RHSV History News April 2011 - Royal Historical Society of Victoria

HistoryIssue No. 292 April/May 2011NEWSRoyal Historical Society of VictoriaNotice of 2011 AnnualGeneral MeetingAll members are advised that the 101st AnnualGeneral Meeting of the Royal Historical Society ofVictoria Inc. will be held as follows:Date: Tuesday 10 May 2011Time: 5.00pmPlace: 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, 3000BUSINESS:1. To confirm the minutes of the 100 th Annual General Meeting.2. To receive the Annual Report for the year ended 31 December2010.3. To receive and consider the Financial Statement for the yearended 31 December 2010.4. To appoint the Hon. Auditor for 2011.5. To elect Office-bearers and Members of Council.6. To receive expressions of interest for History Victoria SupportGroup.7. To elect any member or members who have been nominatedfor election as Fellows.8. To announce Awards of Merit recipients.9. To transact any special business of which notice has beengiven in accordance with the Rules of the Society.The AGM will be followed by a lecture to be given by MichaelCathcart: Water Dreamers After the Deluge at 5.45pmFREE TALKThe FirstSupreme Court –170 Years of JusticePlease join us on Thursday 28 Aprilat 1pm when The HonourableMarilyn Warren AC, Chief Justiceof Victoria will present a talk onThe First Supreme Court – 170 Yearsof JusticeBookings essential 9326 9288.See What’s On for further detailsNEW ACQUISITIONSRecently a number of images associated with thefamily of Arthur Calder were donated to the RHSV.CALL for NOMINATIONSSix positions are available for election at the AGM. Nominationsfor Members of the Council and office-bearers of the Associationwill close on Tuesday 3 May 2011.Nomination forms are available from the Executive Officer.CALL for EXPRESSIONS of INTERESTAffiliated societies are encouraged to provide expressions ofinterest for membership on the RHSV’s History Victoria SupportGroup. These should be forwarded to Executive Officer byTuesday 3 May 2011.Kate Prinsley, Executive Officer26 March, 2011Dancing the SkiesexhibitionAviation in the RHSV Collections –until 15 AprilCalder was a jeweller in Footscray and the city. Calder’s motherwas associated with hotels in the Richmond area and Bendigo.One of these was the Studley Park Hotel, 413 Johnston Street,Abbotsford, pictured above in 1926. Images of a precursor, theEarly Bird Hotel, are also part of this donation.As the donation arrived with little supporting information, slowlythe backgrounds to its contents are being pieced together bymembers of our Images Collection Team.Any information about the Calder family and their businesseswould be appreciated.1

RHSV NEWS2FriendshipWhen my sister and I wereyoung one of our delights waspestering friends and family tosign our autograph books. Itwas a momentary pleasure longforgotten until one day last week.Out of the blue MrsVal Roberts fromWheelers Hill walkedin to the RHSVand handed over asmall cloth boundbook. She hopedthat we would find itinteresting and wishto keep it. Did we anddo we!The book dedicated ‘From Maggie withLove and Best Wishes July 22 nd 1912’belonged to Mrs Roberts’ aunt ChristineMcKenzie . It was an autograph book,or more appropriately for the times, aFriendship Book.Mrs Roberts explained that Christinewas the oldest of her aunts and had nevermarried. She was 24 when the book wasgiven to her as a birthday present. Herfiancé Sidney Stirling was to be killed inWorld War I. One of the signatories inthe book was Harvey Cook, the fiancé ofChristines sister Rachel. Harvey also diedin that conflict.Accompanied by pencil or watercolourillustrations, a small verse of poetry ora witty phrase, the book is a record offriendships spanning decades, in no smallpart a testimony to the tragic loss of somemany young men on the battlefields.What a treasure and a delightful addition tothe RHSV’s Manuscripts Collection, whereit joins four other items of this type.Christine CuzeDancing the SkiesexhibitionNot to be missed, running until 15 April.Weston Bate, David Thompson andAndrew Lemon at the opening of Dancingthe Skies: Aviation in the RHSV CollectionsOBITUARYJoyce Thorpe Nicholson 1919-2011By Andrew LemonJoyce Nicholson was a remarkable Melburnianwith an influence much wider than she mighthave imagined. Biographical notes from herown website www.mikenicholson.com/joycestate modestly that she was born in Melbourneon 1 June 1919, the daughter of publisher andbookseller Daniel Wrixon Thorpe. She waseducated at Methodist Ladies College beforecompleting a Bachelor of Arts at the Universityof Melbourne, where she was vice-presidentof the Student Representative Council. Shebecame active in the women’s movement,was involved in early years with the Women’sElectoral Lobby and Sisters Publishing Ltd. Shewas Managing Director, and later sole owner,of D.W. Thorpe Pty Ltd from 1968 until 1987,when the firm was sold. She was the authorof over 25 books, many of them written forchildren, others dealing with women’s issues.Hers was a career that evolved, but JoyceNicholson was prolific, imaginative, industriousand painstaking throughout. From 1935onwards, as well as pursuing her studies, sheworked in various capacities at D.W. ThorpePty Ltd. After her marriage in 1943 to GeorgeHarvey Nicholson, she achieved early notice asthe author of collaborative illustrated children’sbooks on such personalities as Ringtail thepossum, Yap the penguin, Woop the wombatand Cranky the camel, not to mention the littlegreen tractor and the little blue car. She wroteactively on other interests including bridge andsolo, and in the 1950s published books howto run successful social evenings, and gamesand parties for children. One title, Games forthe Family, was illustrated by her four childrenPeter, Wendy, Hilary and Michael.Joyce Nicholson became active in the RoyalHistorical Society of Victoria particularly inthe 1970s when for five years