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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 throughdeposit in the RHSV’s library. Some itemsmay later be reviewed in the Society’sVictorian Historical Journal.Suzanna Falkiner, Joan in India,A u s t r a l i a n S c h o l a r l y P r e s s ,Melbourne, 2008, pp. xv + 315,$39-95. ISBN 978 1 74097 162 1Joan Falkiner was a member of the wealthypastoral Falkiner family of Wanganella inthe Riverina, famous for their breeding offine Merinos. After a privileged upbringingin Britain and Melbourne, she defied herparents and fled to India in 1939 to marryTaley, the prince of the small Indian stateof Palanpur. Her biographer, a relative,writes not only about this remarkable loveand family story but also about how she haspieced it all together, no mean achievement.The resulting vignette provides glimpses ofupper-class life in interwar Melbourne aswell as perspectives on connections withthe ‘exotic’. Joan died in 2003.Helmet Glenk: From Desert Sandsto Golden Oranges, The Historyof the German Templer Settlementof Sarona in Palestine 1871-1947Trafford, Victoria Canada, 2005,pp. xx + 291. ISBN 1 4120 3506 6Sheltered Dreams at Kilimanjaro,An Historical Account of GermanSettlers from Palestine Who Starteda New Life in German East Africa inthe Late 19 th and Early 20 th CenturiesTrafford, Victoria, Canada, 2007, pp.xxiv + 269. ISBN 978 1 4251 3922 3Many Germans from the Palestinesettlement were interned during World WarII were transported to Australia, mainly tocamps near Tatura. Many stayed here afterthe war, some like Glenk at Bayswater.These two books examine aspects ofTempler history away from Australia andprovide much contextual material aboutthe Templer past in the Middle East andEast Africa. They are well-illustrated andresearched.Norman Houghton: By the Barwon, AHistory of Forrest and Barramunga,2005, 2 nd edition 2007, pp. iv + 24;The Ridge, A Brief Historical Guide tothe West Otway Ridge, 2005, pp. iv + 16;B e e c hy R a i l , H i s t o r i c a l a n dEngineer ing Guide to the OldBeechy Line Trail, 2005, pp. 14;Homes in the Hills, Historic Glimpsesof Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banooland Carlisle River, 2006, pp. iv + 48;B e e c h F o r e s t , C a p i t a l o nthe Ridge, 2007, pp. iv + 111All published by Norman Houghton,P O B o x 1 1 2 8 , G e e l o n g , 3 2 2 0Norman Houghton has been workinglong and hard on Otways history. Thesebooks are part of his substantial legacy.They are desktop-published, informative,well-illustrated, and a mine of informationabout past times and the kind of livesled by timber-gettters, road-makers,railway workers, farmers, and others inthe communities that battled with thehigh rainfall, heavily timbered, and steeplandscapes of this unique part of Victoria.He has served this area well as this sampleof books shows.K e n J a m e s : A H i s t o r y o fWeatherboard , 2008, pp. 241;A Histor y of Fr yerstown StateSchool No. 252, 2008, pp. 74;with Noel Davis, A Histor y ofE l p h i n s t o n e , 2 0 0 8 , p p. 3 3 0All published by Ken James, 18Lofty Avenue, Camberwell, 3124The authors have put together in accessibleform many documents, photos andnewspaper excerpts that illustrate the pastsof these particular areas of central Victoria.They are especially strong on the schoolrecords of their places. They are solidlydocumented and provide strong bases fromwhich to investigate further.Walter Woodbury: A Victorian StudyThe Royal Photographic Society,Victorian Chapter, Melbourne, 2008,pp. xii + 115. ISBN 978 0 646 49567 5Woodbury’s wonderful 1855 Melbournepanorama is now familiar to members ofthe