November 2024 General Meeting - Saturday 23 November

                    

After our GM at 2pm on Saturday 23rd November, join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1, to...

Jingle & Mingle!

🎉 Jingle & Mingle with Us! 🎉

Following a brief general meeting at 2pm on Saturday, 23rd November, you’re invited to join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1 for our annual end-of-year gathering!

This is the perfect opportunity to relax, enjoy a festive afternoon tea, and connect with fellow members as we celebrate another wonderful year together. Don’t miss this chance to wrap up the year in good company and conversation!

✨ Special Screening ✨

We’re also excited to present a short, nostalgic 20-minute film from the NFSA’s Film Australia Collection, Life in Australia: Sydney, produced by the Commonwealth Film Unit in 1966. Originally created to promote Australia to newcomers, this film paints a picture of Sydney’s vibrant lifestyle, work, and leisure offerings in the 1960s - a charming look back to an era just after the founding of our very own Historical Society!

🎁 Celebrate with a Touch of Tulkiyan 🎁

In honour of the 20th anniversary of the Friends of Tulkiyan, we’ll also have a limited number of beautiful linen tea towels that were originally produced for sale at Tulkiyan house openings, featuring original artwork by our own botanical artist and member, Marion Farley. These quality tea towels are a perfect gift for the holidays - available for just $10 each (cash only). Get yours while they last!

Come along and jingle & mingle with us! We’d love to see you there.

As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.

The venue is Gordon Library Meeting Room No. 1, in the Old Gordon Public School, which adjoins the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon (corner Pacific Highway and Park Avenue).

It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station.

For a map and parking information, see our Contact page.

AGM + Members' Forum: Saturday 26 October 2024

AGM + Members' Forum

History in Five

Join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1
at 2 pm on Saturday 26 October 2024

On Saturday 26 October 2024, we hold our Annual General Meeting. Following the brief AGM will be our Members’ Forum, with this year’s topic being… "History in Five".

Our Members’ Forum is an opportunity to get to know other members and share historical interests!

Members who have already pre-registered to speak will share their interest in a historical topic, and it’s called History in Five because each talk is for a maximum of five minutes. There will be time for questions after each one.

Talks will include the Tulkiyan story from two former Friends of Tulkiyan:

Beverley Dunstan (Tour Guide) who will speak on the house, the family and the source of their wealth; and

Jocelyn Brennan-Horley (Convenor) who will speak on the work of the Friends of Tulkiyan from 2004 to 2012.

To commemorate 20 years since the formation of the Friends of Tulkiyan group, we will also be selling the remaining stock of good quality linen tea towels that were originally produced for sale at Tulkiyan house openings.

At only $10 each, and featuring artwork by botanical artist and KHS member Marion Farley, these would make an ideal Christmas gift!

Limited numbers will be on sale at our October and November meetings (stock permitting) – cash only, please.

As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.

The venue is Gordon Library Meeting Room No. 1, in the Old Gordon Public School, which adjoins the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon (corner Pacific Highway and Park Avenue).

It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station.

For a map and parking information, see our Contact page.

October 2024 German SIG Meeting - Monday 14th October

  

Join us at 1.30 pm on Monday 14th October 2024

for the next meeting of our

German Special Interest Group (SIG)

Join us at 1.30 pm on Monday 14th October 2024 for the next meeting of the KHS German Special Interest Group (SIG).

Our German SIG is a fantastic way to explore your heritage and connect with like-minded locals researching their Germanic background in friendly discussions. We share information on researching your Germanic ancestors, including resources, techniques, history and customs.

Coming up at our October meeting will be a number of topics of interest to anyone with Germanic ancestors or researching their German family history:

“DUNERA Stories of Internment” is the theme of one presentation;

Along with “Personal Reflections on My Family Tree”;

An update on the activities of the IGGP and GAGHA (German-Australian Genealogy & History Alliance);

And, by members, “My best family tree research source”.

Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just starting your family tree, you’re warmly invited to attend. Come and join us for the discussion and stay for afternoon tea and a convivial chat - guests welcome!