she edited theNewsletter of the RHSV, and was for a shortertime review editor of the Journal. She was electeda Fellow of the RHSV in 1977. She publishedhistorical works directed primarily to a youngeraudience: Our First Overlander (1956) was anaccount of explorer Hamilton Hume, whileMan Against Mutiny (1961) described CaptainBligh’s whaleboat odyssey after the mutiny onHMS Bounty. This latter book was part of theLondon publisher Lutterworth Press series“Courage and Conquest”. Joyce Nicholsonturned to historical fiction with strong femalecharacters in such books as A Mortar Board forPriscilla (1963) and A Convict’s Daughter (1976).Joyce was a founding member of the NationalBook Archive and secretary of the AustralianLibrary Promotion Council. Through D.W.Thorpe Pty Ltd she edited in the 1970s the tradeperiodical Australian Bookseller and Publisherwhich continues today simply as Bookseller andPublisher.All of this might have been more than enough forone person’s active, creative life, but then JoyceNicholson made a subtle but significant changeof direction. Her intense concern that womenshould be in control of their own lives furthermanifested itself when she reissued A MortarBoard for Priscillain the 1970s asFreedom for Priscilla:the historical novelreflected Priscilla’s desireto study medicine rather than being constrainedby conventional marriage. In 1975 Joyceproduced the influential treatise What SocietyDoes to Girls, illustrated by Mary Leunig.Among the many remarkable things about JoyceNicholson’s career was her increasingly practicalinvolvement in the women’s movement whichmanifested itself in direct action, different fromits usual connotations. She explained somethingof that process in her frank and personal 1983book The Heartache of Motherhood (Penguin)which proclaimed at the outset ‘After manyyears of marriage, she now lives alone, enjoyingher freedom, her personal pursuits and hergarden’.The company Sisters Publishing, which ranfrom 1979 to 1984, saw Joyce collaboratingwith Hilary McPhee, Dianne Gribble, AnneO’Donovan and Sally Milner to publish‘quality works for women, by women and aboutwomen.’ In 1982 she contributed a chapter tothe Grimshaw and Strahan anthology, The HalfOpen Door : Sixteen modern Australian women lookat professional life and achievements (Hale andIremonger). Even in expressing her continuinginterest in card games, Joyce Nicholsonpublished a 1985 feminist perspective, WhyWomen Lose at Bridge. Pursuing her academicstudies Joyce Nicholson completed a Masterof Arts degree at the University of Melbournein 1991. Her thesis topic was “The Women’sElectoral Lobby and Women’s Employment:Strategies and Outcomes”.Joyce Nicholson was honoured as a Memberof the Order of Australia in 1983 for serviceto literature and the book publishing industry.She sponsored The University of Melbourne todevelop the Joyce Thorpe Nicholson Collectionof books by and about Australian women.The University describes it as a major specialcollection of some 5000 titles. Her name is alsohonoured in the Australian book industry’sawards for book design. It is significant thatmany of her books involved collaboration withartists, photographers and cartoonists, andshe clearly valued the importance of designin books. In 2000 she released a history of thefamily business, including a memoir by her latefather, as A Life of Books: the story of D.W. ThorpePty. Ltd, 1921-1987. The book was reviewed inthe Victorian Historical Journal in 2000 (volume71 no. 2).It has been many years since Joyce NicholsonFRHSV played an active role in the RoyalHistorical Society of Victoria but weacknowledge her contribution and salute herlifetime’s achievement. She died at Morningtonon 31 January 2011 aged 91. Beatrice Faustcontributed an obituary to The Age on 12February, and more detail on Joyce’s life andcareer can be found on the Australian Women’sRegister website www.womenaustralia.info.

RHSV NEWSONLINE EXHIBITIONDancing the starsFlying through the RHSV Collections- Online exhibitionThis online exhibition is based on some ofthe content used in the exhibition, Dancingthe Skies: Flying through the RHSV Collectionsheld at the Royal Historical Society ofVictoria from the 28th February until the15th April 2011. The exhibition was curatedby David Thompson.Aviation is not a topic readily associatedwith the Royal Historical Society ofVictoria collections but, as this exhibitiondemonstrates, the RHSV has in its imagecollection many items relating to theearly history of aviation. The exhibitiondemonstrates the diversity of the RHSVcollections.The online exhibition includes some ofthe segments appearing in the currentexhibition including ballooning, the airraces from England to Australia in 1919and 1934, the Central Flying School atPoint Cook, development of long rangeflight and information about a selection ofpioneer aviators.Talk and light lunch on Wednesday April13 at 12.00pm – See What’s OnInformation Technologyand Historical SocietiesReport 2010In April 2010 a questionnaire on howsocieties / groups affiliated with the RoyalHistorical Society of Victoria (RHSV) useinformation technology was sent to allaffiliated societies.Information technology can be described asthe use of computers to retrieve, store andpublish information. The resulting reportuses the responses of the questionnaireto indicate the extent of the uptake ofcomputers and allied technology by groupssuch as historical societies in Victoria. Thereport also compares the results with asimilar survey undertaken in 2003.During the past 10 years computertechnology has become more accessiblefor use in organisations such as historicalsocieties and related organisations. Therange of equipment has grown rapidly andequipment is becoming affordable for useby smaller groups. The number of peoplewho regularly use computers at work and athome in Victoria has also increased.The final report for the survey can