ofinterest especially from female visitors. This isthe first stage of the planned themed exhibits,to change every few months. Eleven trophiesawarded to the Ararat Ladies Pipe Band from1953 to 1965 are also on display.Enquiries:langimorgala@vic.chariot.net.au.BACCHUS MARSH:On 21 FebruaryLauren Bourke of PROV presented the societywith a document certifying it as a PlaceofDeposit. Lauren also provided informationabout workshops and grants, and gave it amuch appreciated flat screen monitor.Thenewsletter also features an article on ‘TheDoctor, the Bank Manager and the Vicar’sWife’.BALNARRING:The February 2012newsletter contains the story and image of asignature quilt made by the Balnarring RedCross in 1918.Names of donors to the causehad their names embroidered in red on awhite cotton square.It is currently kept at theVictorian Red Cross HQ.BELLARINE: A long list of local and familyhistory publications for sale is available fromthe society. To peruse and order: see http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/bellpen/bellhs/bellpub.See also the Geelong & Districtwebsite database, which now contains over 1million names:www.zades.com.au/geelong/gdha.htm. Greg Wane will speak on Agroundin the RIP on Wednesday 11 April, 7.30 pm.BRIGHTON CEMETORIANS:OnSaturday 21 April at 2 pm an ‘ANZAC DayWalk’ will be conducted visitingthe graves ofyoung Australians who took part in the bloodybattles in the 1914- 1918 War. Cost of tours:non-members$10,members$8. Meetinsidethe North Road main gate.Enquiries:info@brightoncemetorians.orgBUNGAREE:A book titled BungareePrimary School No. 1960 – celebrating 125years of education: 1877 – 2002,written bythe society’s secretary, Heather Trigg, isavailable through the society. The volumetraces the school through various namesincluding ‘Junction’, ‘Warrenheip Junction’and ‘Bungaree Junction’. Enquiries: HeatherTriggtrigg11@bigpond.com.CRESWICK: An exhibition featuring theworks of Victor Litherland will be held late in2012. A Russian born carpenter, Litherlandproduced portraits and landscapes in thenaive style. He was awarded the BendigoPrize in 1957, and his work is representedin the National Gallery of Victoria and inVictorian regional galleries. See: http://www.creswickmuseum.org.au/index.php.DAYLESFORD: ‘The Pensom Murder’is featured in the March 2012 issue of theNewsletter. This is about the murder of ayoung wood cutter whose body was found inthe shaft of the Fountain Head Gold Mine in1872. The police didn’t have to look far forthe murderer.ECHUCA: ‘Indigenous Australians at war:from the Boer War to the present’, atouringexhibition of the Shrine of Remembrance, isnow at the Echuca Moama Uniting ChurchHall, Hare Street, Echuca. It is open dailyat 11am to 3 pm until Friday 27 April; late openingWednesdays 5pm to 7pm.Enquiries: eh.soc@bigpond.ELTHAM: The guest speaker on Wednesday9 May will be Kevin Patterson on ‘HurstbridgeRailway Centenary’. Meetings are held at theEltham Senior Citizens’ Centre, LibraryPlace, Eltham, at 8 pm.Enquiries: edhs1@bigpond.comFITZROY: On Sunday 20 May, from 2 to4 pm,a walk ‘Brunswick Street: Lost andFound’ will be led by Miles Lewis throughthe southern section of Brunswick St. Meetat St Vincent’s Plaza tram stop. A presentationwill follow at 5-7 pm at the former Kendall’sVeterinary Hospital.Gold coin donation foreach event.Enquiries: Fitzroyhistorysociety@yahoo.com.FOOTSCRAY: A tour of Jack’s Magazinein Maribyrnong will take place during theHeritage Festival on Sunday 20 May, details yetto be advised. Enquiries: foothist@bigpond.com or see www.vicnet.net.au/~foothist.GISBORNE:On Sunday 22 April at 2 pm,Shirley Van Keulen’s book on the Watsons of‘Gisborne Mains’ will take place at the GisborneCourt House. Following the launch Shirley willbe available for signing; refreshments will beserved. Enquiries: 5428 1450.HORSHAM:The Horsham Historian of Feb-Apr 2012 contains an article about ‘JosephHunter – Hotel Proprietor and AeratedWater Manufacturer’. Hunter held licensesat a number of different hotels and around1906 began manufacturing aerated cordials,and brewing soft drinks. The article includesan image of one of his ginger beer bottles.Enquiries: lwbsmith@netconnect.com.au.KEW:‘Land Title Records of NSW andVictoria, 1837 – 1851’ will be the subject ofa talk by Ken Smith on Wednesday 9 May.Meetings