RHSV but this achievement is oneof so many in his life as an innovativephotographer and path-breaking inventorin the processes of the craft. This mostinteresting tribute was prepared bymembers of the History Group and detailshis rich life in photography in Batavia andEngland after leaving Australia in 1857. It isbeautifully illustrated and documented.M. Lia, One Creek Too Many, AnAnalysis of John Batman’s 1835Journey of Exploration to the PortPhillip District and the Last Day ofthe Outward Journey, 2008, pp. vii + 32Where the Batman treaty was signedhas been a perennial question that hasbeen tackled by many, often in RHSVpublications. Merv Lia concludes, afterexhaustive groundwork and painstakingassessment of the maps and otherdocuments that the treaty was signed onthe east bank of the Merri Creek at CoburgLake park. He expresses ‘the hope’ that hisconclusions about the ‘most likely treatysite will be the last word on the matter’ (p.29). His tracing of the last day of Batman’soutward journey is crucial to his conclusionabout the site. You can be almost certainthat this is not the last word! It may be acompelling argument for many.M a r i o n P o y n t e r , N o b o d y ’sValentine, Letters in the Life ofValentine Alexa Leeper, 1901-2001M i e g u n y a h P r e s s a n d Tr i n i t yCollege, Melbourne, 2008, pp. 488,$ 5 9 - 9 5 . I S B N 9 7 8 0 5 2 2 8 5 5 8 3 8 .Valentine Leeper had a long life markedby activism on many issues: educationfor women, racism, freedom of speech,refugees, Aborigines, female ordinationwere always matters to which she devotedher advocacy often through public andprivate letter-writing. This book uses hervast collection of letters to reveal the lifeof this remarkable and unique Melbourneperson throughout the 20 th century. Shewas as the title wittily suggests, nobody’sfool. Readers will find plenty to interestand probably to contend with in theclearly stated views of this argumentativewoman.Rober t Wuchatsh, Dan O’Br ien,The Original Owner of Carbine:Australia’s Forgotten Turf LegendStony Rises Run, 2020 Princes Highway,Pirron Yallock, 3249, 2008, pp. xiv+ 318, $60. ISBN 9780958915311.A very detailed, meticulously-researchedlife of Dan O’Brien, born in Melbourne in1847 and involved in horse racing as jockey,trainer and owner until his death in Sydneyin 1916. He left Melbourne for Dunedin in1867 and established himself as a leadingowner and trainer especially in the SouthIsland. His ability to identify good horsesled to much success on the track. He ismost famed (but not remembered enoughaccording to the author) for his purchaseof Carbine near Auckland in 1887 and hislater sale in Melbourne in 1888 where hewon the 1890 Melbourne Cup. O’Brien’slife was spent with horses on both sides ofthe Tasman and he was important in thetrans-Tasman trading in horses.Charles Page, Wings of Destiny, WingCommander Charles Learmonth, DFCand Bar and the Air War in New GuineaRosenberg Publishing, PO Box 6125,Dural Delivery Centre, 2158, 2008,pp. 416, $35. ISBN 9781877058646Charles Learmonth was killed when hisBeaufort crashed in January 1944 offthe southwest coast of Western Australia.An RAAF pilot with most distinguishedservice in the war over New Guinea in1942-3, he was the commanding officerof 14 Squadron at Pearce at the time ofhis death, aged 26. His upbringing wason a farm at Tyrendarra in south-westernVictoria worked by Noel Learmonth, hisfather, notable local historian, naturalist,and an early fellow of the RHSV. The bookis an exhaustive study of the air war inNew Guinea and of the aircraft involvedas well as a commemoration of Learmonthafter whom the Exmouth Gulf airfield wasnamed.