bedownloaded from the Affiliated Societiespage of the RHSV website - http://www.historyvictoria.org.au/societies.htm - orfrom the shared files of the Computers &Cataloguing mc2.EXHIBITION: 4 MAY – 17 JUNEAll At Sea: The maritime paintings of the late Jack KoskieThe exhibition features a colourful anddiverse collection of large scale paintingsfeaturing many important and interestingships in Australian history. Dating from thefamous Endeavour and Lady Nelson vesselsof discovery, through the age of sail andpioneer steamships such as Sophia Jane,Edina and Casino, the exhibition presentsa wonderful tapestry of the sea and eventsup to more recent times.The late Jack Koskie, a professional artistand well known teacher, completed thisseries for his fine book Ships that ShapedAustralia (1987).VICTORIAN COMMUNITY HISTORY AWARDSThe Royal Historical Society of Victoria is working very assiduously to ensure that theVictorian Community History Awards will take place this year. We know what a wonderfulimpact they have had on raising the interest in local history publishing and research overthe past twelve years.We are very optimistic that we will be able to announce the launch of these in our Junenewsletter. In the meantime we suggest that RHSV members and local historical societiesmight like to send messages supporting the continuation of the Victorian CommunityHistory Awards to their local state MPs and the Minister for the Arts. The official addressfor the Hon. Ted Baillieu MP, Minister for the Arts, is Level 1, 1 Treasury Place, EastMelbourne, Victoria 3002 and the email address is ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.auJessie Webb available for tourVelvet Rebel: A girl’s own adventure – a play about Jessie StoboWatson - was a great success when it was performed at the RHSVduring History Week.The play is now available for tour – further information fromJanice Haynes 0407 348 478Prahran mechanics’ institutevictorian history libraryEstablished 1854Over 25,000 items of Victorian history,resources for genealogy and muchmore available for loan.www.pmi.net.au(03) 9510 3393140 High Street, Prahran VICJack Louis Koskie (1914-1997)“Marco Polo” oil on canvas.The collection was recently presented to the Maritime Museum of Victoria, a groupingof independent museums from around the state for the preservation and exhibition ofour maritime heritage.Members are warmly invited to the opening of the exhibition on Wednesday 4 May at2.30pm to be followed by light refreshments.Kindly RSVP by Friday 29 April.3

BOOKS RECEIVED4BOOKS RECEIVED:We note below relevant items sent to theSociety. Interested groups or authorsare invited to contribute to this valuableservice to members in History News andthrough possible deposit in the library.Some items may later be reviewed in theJournal.Bob Marmion, Riflemen Form! TheVolunteer Rifles and Cavalry onthe central Victorian Goldfields,1858-1883, the author, PO Box 108,Drysdale, 3222, 2005, pp. x+199.The importance of Volunteers in localcommunities in 19 th century Victoria hasbeen noted in very limited terms, if atall, in most local histories. As the authorshows, these groups were largely middleclass, conservative, sometimes snobbish,patriotic and concerned to ensure peaceand respectability for their once turbulentcommunities. Operating in some ways likegentlemen’s clubs, they were networks forthe development of social and businessadvantage. However, they were notefficient in providing colonial defence,and were replaced by paid militias from1883. This is a most instructive socialhistory of quasi-military organizations setup in the post-Gold Rush era. Marmionhas also generously donated a copyof his 2009 PhD thesis, Gibraltar ofthe South, Defending Victoria, Ananalysis of colonial defence in Victoria,Australia, 1851-1901, pp. ix + 313. It isa very informative analysis of Victoriancolonial defence before Federation andcovers much new ground. These are veryvaluable contributions to Victorian history,especially its military aspects.Danielle Clode, A Future in Flames,MUP in association with State Library ofVictoria, Melbourne, 2010, pp. viii + 304A practical discussion of fire in Australiansociety influenced by personal experienceof living in a fire-prone area and enlightenedby extensive research as a Redmond BarryFellow in the State Library, as well asthe devastations of February 2009. Theenduring question addressed is why somany people die in bushfires despite somany lessons from the past.A my Z u r r e r , W h a r ve s t o t h eWorld, The Development of theWorld Trade Centre, MelbourneBooks, Melbourne, 2011, pp. 128.A glossy, well-illustrated and authoritativeaccount of the changing port along theYarra culminating in the building of theWorld Trade Centre in the early 1980s.Suzanne Falkiner, The Imago, E.L .GrantWatson & Australia, UWA Publishing,Perth, 2011, pp. x + 502, $49-95.A very detailed biography of a largelyforgotten writer who spent time in WesternAustralia in 1910-11 on an expeditionwith Daisy Bates and Radcliffe-Brown.Cambridge-trained as a biologist, heturned to fiction using his Australianexperiences of the inland and Indigenouspeople in ways that predate Australianwriters like Randolph Stow, KatherineSusannah Pritchard and Patrick White.Well-known in literary circles in England,his six Australian novels published between1914 and 1935 (detailed in an appendix)have never been part of mainstreamaccounts of Australian literary output.This exhaustive and meticulous biographycertainly resurrects Grant Watson.Jack A Hoadley, Antarctica to Footscray:Arch Hoadley, A Man of Inspiration andCourage, Sid Harta Publishers, Melbourne,2010, pp. xii + 460, $25. Available fromthe author jho21690@bigpond.net.auVictorians probably associate the Hoadleyname with confectionery like VioletCrumbles. While chairman of directorsof the family firm, Arch Hoadley largelymade his life outside it as a member ofMawson’s