are held in the Phyllis Hore Room,rear of Kew Library, Civic Drive, Kew.Enquiries:info@kewhistory.com.au.KOO-WEE-RUP:Owing to a decliningnumber of volunteers, the Museum will openonly on the second and fourth Sundays ofeach month for a trial period of six months.Visitors can still come by appointment. Newmembers are welcome. Enquiries: 5997 1357.LANDSBOROUGH:Landsboroughwill beholding 150 th birthday celebrations on theweekend of the 15 and 16 September 2012.Further information: dwestern3@gmail.comor 5356 9288.LILYDALE:On Saturday 5 May RobSimpson will outline the hunt for theMahogany Ship. The meeting commences at 1pm, with the speaker at 2 pm;entry:$2 for nonmembers;venue: the OldLilydaleCourthouse,61 Castella St, Lilydale. Enquiries:aross35@bigpond.com or 9761 9192.LINTON: A booklet of tours through Lintonhas recently been launched. Containing oneshort and one long walk, and a driving tour,the booklet is for sale for $7 including postage.Contact: P.O. Box 41, Linton, Vic 3360.MALMSBURY:Hence Hope Beams on Us – 150years of service, celebrating the 150 th anniversaryof the Municipality of Malmsbury has beenlaunched. Includingbiographies of all 105councillors and photos of many of them, it isavailable for $20 plus $10 p&p. Contents andindex can be perused at: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~malmhist/borough.pdf.MARYBOROUGH/MIDLANDS:AtWorsley Cottage a new cabinet has arrivedand is being used to put together all theitems relating to the lifeof Tilly Aston. Twonew computers have been bought with avolunteers grant and they are now part of anetwork enabling access to information at allthe terminals.MIRBOO NORTH:The Society has recentlypublished the History of the Mirboo NorthSwimming Pool, with sales supporting the localswimming pool. It is available for $15 from theSociety’s rooms and local outlets;enquiries:5668 1540. A recent newsletter includes anarticle on local butter factories.MORNINGTON:Dr Nick Lomb, formerlyhead of the Sydney Observatory and author ofTransit of Venus 1631 to the present, will speak onhow the phenomenon led to the discovery ofAustralia and Mornington’s connection with7

Around the SocietiesAround the Societies8the 1874 Transit of Venus; Tuesday 8 May,10.30 am, St Marks Friendship Room, BarklySt. Enquiries: 5976 3203.MORWELL:The newsletter of February2012 has two items about local memorials:theMaryvale Mill Memorial Gates, opened in1953 to commemorate servicemen from theMill who were killed in the 2 nd World War;and memorial headstonesand gate posts atthe Hazelwood Cemetery commemoratingdeaths in the 1944 Bushfires.MT DANDENONG: Find the society onFacebook where you can keep up to date withcurrent events or anniversaries, or check outwhat people are talking about and add yourown comments or questions. The wonderfulphotos are a treat in themselves. http://tiny.cc/0ut8awNAVAL:The Three Headed Dog, the newsletterof the Naval Historical Society of Australia,Victorian Chapter, mentions the appointmentof the RAN’s first female Admiral, RobynWalker. Admiral Walker is the first woman inthe Navy to attain the rank of Rear Admiral,and to take on the job of Surgeon-General forthe Australian Defence Force.NEPEAN:The society is looking for peopleinterested in being interviewed aboutSorrento’s past, so if you, or anyone you know,has something to contribute and wouldn’tmind being interviewed, please contact thearchives team at archive1.nepeanh@vic.chariot.net.au or drop into the museum.Phone:5984 0255.NEWSTEAD:Our 15 year lease for thecourthouse expired and negotiations haveproceeded with the Mount Alexander Shirewhich manages it on behalf of DSE. Weare pleased to report that our occupancywill continue with an increase in rent, butwith the Shire being responsible for majormaintenance.NHILL:In December the Nhill Free Pressprinted a photograph of a wedding dress heldin the collection. The society has now receiveddetails of that dress, and the son is going tobring in a photo and details of the wedding.A wedding dress and going away outfit fromFebruary 1951, has lately been donated.PLENTY: Plans are underway forcelebrations to mark the centenary of landbeing opened up for subdivision in Plentyin 2013. By 1925 the area had a school,church and social club. One resident dubbedit the ‘Toorak of the Northern suburbs’. Thesociety is