FEATUREThe Victorian Community History AwardsThe 10th anniversary of the Victorian Community History Awards was celebrated in Queen’s Hall, Parliament House, on31 May 2008. Annette O’Donohue and Bev Hanson won the overall prize for volume 6 of their Eaglehawk & District PioneerRegister, the culmination of a seventeen-year project. The History Awards together with the Local History Grants of thePROV have fostered a flowering of community history in Victoria.At the first History Awards, heldat Toongabbie on Australia Day1998, Patrick (Paddy) Morganwon the overall prize of $5000 for hisbook The Settling of Gippsland and fourcategory winners each won $1000. Thecategories numbered six the followingyear, covering print, collaborative work,historic walks, exhibitions, audio-visual/multimedia projects, and communityresearch/registers. These categories andthe total prize money of $11,000 remainunchanged today.A highly professional, dedicated team atInformation Victoria has organised theAwards over the past 10 years. InformationVictoria promotes the Awards through itswebsite and publications, and is renownedfor having the state’s biggest collection oflocal history for sale at its bookshop, 505Little Collins Street.Since 2000 the prize-giving has been held inthe grand Queen’s Hall, Parliament House,a suitable venue for what has become agala occasion, with artistic displays of mostentries and some moving speeches fromprize winners. The Queen’s Hall functionenables community historians from allover the state to mingle and learn fromone another’s projects.The monetary prizes offered by theAwards are modest but in communityhistory recognition is more important thanmoney. Community historians contendwith many obstacles, not the least ofwhich is the media’s disdain, especiallyin the metropolis. It seems impossibleto gain even perfunctory coverage bythe Melbourne dailies of the popularAwards finale. Reviews of self-publishedcommunity history remain largely thedomain of the sympathetic RHSV. The Ageand the Australian exclude self-publishedcommunity history from their reviewsupplements and the Australian BookReview similarly shuns it.The RHSV co-operated with the HistoryAwards from the outset and appointedthe judges. The three current judges arethe journalist John Lahey, appointedin 1998, and historians John Hirst andCarole Woods, both appointed in 2000.John Lahey writes annotations for winningentries in his inimitable style. Thus, hewrote of Vicki Fairfax’s book A Place Acrossthe River that ‘Ms Fairfax had knittedtogether the many threads of the VictorianArts Centre’s history, and she seemed notto have dropped a stitch’.Each year presents unique problemsfor the judges. Their early concerns thatmetropolitan entries would dominateowing to easy access to libraries andarchives has proved unfounded. Countryentries have won most of the overallprizes and in 2003 won five of theseven prizes available. An outstandingcountry entry was a bridge over Morse’sCreek, Wandiligong, which symbolisedreconciliation between two previouslyconflicting cultures – the Chinese andBritish.Some community historians haveexpressed concern that paid professionalwriters would dominate the competitionbut overwhelmingly the prizes have goneto non-professionals, and where the prizeshave gone to professionals there hasbeen a strong community dimension totheir work as with Peter Yule’s The RoyalChildren’s Hospital and Richard Broome’sAboriginal Victorians.The audio-visual category has tendedto be weak: the judges seek vibrant,innovative entries rather than the registerson disc often submitted. However, therehave been several superb entries such as aCD ROM project from Warik Lawrance,which simulates a walk down part ofCollins Street in 1864.Community history is often criticisedfor being parochial and indeed this wastrue of some plodding chronologies andpatchwork