Antarctic expedition 1911-14, as foundation principal of FootscrayTechnical College 1916-47, as scoutingleader 1921-47. He died in 1947 whenhis son, the author, was 13 and thismeticulously prepared biography is veryconsciously a pilgrimage to appraise thesketchy image carried from boyhood.It succeeds in presenting his father assomeone of ‘character’, possessing innermoral resources in his life and work.Surprisingly, no index.I a n C M c K e l l a r a n d M o r r i eFenton, Defending the Eye of theNeedle, A history of Cape Otway1939 -1945, PenFolk Publishing,Melbourne, 2010, pp. xviii + 195A substantial account of RAAF 13 RadarStation at Cape Otway 1942-5 set withinthe context of Cape Otway as a long-timelighthouse and sometime War SignalsStation in the defence of Bass Strait.As this book shows, mines were laid byGerman ships in 1940 and a Japanesereconnaissance flight over Melbournewas launched from a submarine beforethe radar was installed. It contains therecollections of Morrie Fenton and othersof life at the radar station.Peter Cuffley, Helen McBur ney,Geoff Palmer, Janey Runci, HenryHandel Richardson in Maldon,published by the authors, PO Box185, Maldon, 3463, 2010, pp. 85.An attractive and informative booklet thatillustrates the importance of Maldon inEthel Richardson’s upbringing and laterwriting. Her mother was postmistressfrom 1880 to 1887. It contains muchinformation about the Richardson’s timein Maldon; guided tours of Maldon in theRichardson era, the Maldon cemetery,and Maldon in The Getting of Wisdom;and biographical material about severalMaldon families. It draws perceptivelyon extensive recent literary research onHenry Handel Richardson. A model forplanned publishing by any community witha ‘famous’ resident.Helen Hannan and Bruce Bennett,Western Port Fishermen, publishedby the authors, 200 Auburn Road,Hawthorn, 3122, 2010, $29-95, pp. 231An extensive account of change in thefishing industry and the lives of fishermenin the important Western Port region.It heavily draws on oral testimony andhighlights the development of localcommunities that were the land basefor those who fished within the bay andlater outside. Copiously illustrated andwell-referenced, this attractive book addsconsiderably to our knowledge of WesternPort and serves the fishing communitieswell.Tony Hall, The Life and Death of theAustralian Backyard, CSIRO Publishing,Melbourne, 2010, pp. 176, $69-95Traditional backyards have multiple usesand forms that have often been seenas characteristic of suburban life. Thisbook examines the origins of these ideasin Britain and their translation into thelarge backyards of Australia. It also traces,regretfully, their diminishing importancein planning since the 1990s noting thatthere has thus been a considerable loss ofprivate amenity space. It argues that thedeath of the backyard is pronounced inAustralia, reflecting changes in Australianlifestyles, especially in longer workinghours. It suggests that changes in planningregulations to limit site coverage and toprovide rear setbacks would help as wouldadvocacy of healthier lifestyles and designsreflecting Australian traditions. The bookis based on detailed quantitative researchof some Australian communities includingEast Kew.Valerie Roberts, Scottish Settlementin Newham, the author, Box 3049,W h e e l e r s H i l l , 2 0 0 9 , p p. 4 3 .A compilation of Scottish settlers in theNewham region near Woodend whoarrived on the ‘Priscilla’ in Melbourne1853 under the auspices of the Highlandand Island Emigration Society. The authorhas linked her people through the publicrecords of immigration, births, deathsand marriages, and court proceedings.This reads as splendid raw material foranother stage to make an assessment ofhow Roberts’ group made their way inthe colony. Their individual biographiessuggest to the cursory reader that many ofthem had troubles.

Researching for the StarsMeeting families in secret at the local fast food restaurant and scouting for filmlocations are just part of a normal working week for the researchers working on thehit TV show ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’by Megan GibsonCelebrities don’t normally like Sure, Diana gets to meet and work with thetelevision shows delving into stars. But mostly, as with any family historytheir private lives. But when the research, each day consists of a lot of goodresearcher is Diana Pepper, and the show old fashioned hard work, including on theis Australia’s Who Do You Think You Are? it’s phones, the internet, or spending hours ora very different story. Usually an intriguing days in libraries and archives.one, that often not only ends up dealing outsome life-changing moments for the star, butfor quite a few who work on the show as well.I’m used to asking questions of Diana.She’s one of the reasons I said yes to beinga freelance researcher on the series. Therebegan the tradition of me asking her lots ofquestions! Now I get to ask her even more…Diana’s no stranger to questions. Shespent fifteen years in London, includingresearching and writing a regular column forThe Independent newspaper, where she got tointerview the rich and famous about theirbest and worst travel experiences.No wonder she seems at ease working asone of the researchers on the show that hastaken celebrities such as Jack Thompson,Sigrid Thornton, Maggie Beer, CatherineFreeman, John Butler and Rod Marsh on avoyage of discovery through their family tree.I wanted to know what attracted Diana toworking on the show. Nothing, at first, itseems.But in true Who Do You Think You Are? style,there was a bit of mystery, just waiting tobe revealed.“When the show’s production companiesapproached me to work as a production coordinatoron the first series, I had no ideawhat the show was about,” she says.