taking a leading role in organisingthe celebrations:www.plentyhistoricalsociety.org.au or email: kerlan@iinet.net.auPORT MELBOURNE: The society plansto celebrate both National Heritage Weekand theNational Trust heritage festival withan open day and display in the historic PortMelbourne Football Club clubrooms onSunday 22 April. We will focus on innovationsintroduced by theBorough over its almost140 years.RYE:The society is pleased to have receiveda grant to purchase items, including arecorder that will enable it to proceed withthe Oral History Program they have had ontheir agenda for quite a while. In Novemberan historical tapestry marking the 150 thanniversary of Rye was unveiled at the OldSchoolhouse; see http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com/index.html.SKIPTON: A web site detailing publications,newsletters and events is now available. Forfamily researchers the site is a goldmine withinformation on Mt Bute soldier settlers,and men featured on the WWI Avenue ofHonour and the WWII Memorial Pinoaks.Photos of headstones in Skipton cemeteryare also available for download:http://skiptonhistoricalsociety-australia.freehosting.net/index.html.ST KILDA:Maureen Walker will presenta pre-Anzac talk on ‘The 14 th Battalion:Jacka’s Mob less Jacka’,on Sunday 15April in the Community Room, St KildaLibrary, at 3 pm;entry $5 for non-members.Enquiries:info@skhs.org.au or 0405 510 799.VICTORIA POLICE:Issue 1 2012 of theJournal of Police History contains articlesabout forensic science in the Victoria Police.One of the earliest known crime scenephotographs of the ‘Rokewood Murder’,which occurred in 1867, is included in thearticle. Enquiries:www.vicpolhistory.org.au.WALHALLA:Saturday 26 May will see a‘Gay May Day’ held in Stringers Park withgoldfields dress-ups, a tug of war, a RudeFood Dinner, with Stan Munro, star andcompere of Les Girls in St Kilda, with hisshow ‘Vintage Drag in Mint Condition’. Fordetails, go to www.walhallaaccommodation.com.au/gay-may-day .WARRACKNABEAL:The machineryrestorers have been busy with several tractors.An International W6 is now going; the JohnDeere Model D 1923 has had mudguardsfitted; the Benz OE is close to being in workingcondition; and the John Deere Model G RowCrop tractor will be sandblasted and paintedwith the aid of a Council grant.WAVERLEY: Lambis Englezos, discovererof the mass grave of soldiers at Fromelles,will speak on Fromelles and its place inAustralian History,Thursday 26 April at 8pm, Mt Waverley Public Library, Miller St(opp. railway station); access by stairs or lift;enquiries:whs@kepl.com.au or 9802 9332.WHITEHORSE:Lambos Englazos willspeak on ‘Fromelles’ on Saturday 14 Aprilat 1.30 pm. Meetings are held in the LocalHistory Room, Schwerkolt Cottage andMuseum, Deep Creek Rd, Mitcham.WILLIAMSTOWN:History Walks and Talkswill leave from the Williamstown CommunityEducation Centre, Joan Kirner House, cornerof Cecil and Thompson Streets on Thursdays2 to 4 pm, commencing in May. Cost: $6per walk, or $40 for the term. For moreinformation and bookings call 9379 6168.YACKANDANDAH:The new display‘Yackandandah Identities – now and then’has attracted a lot of visitors, especially localswho haven’t visited before, but came tosee the ‘identities’. Some have commentedon the quality of the display and the factthat the Museum doesn’t adhere to the‘crowded display syndrome’; seehttp://yackandandahmuseum.wordpress.com.YARRA GLEN:Frank Orenshaw will bethe guest speaker on Sunday 20 May –his subject:‘The Local Timber Industry’.Meetings commence at 1.30 pm at theHistory Room, Yarra Glen Memorial Hall.Enquiries:yarraglenhistorical@live.com.au.HistoryNEWSROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC.239 A’BECKETT STREET MELBOURNE 3000Phone: 9326 9288Fax: 9326 9477website: http://www.historyvictoria.org.auemail: office@historyvictoria.org.auPresidentExecutive OfficerABN 36 520 675 471Registration No. A2529Office Hours: Monday to Friday9am to 5pmLibrary Hours: Monday to FridayAdministrative OfficerLocal History OfficerVolunteer Co-ordinator10am to 4pmESTABLISHED 1909Andrew LemonKate PrinsleyGerardine HorganLaura FrostChristine CoozeDesign and Artwork: John Gillespie 0419 135 332Printed by: Igroup 9552 8000The 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 monthPRINT POST APPROVED PP336663/00011ISSN 1326-2696