compilations of earlier times.Increasingly the judges are seeing valuablemicrocosms of a larger picture and theskilful netting of the ephemeral. Thesefeatures are apparent in two winners ofthe highest prize, Ann Synan’s We CameWith Nothing: story of the West Sale MigrantHolding Centre and Jillian Durance’s StillGoing Strong: the story of the Moyarra HonorRoll. Both authors are non-professionalwriters, live in the country communitiesthey portray and received strong supportfrom those communities.The 2009 Awards will coincide with thecentenary celebrations of the RHSV.Entries close on 27 February 2009.Carole WoodsEnter the VictorianCommunityHistory AwardsnowAll Victorians have a storyto tell - from the 40,000 yearold Koorie culture, throughto the first Europeansettlers to our most recentimmigrants.The Victorian Community HistoryAwards 2009 are proudly sponsoredby Information Victoria, which aimsto keep these true stories alive.The Awards recognise excellencein historical method. The variouscategories acknowledge that historycan be told in many formats withthe aim of reaching and enriching allVictorians.First prize for the overall winner is$5,000, with six $1,000 prizes for thefinalists of each category.The categories are:• Best Collaborative/CommunityWork.• Best Print/Publication.• Best Audio-Visual/Multimedia.• Best Exhibit/Display.• Best Walk/Tour.• Best Community Research, Registersand Records.All entrants will be invited to theofficial ceremony in Queens Hall,Parliament in May 2009.Assistance and judging of the awardsis provided by the Royal HistoricalSociety of Victoria.Entries close at COB, Friday 27 Feb. 2009.Entry forms are available by emailing arequest to:info.marketing@dpcd.vic.gov.au

HVSG NEWSHISTORY VICTORIA SUPPORT GROUP – RHSVSEMINAR DAY SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2009Hosted by the Horsham Historical SocietyTo be held at 33 Pynsent Street, HorshamSee: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~hhs/welcome.htmPUBLISHING SMALL HISTORIES AND PERIODICALS10.00 Registration and cup of tea for those who have travelled from farafield10.30 Welcome, introduction, reports, general information:10.30 Convenor, History Victoria Support Group Joan Hunt – introduction10.40 President, Royal Historical Society of Victoria – Prof. Bill Russell -welcome10.50 Exec. Officer, Royal Historical Society Victoria, Kate Prinsley – RHSVnews11.00 Presentation Part 1: by Peter Mansfield, Geelong HistoricalSocietyPeter is the author of ‘Graham Berry: Geelong’s radical premier’;‘Respectable behaviour: daily life in Geelong and district in the 1850s-1890s’; ‘Generous providers and stern custodians: the development oflibraries in the colony of Victoria’; and many other small local historiespublished during his involvement with both Ballarat Historical Societyand Geelong Historical Society.11.45 Presentation Part 2: by David Endacott, Daylesford HistoricalSocietyDave has published many small local histories through his company‘Jim Crow Press’, including ‘The Story of Browns & Scarsdale’ facsimilefor Woady Yaloak Historical Society; and ‘Reflections’ for Snake ValleyHistorical Society. He will share his insights into how a local historyshould be planned and set up, with information about ISBN numbers,and Cataloguing-in-publication.12.30 Discussion: Joan Hunt will co-ordinate a discussion session based onissues arising from the presentation. Everyone will be encouraged toparticipate with anecdotes, experiences, ideas, and solutions, with inputfrom Peter and David.1.00 LUNCH Arrangement with the Horsham Historical Society1.30 Presentation Part 3: by Joan Hunt, compiler of “Around the Societies”for History News, the RHSV newsletter – preparing, publishing andprinting small periodicals.Joan has been involved in publishing newsletters, journals, and other smallperiodicals for many years. She