“I was absolutely thrilled when I heardwhat the concept was, I completely boughtthe whole idea. I then watched every singleepisode of the British series.”And with her skills, she subsequently waspromoted to a researcher’s role for SeriesTwo and Three.Diana says she loved the idea of “us asthe viewing public seeing a different sideof celebrity – it’s a perfect combinationof history, family history, and the cult ofcelebrity,” as well as the show’s attention tosocial history, to help us all place our ownancestors in a broader context.The world of television production canoften seem a bit of a mysterious whirlwind.Just what does Diana do all day? Is it reallychatting with Ben Mendelsohn or RonBarassi one day, and Shane Bourne or RodMarsh the next?FEATUREWhile no two episodes, or days, are thesame, it all starts for Diana with a castingmeeting, where the show’s producers willsift through possible choices of celebrities(which is also guided by requirements forbroadcaster SBS). Next, Diana will usuallymake contact with the celebrity’s agent, togain initial interest and check availability.“There are various reasons why celebritieswant to get involved – the most popular onebeing that they can give something back totheir families.”“I’m often asked how the celebrities getchosen for each series,” Diana explains.“There are a number of factors, but the lessthey know about their family tree at the start,the better!”Once it’s all systems go, it’s time to hit the“obvious archives”, just like everyone else.“Documentary evidence is crucial, unless ofcourse it’s an indigenous story. We mainlyuse records that are available to the public.The big difference though say to tracing myown family tree is that I have the resourcesof the show to use, and a generous budget.”There’s also secret visits to the celebrity’sextended family, to gather documents,photos and those all important familyrumours and stories. We swap notes on theglamorous locations where we’ve met withfamilies of the stars…“Yes well just recently I went to meet twoaunties of a celebrity - at a suburban fastfood restaurant! Actually though, I do tryand talk with them at their home, which ismore likely. Sometimes we might want toend up filming there.”“It often becomes a very personal journeyfor the individual and the family. Theactions of their ancestors can have an impactfor generations – abandonment, poverty,marriage breakups…I find I’m often counselling people.”There may be photos of the odd celebrityhere and there on her office wall, but whatstruck me the most when I first met Dianawas the presence of the black and whitephotos of the ancestors in question, watchingover her work.Charles Francis McComas (aged 2 and threequarteryears), January 1889; a carte-de-visitesent to Mr and Mrs Barrowclough from ‘LittleCharlie’ (RHSV Image: PH-980896)“I have embraced and taken on board someof the ancestors I’ve “met”. I’ve spent somuch time trying to get inside their head. Ispend a lot of time trying to work out whythey did the things they did, what part ofhistory impacted on their lives?”“One of the show’s criticisms is that wemake things look too easy. But what youhave to remember is that myself and mycounterparts in the background have beenresearching for three to six months on eachepisode, and turn over a lot of stories,” shesays.“We do take some shortcuts in the final show- we have less than an hour to tell the story!”So, is there anything Diana doesn’t like aboutworking on the show?“When we finish filming, that’s it. A familyhistorian can keep building a family tree, sayif some new information or documents cometo light in two years. We just can’t includeeverything in the show.”“It’s a fantastic job and I absolutely loveit,” she shares. And with that, the energeticDiana is off to the next phone call (notbefore efficiently reminding me that I needto email her the final copy of a family tree Iworked on…)The celebrities’ ancestors must be lookingdown - or up! - and smiling. They’re incalm, capable and caring hands, whoeverthey thought they were.The Australian series of Who Do You ThinkYou Are? is produced by Artemis Internationaland Serendipity Productions, and screens onSBS. Series 3 featured Magda Szubanski, PaulMercurio, Tina Arena, Rod Marsh, Shane Bourneand Georgie Parker. The production team arealready hard at work on Series 4.This article first appeared in Inside Historymagazine (Jan/Feb 2011). It is reproduced hereby kind permission of:- the editor of Inside History - visit www.insidehistory.com.au for details about this newAustralian magazine.- Artemis International and SerendipityProductions, producers of the hit Australiangenealogy series Who Do You Think YouAre?. Visit SBS www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare.- the author, Megan Gibson – visit Family TreeTime www.familytreetime.com.au.5

RHSV NEWSHOUSEKEEPINGToo many items in our collections – never!But it is an ongoing battle to find appropriate and accessiblestorage both for the items we have had for many years and thenew donations that arrive every week.We have developed a program of de-accessioning items that we nolonger require in order to make way for the new. De-accessioningdoes not mean throwing away!The primary foci of our de-accessioning are those items that wehold in multiple copies or those items whose content matter is notrelevant to our collection policy. Generous donations over the yearshave meant that we have found it very hard to say no to perfectlysound copies of items we know to be relevant to our needs, butthat we already hold. After all there could be a fire! Problem is, aswe all know from our own spare room, garage, garden shed, thesecond collections are just as vulnerable as the first!The process our member-volunteers undertake involves searchingour catalogue and locating the original and any duplicate copies.A recent search located three copies of a travel brochure aboutcamping in the Grampians in the 1940s.The next step is to search the National Library of Australia’sunion catalogue and the catalogues of other large libraries inorder to determine whether any other libraries hold a copy of thisparticular item. When identifying a library that might be interestedin acquiring our surplus materials we look not only at the large stateand university libraries, but the smaller collections such as otherhistorical societies, memorial committees and archives. In somecases whilst a state library such as Queensland might not have ourduplicate train timetable from Tasmania, it is most unlikely that itwould be a welcome addition to their collection should we offer it.Once we have determined a possible future home for our extraitems, a list is presented to the RHSV Collections Committeefor permission to de-accession them, providing them with thereasons for their possible de-accession and their probable futurelocations. Every item in our collection has a unique number (theiraccession number), separate from the catalogue shelf number ora pamphlet number, and this number reflects the item’s entry toour collection. At the time of writing: we added number 39,768to our Library Collection.Upon receiving the Collections Committee recommendation: thefinal step is to remove the item from the accessions register, removethe catalogue entry, and send the item off to its new home with acover letter saying that we hope it will be of value.We have received some delightful letters of thanks. So far ourfavourite was from the Adam Lindsay Gordon Society whichoffered to pay for the pamphlet we had sent them. They told usthat the information it contained was very timely, as they werepreparing a background note for a ceremony to be held in Londoncommemorating the poet.Our member-volunteers find the work time consuming and attimes rather complicated, but once finished definitely a job worthdoing.RHSV offers competitive insurance tomembersAll Historical Societies will receive by mail a form for membershipand insurance late March or early April. The details of the coverageof the RHSV insurance will be included. The form and informationare also available on the RHSV website www.historyvictoria.org.auHistorical Societies must be affiliated members of the RHSV tobe able to take advantage of the insurance the RHSV offers. TheRHSV, through a broker, arranges bulk insurance for a variety ofinsurances that are set out on the form mentioned above. Thisenables the RHSV to provide cheaper rates than societies canobtain individually so please take advantage of this insurance.On request, Certificates of Currency are sent to the societies thattake out the insurance.Please contact Ged at the RHSV either on 03 9326 9288 or email:office@historyvictoria.org,au if you have any queries.New military history organisationlaunches in AprilMilitary History and Heritage Victoria (MHHV), anincorporated not-for-profit association, will launch in late April2011. Patron is Major General (Rtd) Jim Barry, AM, MBE,RFD, ED with Vice-Patrons Professor Bruce Scates and Dr. JimWood, RFD, ED (Col. Rtd). MHHV President is Colonel MarcusFielding. Membership is now open.Aims include encouraging interest in Australian and especiallyVictorian military history and heritage (air, sea and land) andto promote communication and cooperation within the militaryhistory and heritage community of Victoria.Please contact the Executive Officer at xomhhv@gmail.com or0408 342 795 for more information.6NOMINATIONS FOR FAHS MERIT AWARDSNominations for the FAHS Merit Awards for 2011 are now openand close on 30 June 2011.Information about the awards (including a list of previous recipients)is available on the FAHS website at www.history.org.au.The guidelines (in PDF format) and nomination form (in PDF andDOC format) can also be downloaded from the FAHS website.Please nominate a member of your society – nominations help raisethe profile of all volunteers in local history.

Around the SocietiesManagement resourcehighly recommendedVictorian Council of Social Servicepublishes a series of manuals for communityorganisations.Policies and Procedures provides usefulinformation as well as sample policiesand procedures for the management ofcommunity groups.At the public library where Vicki Courtworks she recently discovered anothervolume in the series - CommunityManagement (first published in 1991 witha new edition in 2007).This volume looks at management issuessuch as the difference between governanceand management, management grouproles and responsibilities (includingethical, legal, financial, administrative,personnel, planning and policy, promotionand networking, accountability andreporting and premises and equipmentresponsibilities), recruiting, inductingand maintaining the management group,meeting procedures and decision makingand what to do when things go wrong.This would be a useful volume for thosemanaging groups to look at - check if yourlibrary has a copy.Copies can be purchased from theInformation Victoria bookshop or directlyfrom VCOSS - http://www.vcoss.org.au/clearinghouse/resources/resource-%20vcoss%20manuals.htm.AROUND THE SOCIETIESThis column is compiled by LenoreFrost on behalf of History VictoriaSupport Group using informationprovided by societies either directlyor contained in their newsletters.For the June issue please send detailsof forthcoming events by 10 May tolenore10@hotmail.com.ALTONA-LAVERTON: The AltonaLaverton Historical Society is developinga school’s program to link with the newNational History Curriculum that is rollingout over 2011-2013. Historical societiesdeveloping a similar project are welcome tocontact Owen Hyde on ohyde@liv.asn.au.BALLARAT: The recent issue of Lamplightoutlines a proposal for online access to BallaratHistorical Society’s photograph collection.Prototype WebPages with larger images havebeen installed at the museum for internal useonly. Pages for the website will not be addeduntil the members have approved the idea.Enquiries: ballarathistoricalsociety@gmail.com, or 5344 8294.BALWYN: On