reads all Society newsletters which aresent to RHSV, and will share her experiences of what constitutes a verysuccessful written communication for historical society members.2.00 Presenter Part 4: David Endacott is an agent for Albox storagematerials, and will show a range of storage for photographs, variousboxes ranging from those suitable for storing CDs, manuscripts andledgers, to large boxes for storage of costumes.3.00 Afternoon Tea and departure.Costs: $15 per head includes morning and afternoon tea and lunch – Please bookthrough RHSV by notifying Ged on 9326 9288. Bookings will close Monday 23February.FEBRUARY 2009 AROUND THESOCIETIESThis column is compiled by Joan Hunton behalf of History Victoria SupportGroup using information provided bySocieties either directly or contained intheir newsletters. For next issue pleasesend details of forthcoming events by 10March to joanhunt@ncable.net.auA DA M L I N D S AY G O R D O N :This year will be an exciting one forour committee. The 25,000 bricksbelonging to Gordon’s last house where“Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes”was compiled have been discoveredlanguishing in the Gippsland bush andwe have the taskof relocating them for re-erection as afitting memorial to the poet. The sitechosen is Dingley Dell in S.A. Thisyear August the 6 th -16 th is the period wecommemorate the 150 th Anniversaryof the wreck of the “Admella” with theloss of 89 lives. Gordon rode from thewreck to raise the alarm, and wrote hispoem “From the Wreck”. Also our firstBrighton Cemetery tour for the year:“Adam Lindsay Gordon: His Life andBeyond” will be on Saturday March15 at 10.30am. Bookings are essential.Ph 03 52612899 or book on www.adamlindsaygordon.orgAVOCA: The Annual Garage Sale will beheld on Saturday 14 February, the majorfund-raiser for the year. Prof. WestonBate recently unveiled a newly refurbishedportrait of Charles Warburton Carr, whodied in 1888 after 34 years service asAvoca’s Police Magistrate. Phone Tonyon 5465 3744 or see http://home.vicnet.net.au/~adhs/ADHSMain.htmBALLAN: The AGM will be held at8pm on Wednesday 25 February at theCourthouse in Steiglitz Street, whenSue Drury will speak on “Geocaching”,described as an electronic global-basedtreasure hunt using a global positioningsystem (GPS). Ring secretary Rick on5368 2544 or research officer June on5368 9527.BALLARAT GENIES: A majorproject undertaken by a large number ofvolunteers is the biographical researchingof the 1200 women with Ballarat addresseswho signed the 1891 Women’s SuffragePetition. The Ballarat East rate books1871-1882 searchable database is almostcomplete and will be launched on CDmid-year. Ballarat divorces and residence/cultivation licences have been indexedand will be added to the Society’s websitefor free access shortly. The Societymaintains close links with the BallaratArchives Centre of the Public RecordOffice Victoria; and will be representedat the 15 March Beaufort Family HistoryFair. See www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au.

Around the SocietiesBALWYN: At 8pm on Thursday 12February, at the Evergreen Centre, 45Talbot Avenue, Balwyn Mrs MurielPerry will speak on “Oliver Gilpin andIdlewylde”, and on 12 March Mr BillMackie will give an excellent powerpointpresentation on the Reid familyof ‘Belmont’, Balwyn in the early 1900s.Enquiries to Robin Kelly on 9836 6589 orsee http://home.vicnet.au/~balwynhs/.BEAUFORT: on Sunday 15 Marchfrom 10-4pm the Beaufort HistoricalSociety will host a Family History Fairin the Shire and RSL Halls entitled“Our Servicemen and Women Throughthe Years”, with information tablesrepresenting the historical societies inthe western plains region. Speakers willinclude Neil Wright speaking on theGoldsmith Steam Rally, Lt Col (retired)Russell Rachinger on the Significance ofthe Slouch Hat, and Mrs Anne Levensfrom the Registry Office