Thursday 10 March Dr DavidBeardsell will speak on “The Outer CircleRailway & Buses” and on Thursday 14 April at8 Lambis Englezos will speak on “My discoveryof the lost graves at Fromelles, France”, both atthe Evergreen Centre, 45 Talbot Ave, Balwynat 8 pm. Enquiries: 9836 6589.BELLARINE: The Waterholes: a history ofDrysdale on the Bellarine by Lynette Willey isthe latest book available from the BellarineHistorical Society at the Old Court HouseMuseum, High St, Drysdale, or duringbusiness hours from the Vacuum Shop, Shop2/8 High St, Drysdale for $15. Enquiries:5253 1715.BALNARRING: The life of Ruby Cole, bornin 1881 to graziers George and Elma Cole ofMerricks, has been entertainingly recreatedusing reminiscences from family members,and published in the February 2011 issue ofSnippets from our collection.BRIGHTON: The Adam Lindsay GordonCommemorative Committee will be conductinga tour of Brighton General Cemetery titled“Adam Lindsay Gordon - His Life andBeyond” on Sunday 17 April at 10.30am. Thecost is $10 and $5 for members. Bookings areessential through John Adams 5261 2899.CAMBERWELL: Ann Blainey will speak on“Dame Nellie Melba” on Thursday May 26th,8pm at the Meeting Room, Hawthorn TownHall, 360 Burwood Road. Visitors welcome.Enquiries: 9885 9927.CARISBROOK: The January edition of TheLogs carries a report of damage done duringthe recent floods to society sites. Water enteredall four premises, but overall the damage wasminimal owing to little material being storedat floor level. Replacement costs are less than$2000.CASTERTON: The next meeting of thesociety will be held on Thursday 24 Marchat the RSL, commencing at 2 pm. Societynewsletters are available on their websiteat www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/casterton/chs_newsletters.htm.CASTLEMAINE: At the meeting of Monday2 May, Judith Scurfield will give a presentation“All about maps”, commencing at 7.30 pm, atthe Former Court House, 7 Goldsmith Cres,Castlemaine. Enquiries: 5470 6072 or emailchsi@castlemainehistoricalsociety.com.CHURCHES OF CHRIST: The Februaryissue of the Historical Society’s HistoricalDigest has an article on a “Church built in aday” at Preston in 1911. Notice is also givenof a forthcoming book, Singing the faith:history, theology and hymnody by Judith Raftery.Enquiries: history@handasyde.com.CINEMA & THEATRE: A City CinemaWalk, led by Ross King, will be held onSaturday 21 May, commencing at 10 amoutside the Melbourne Town Hall. Enquiries:www.caths.org.au or email secretary@caths.org.au.DIAMOND CREEK: The Ellis CottageAutumn Fair will be held on Saturday 19March from 9 am till 3 pm. This will featurehistorical talks, photographic display and sales,genealogy displays, live music, BBQ, and muchmore. The Ellis Cottage Historical Precinctis off the Main Hurstbridge Road, DiamondCreek, Mel 12 F5.DUNOLLY: The Goldfields Historicaland Arts Society received a very interestingdonation: Chinese spurious gold tools, usedin the manufacture of spurious gold to deceivegold buyers. The Society feels there may be noother examples anywhere. The article in theJanuary 2011 issue of Tailings, No 542, includesa photograph.EAST MELBOURNE: Psychiatrist andcricket nut, Greg de Moore, will tell theextraordinary story of Tom Wills, the starcricketer credited with creating the rulesof Australian Rules Football, a ClarendonTerrace, 210 Clarendon St, East Melbourneon Wednesday 20 April at 8 pm. Enquiries:info@emhs.org.au or 9416 0445.ECHUCA: “Rathbone . . . The Raw Edge”features a collection of 71 oil paintings by thelate George M Rathbone depicting the lifeand times of early Echuca and district, at theEchuca Moama Uniting Church Hall, cnrPakenham & Hare Streets, Echuca, 9–26 April,10.30am – 3.30pm (Closed Good Friday).Enquiries: 5480 1325; 040 8505 662; or www.echucahistoricalsociety.org.au.FITZROY: A practical research talk on“Researching your house” will be held onThursday 14 April in the Fitzroy LibraryMeeting Room at 7 pm. The library has anexcellent collection of resources to assist, andthis will be a “hands on” event to get youstarted. Enquiries: fitzroyhistorysociety@yahoo.com.KNOX: On Sunday 22 May there will be anexcursion to the Blackburn Lake ResourceCentre. Meet at Ambleside at 1.15 pm forshared car transport to Blackburn. Enquiries:khs@relics.com or www.khs.relics.com.GULF STATION: The National Trust areholding a “National Carpenter’s Day” onFriday 8 April. The main feature at Gulf Stationwill be the Caine Tool Collection. If you wouldlike to become a FROG (Friends and Relationsof Gulf Station) contact Irene Keasey on 94358404 or email Irene.Kearsey@bigpond.com.HAMILTON: Meetings are held at theMechanics Institute, 43 Grey St, Hamilton,commencing at 7.30 pm. On Tuesday 12April Diane Luhrs will be the guest speaker.Enquiries: hamiltonhistory@ansonic.com.auor 5572 4933.HEIDELBERG: Dick Gross will present“A modern Gray’s Elegy” on Tuesday 12April at the Uniting Church CommunityCentre, Seddon St, Ivanhoe at 8.00 p.m.Our museum on the corner of Park Laneand Jika St, Heidelberg, open Sundays 2-5,features the 90th Anniversary display of theIvanhoe Reading Circle. Enquiries: http://heidelberg.50webs.com or 94552130.HORSHAM: At the meeting of Wednesday 13April Frank Schneider will give a presentationon “Changing Times”. This will be held at 33Pynsent St, Horsham at 8 pm. Enquiries: 53822058, or lwbsmith@netconnect.com.au.7

Around the SocietiesAround the Societies8INVERLOCH: The Rocket Shed has reachedits new home, beside the replica of The Ripple,and next to Inverloch’s Yacht Club, thusestablishing a ‘maritime precinct’. Enquiries:5674 2449.KEW: At our next meeting the guest speakerwill be Helen MacDonald, author of HumanRemains. Helen is an award-winning historianand Postdoctoral Fellow at the AustralianCentre, University of Melbourne. To be held atthe LePine Funeral Services, 741 High Street,Kew East Wednesday 23 March at 7.30 pm.KILMORE: On Saturday 26 March there willbe a tour of the Mt William Stone Axe Quarry.Meet at 10.45 am, head down Mt WilliamRoad and look for the balloons. Visitors $5.00,members free. Enquiries: kilmorehistory@nl.com.au or 5782 0416.KOROIT: A new edition of the KoroitHeritage Trail brochure was printed inNovember 2010, which included a numberof updates. The Moyne Shire Business andTourism Committee funded the entire costsof $900. Enquiries: 5565 7994.KYNETON: Twelve shop windows in High,Mollison and Piper Streets will display historypanels and banners on themes of Kyneton’shistory. The Society celebrates 60 years in 2011with the opening on Wednesday 13 April at7.30 pm at Aesop’s Attic in High Street at 7.30pm. See www.vicnet.net.au/~kyhist.LAKES ENTRANCE: Copies of the DVD,Old Lakes Entrance – Views from the Early Years,produced for the Seafarers MulticulturalFestival in December 2011, are available for$10. Enquiries: info@lakeshistory.com or5155 3939.LEONGATHA: The society received thespecial donation of a collection of GreatWar medals belonging to William Highgate,killed in France in September 1917. He hadre-joined the Royal Sussex Regiment withwhich he had served in the South African War.A display will be arranged soon. Enquiries:leongathahistsoc@yahoo.com.au or see www.leongathahistory.org.au.LINTON: Monday 21 March is History Nightat the Letty Armstrong Resource Centre.Damian Waight, the Shire consultant on theCommunity Precinct Development will speakbriefly on the subject, followed by “The SecretLife of Things” – a discussion on topics whicharise from objects, documents, and photosbrought along by members. Enquiries: 53447386.NARRE WARREN: Jenny and Gary Barkerwill give a presentation on “Re-enacting historyand family history”, on Wednesday 11 May at8 pm, at the Narre Warren Library MeetingRoom, Overland Drive, Fountain Gate.Enquiries: 5995 5957 or correspondence@nwfhg.org.au.NEWSTEAD: The recent rains saw Newsteadcome within a whisker of having watercome over the 100 year old levee bank. Theoriginal tender by the Shire Engineer, WGore, indicated two small bridges were to beremoved. The society would like to know wherethese bridges were. If you know, please emailderekdi@gcom.net.au.NORTH MELBOURNE: A workshop willbe held on Saturday 21 May at 2 pm on “Howto research the history of your house using theBurchett Index and other sources”. This willbe held in the North Melbourne Library LocalHistory Room, Errol Street. Bookings: info@hothamhistory.org.au.PLENTY: The society celebrated its 10 thAnniversary, and the February newsletterreflected on their significant achievements inthat time. Meetings are held at the Plenty FireStation, Yan Yean Rd, Plenty at 8 pm on thefirst Thursday of February, April, June, August,October and December. Enquiries: kerlan@iinet.net.au.PORT MELBOURNE: On Monday 28March Billy David will talk on “From Portto Plumbing Paladin”. Meetings are held atthe Port Melbourne Council Chamber, at7.30pm. Enquiries: pmphs@hotmail.com or9645 2324.PYRAMID HILL: The historical society has awonderful range of publications for sale, whichcan be seen on their website www.pyramidhill.net.au. The latest offering is Mount HopeStation - The Squatting Era, by Cliff Spowart.Enquiries: email pyhhist@bigpond.com or5455 9265.RINGWOOD: Graeme Tamme, a formeremployee of the MMBW, will address thesociety on Tuesday 26 April on the “Historyof Water in Melbourne”. The meeting is inroom 4, at the Federation Estate, formerlyRingwood State School, Greenwood Ave,Ringwood at 8 pm.SEYMOUR: The Pioneer Library has anexhibition on “Those good old days” everysecond Sunday of the month from 1 pm to 3pm. Enquiries: 5792 1745.SORRENTO: Meet at the Sorrento Cemeterygates, Normanby Road, on Sunday 17 Aprilat 11 am or 2 pm for a tour of selected gravesites led by Peter Munro. Hear stories aboutSorrento’s shipwreck coast and the DraytonGrange Boer War tragedy. Cost is $5 per adult;bookings essential on 5982 0502.ST KILDA CEMETERY: A tour will be heldon Sunday 1 May at 2 pm, highlighting militarypersonnel from various wars. Meet at the MainEntrance on Dandenong Road. Cost $10 ($5for members of FOSKC). Booking is essential.Ring 9531 6832 or book online at www.foskc.org/home.htm#. Enquiries info@foskc.org.UNITING CHURCH: Celebrating the175th Anniversary of Wesleyan Revd JosephOrton, the first ordained minister to preachin Melbourne, 1836, an address will begiven by descendant, Rev. Alistair Orton onSunday 1 May at 11am, followed at 1.30 pmby Alison Headon “Mrs Orton” and Dr PeterSherlock on “Orton’s Melbourne”. WesleyUniting Church, 148 Lonsdale St, Melbourne.Enquiries: jbgillard@netspace.net.au.WALHALLA: The association has two newpublications: A day in Walhalla, by Scott Gallop,($14.95 + $1 p+p); and Walhalla, 1955-1977:1983-2008, behind the counter and all that jazz,by Ruth Holst ($25 + $5 p+p). Send a cheque ormoney order to Walhalla Museum P/L, c/o POWalhalla 3825, or credit card details by phone:5165 6250.WARRACKNABEAL: The 4 th Annual VintageRally will be held over Easter on 23 - 25 April,featuring John Deer and Waterloo Boy machinery.Saturday will include the Street Parade andTractor Pull. Enquiries: 5394 1692 or email jara@netconnect.com.au.WAVERLEY: Jack Walker is the guest speakeron Thursday 28 April on “Visiting the Somme,Anzac Cove and other Australian fields of battle”,in the refurbished top floor of the Mount WaverleyLibrary. Enquiries: 9802 9332 or email whs@kepl.com.au.WOADY YALOAK: A fully conducted walk ofthe Piggoreet to Grand Trunk Walking Trail willbe held on Sunday 1 May. Meet at the Courthouse,Smythesdale, at 9.30 am, wearing comfortablewalking shoes. BYO lunch (which can betransported for you); $10 per head; bookingsessential on 5342 8414.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 HorganVicki CourtChristine 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

gDesign,artwork,editing & printinggillespie graphicsjohn: 0419 135 332