of Victoriaon Australia’s Army War Dead. TheBeaufort Band will play songs from theWar years, and refreshments are available.Entry is a gold coin donation. ContactPam on 5349 3055 or see www.pyrenees.vic.gov.auBOX HILL: On Thursday 19 Februarythe Hon. Wendy Baden-Powell willspeak on “The Girl Guide Movement”,which celebrates its centenary worldwidein 2010. Wendy will speak about hergreat-aunt, Agnes Baden-Powell, whowas responsible for the beginnings ofthe Girl Guide Movement in Englandin 1910, and her grandmother, OlaveLady Baden-Powell, who became WorldChief Guide following her marriage toLord Baden-Powell, the founder of theBoy Scout Movement. On Thursday19 March Geoff Rockow will speak on“Box Hill Library”. In response to manyrequests following his talk last year ongrowing up in Box Hill during the 1950sand 1960s, Geoff will speak on Box HillLibrary where he began his career as acadet librarian. Meetings are held atStrabane Chapel Hall, Strabane Avenue,Mont Albert North, starting at 8:00pm. Visitors are welcome. Enquiries:phone: 9285 4808 or see www.vicnet.net.au/~bhhs/CHELSEA: The Chelsea and DistrictHistorical Society Inc. is wanting todonate a collection in very good orderof 100 stereoscopes of scenes of Japanand its people at the turn of the 20 thcentury (1903-1905). On each reverseside there is printed in English a detailedexplanation of the photograph. Hopefullythe collection can be placed where it willbe of informative use. To inquire and toarrange collection write to the ChelseaHistorical Society, PO Box 377 Chelsea,Vic. 3196.DONCASTER-TEMPLESTOWE:The Annual Garden Party will be held onthe North Lawn at Schramm’s Cottagein Rieschiecks Reserve, Victoria Street,Doncaster from 7.15pm on Saturday 14February with a spit roast, sweets andcoffee (BYO alcoholic drinks) for $25each – bookings to Bill on 9842 1470.See www.vicnet.net.au/~dthsoc/ECHUCA: The Society regrets thepassing of Joan Mitchell OAM inDecember 2008, past President ofEchuca Historical Society for about 24years, after having been unwell for sometime. Her vast knowledge of the historyof Echuca will be greatly missed.FITZROY: At 11am on Sunday 15February the “Southern Walk” will beheld, south along Gore Street to VictoriaParade and back along George Street,and includes the site of Alfred Deakin’sbirthplace. At 7pm on Tuesday 3 Marcha twilight walk will include St Mark’sAnglican Church, George Street, andmany other highlights on the “EasternWalk”. The starting point for bothwalks is the steps of the Town Hall. Seefitzroyhistorysociety@yahoo.comGARDEN HISTORY: The 2009Autumn Tour of the Australian GardenHistory Society will be held 26 April to2 May, 7 days/6 nights of private gardensand buildings, history, art, literature,people and landscapes at Armidale,Bundarra, Guyra, Glen Innes, Uralla andWalcha in the New England region. Bookwith Jacki on 9650 5043 or see www.gardenhistorysociety.org.auGEELONG: At 8pm on Wednesday4 February in the Morrow Theatre atGeelong Library, 51 Little Malop Street,Katherine White will speak on “The Doorto Success? Paternalism and the VictorianRail Institute 1900-1939”. The SecondPeter Alsop Occasional Lecture will bepresented by Allan Willingham on “TwoGeelong Prussians” on 1 April. TheSociety works in conjunction with theGeelong Heritage Centre, which it wasinstrumental in forming and to which itsrecords have been entrusted. See www.geelongaustralia.com.au/Archives/HAWTHORN: At 7.30pm on Wednesday18 February in the Hawthorn LibraryMeeting Room at 584 Glenferrie Road,John Dean will speak on “A Million DollarCoffee Tin, an Ancient Wreck, a JewelledWatch, a Magical Pamphlet, a DesertedBookfair and Other Reminiscences ofa Hawthorn Collector”: bookings arerequired to Boroondara Library Serviceon 9278 4666.HEALESVILLE: Luke Steenhuis willspeak on “The Yarra Track” at 2pm onSunday 22 February at the Society’sRooms in the Healesville Memorial Hall.On Sunday 22 March Ray Churfch willspeak on “The Work of Rotary”. Contactsecretary Alma on 5962 3601; see www.healesvillehistorical.websyte.com.auHEIDELBERG: Perce Makingwill speak on “Recollections of smallbusiness in the area” at 8pm on Tuesday10 February at the Uniting ChurchCommunity Centre, Seddon St, Ivanhoe(enter from car park at rear). On 14 April“Research on Ned Kelly” will be CarlottaKellaway’s theme. Contact 9455 2130 orsee http://heidelberg.50webs.comINTERNATIONAL SETTLERS:This Service Group of the GenealogicalSociety of Victoria will hold a “ProblemSolving Workshop” at 1pm on Saturday21 February at the GSV rooms, LevelB1, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne. Seewww.gsv.org.au/Groups/isg.htm.KILMORE: At 8pm on Tuesday 3March Robin Northover will speak on“The Forgotten Inventors” in the oldKilmore Court House. On Tuesday7 April railway buffs Jim Marshalland Geoff McPherson will talk on theKilmore to Heathcote railway line.Contact secretary Liz on 5782 1243 orsee www.kilmorehistory.infoKYNETON: With an aim of settingtargets and goals for 2009 a meetingwill be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday11 February at the Kyneton Library:bring along ideas for meeting topics andevents. A comprehensive and detailedreport on the History Victoria SupportGroup Seminar Day held at Kynetonon 22 November is published in Vol.9 Issue 1 (2009) of The Chronicle.Phone 0418 545 648 or see www.kynetonhistoricalsociety.orgMALVERN: On Saturday 14 March a“Step Back in Time” Day will be heldat Prahran Market. For details phoneHenrietta on 8290 8220. MalvernHistorical Society is a member of theStonnington History Committee andthe South Metro History Group. Phone0438 515 631 or see www.vicnet.net.au/~malvern.MORNINGTON: At 10.30pm onTuesday 10 February at St Mark’s UnitingChurch Friendship Room, Barkly Street,Mornington, Natasha Wickes will speakon “The Keeper of the Light – CapeSchanck Lighthouse”, based on herresearch into the history of the lighthouseas well as plans for the future. Contactsecretary Dawn on 5977 0027 or seewww.vicnet.net.au/~mornhsoc

Around the SocietiesAround the SocietiesNARRE WARREN: Wendy Eldridgewill speak to the Family History Groupon “New South Wales Records” at 8pmon Wednesday 11 February at the NarreWarren Library in Overland Drive. Seehttp://home.vicnet.net.au/~nwfhg/NEPEAN: The Society has been awardeda Commonwealth Heritage Grant of$4950 to engage a professional archivistto prepare a significance assessment ofthe Museum’s collection. A CommunityGrant from the Mornington PeninsulaShire for $1000 will be used to improvethe promotion display in Sringer’s storewindow. The new 1803 SettlementCentre is now open from 1.30-4.00pmat weekends and during school holidays.Phone secretary Don on 5984 0255 or seewww.nepeanhistoricalsociety.asn.auNHILL: A Valentine’s Day Raffle hasbeen arranged for the meeting to be heldat 8pm on Tuesday 10 February at LowanShire Hall, 104-106 MacPherson Street.On Tuesdays and Thursdays 1.30-5pmand Fridays 10am-3pm the ResearchCentre and Museum is open, at $5 perday for non-members. Contact secretaryKay on 5391 3131 or see www.vicnet.net.au/~ndhsNORTH MELBOURNE-HOTHAM:At 7.30pm on Tuesday 31 March GaryPresland will speak about his book on thenatural history of the Melbourne region:“The Place for a Village: how naturehas shaped the city of Melbourne”, atthe North Melbourne Library, 66 ErrolStreet, North Melbourne. More detailsfrom Mary on 9329 5814 or see www.hothamhistory.org.au.PORT MELBOURNE: From 10amtill noon on Sunday 15 February you candiscover “Art Deco In Port” by viewingthe diverse social and architectural historyof residential and industry art decobuildings of the beautiful foreshore andBay Street precincts of Port Melbourne,with Leader Robin Grow, President ofthe Art Deco and Modernism Society. A“New Heritage Precinct for Middle Park”walk will be held from 10am till noon onSunday 15 March. Phone secretary Paton 9645 2324 or see www.vicnet.net.au/~pmhps.QUEENSCLIFF: As part of theMaritime Weekend, on Friday 20 thFebruary you can attend “Fishy Talesin the Boatshed” for $12 per person.The Queenscliffe Maritime Museumhas been granted $2,000 by VictoriaHeritage to complete stage 2 of theOut5door Interpretive Display for theremains of HMVS Lonsdale. See: www.maritimequeenscliffe.org.auRICHMOND-BURNLEY: Over 1400women (and we have found at leastone man) signed the 1891 Woman’sSuffrage Petition from Richmond andBurnley. The RHSV homepage online“The WCTU & Woman’s Petition”exhibition provides further informationand access to the petition. Members ofThe Richmond & Burnley HistoricalSociety are compiling a register of thesignatories and their families. If you canhelp us by adding information aboutany person who signed the petitionplease contact Anne Heywood on tel:03 9874 8957 or e-mail RichmondHS@optusnet.com.au. Your help would bemost appreciated.ST KILDA: “The History of Magic”is the theme when Meyer and JoeEidelson trace the evolution of magicfrom ancient times to the modern eraincludintg Harry Houdini’s visit toMelbourne 99 years ago, and includelive demonstrations: at 2.30pm onSunday 15 February at the Communityroom of St Kilda Library. On 15 Marchat 2.30 Brian Bourke, past presidentof South Melbourne Football Club,will speak on “Litigation, Leather andLoquacity: Tales from a Public Life”.See www.vicnet.net.au/~hsosk or phone9537 1967SHEPPARTON: The display themesfor 2009 include Gentlemen’s Choicein February and Heirloom Jewelleryin March. A maintenance grant of$2,200 from Council was spent onpainting and repair work on displaycases in the Vince Vibert Gallery, thedoorway and windows. Upholsteredchairs have been provided at a costof $3700, and upgrading signage isplanned. Phone 5821 7717 or emailpeterandbeverleyford@hotmail.comWARRACKNABEAL: The Societywas joined by the Dunmunkle SumpOilers at their celebratory Christmasmeal. The Museum’s ManagementCommittee will extend the foyer tocreate mor room for archiving, storageand meeting. Warracknabeal Men’sShed is assisting with restoration ofa rare Jelbart Chaff Cutter. Moreinformation: contact Jean on 5398 1901or Robin on 5398 1475WAVERLEY: On Thursday 26February at 8pm, Graham Jordan willspeak on “The Story of Melbourne’sTrams”. Mr George Dore of G.W. DoreMaster Builders will spak on “BuildingMulgrave to Monash” on Thursday26 March. Contact secretary Normaon 9802 9332 or see www.vicnet.net.au/~whsvic.WHITEHORSE: Dorothy BrowneOAM will speak on “Women in Athletics”at 1.30pm on Saturday 14 February at theLocal History Room, Schwerkolt Cottageand Museum Complex, Deep CreekRoad, Mitcham. . Phone 9873 4946 orsee www.vicnet.net.au/~ndhsinc/YACKANDANDAH: The YackandandahMuseum, victim of a damaging fire whichhighlighted the advantages of historicalsocieties having a disaster plan, hasreopened with great fanfare, and lifeis returning to some normality withthe historical society and a museum torun. Guest of Honour, Andy Muirhead,from ABC Collectors, headed a day ofcelebrations including a parade, brassbands, role playing and dress-ups, andthe official reopening. Contact by emailto ykbankmuseum@yahoo.com.auHistoryNewsROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC.239 A’BECKETT STREET MELBOURNE 3000Phone: 9326 9288Fax: 9326 9477website: http://www.historyvictoria.org.auemail: office@historyvictoria.org.auABN 36 520 675 471Registration No. A2529Office Hours: Monday to Friday9am to 5pmLibrary Hours: Monday to Friday10am to 4pmESTABLISHED 1909PresidentProf Bill RussellExecutive Officer Kate PrinsleyAdministrative Officer Gerardine HorganLocal History Officer Vicki CourtVolunteer Co-ordinator Christine 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