Date: Monday 14th October 2024

Time: 1.30pm

Location: Old Gordon Public School building, 799 Pacific Hwy (cnr Pacific Hwy & Park Ave)

Parking: Subject to time limits in Council’s Wade Lane carpark (entry via Park Ave or St Johns Ave)

Train: Our rooms are a short walk from Gordon Station.

For a map, please see our Contact page, https://khs.org.au/contact-us/#hours

For more details, see our website, https://khs.org.au/german-sig

Please keep an eye on our website's Events page in case of any last-minute changes. https://khs.org.au/events/

September 2024 General Meeting - Saturday 28 September

                   

Guest Speaker:
Kyra Geddes

Join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1
at 2 pm on Saturday 28 September 2024

The Story Thief

Ku-ring-gai Historical Society member Kyra Geddes has resided in Gordon for more than twelve years and, after many years of research and writing, published her debut novel, The Story Thief https://kyrageddes.com/the-story-thief-book in May 2024 - a historical fiction largely set in Gordon and its surrounds, during the period 1916 to 1946.

It was in reading Henry Lawson’s iconic 1892 story The Drover’s Wife that Kyra was struck by how the female characters were not deemed worthy of a name or title beyond their relation to the men in their lives. This injustice became the inspiration to write The Story Thief.

Part fiction, part fact, the story follows Lillian, who was born in 1892. When she reads The Drover’s Wife at school, she quickly becomes convinced that it is based on her own family’s story and is determined to prove it. We follow Lillian over the course of her life across monumental points in Australia’s history - including women’s suffrage, the two world wars and the birth of nuclear warfare - as she must decide what is more important: holding onto the past or embracing the future.

Kyra’s historical research shines throughout the novel, beautifully depicting the North Shore and featuring numerous real people and places, including local historic houses Eryldene and Carinya in Gordon; Killarney Castle (which was used during WWII for air raid drills); and Ravenswood (where the protagonist Lillian teaches).

Copies of The Story Thief will be available for purchase.

(Please note, Kyra replaces our previously advertised September speaker, Dr Richard White, who is unable to attend on this date.)

As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.

The venue is Gordon Library Meeting Room No. 1, in the Old Gordon Public School, which adjoins the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon (corner Pacific Highway and Park Avenue).

It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station.

For a map and parking information, see our Contact page.

Thursday 19 September 2024 - Celebrate Spring with a visit to Swain Gardens!

 

Join us on Thursday 19 September 2024 - Celebrate Spring with a visit to Swain Gardens!

Join Joy Bryan, daughter of Mr Arthur Newling 'Mick' Swain, for a spring walk-and-talk through beautiful Swain Gardens.

WHEN? Thursday 19 September 2024 from 11am. FREE of charge - bring a hat and a snack - RSVP not required, just turn up.

WHERE? Walking entry is from 77 Stanhope Road, Killara. Street parking is available on Stanhope Road. Meet at the bottom of the entry driveway adjacent to the creek at 11am.

ACCESS: Entry paths are steep, with many steps around the terraced garden site. Wear walking shoes!

WHAT ELSE?

Private cars are not permitted in the garden.

Toilets are available with step entry.

Disabled access by car tours may be organised separately by contacting Council on 9424 0754.

Dogs are permitted to enter the gardens - as long as they remain on leash at all times.

Click here for a flyer with details on the history of Swain Gardens: www.khs.org.au/pdfs/Swain_Gardens_visit_19_September_2024.pdf

Don’t miss out on this beautiful garden ramble!

As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.

August 2024 General Meeting - Saturday 24 August

                  

Guest Speaker:
Noel Phelan

Join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1
at 2 pm on Saturday 24 August 2024

The Catalina Story

As many of their operations were carried out in secrecy, the story of the humble Catalina flying boat – and its crucial place in our WWII history – is not well known.

These long range, multi-purpose aircraft could land almost anywhere, and were one of the mainstays in the Battle for Australia and the Pacific. It has been said that the PBY Catalinas were to Australia what the Spitfire was to Britain in the Battle for Britain.

Noel’s presentation will describe the history of the aircraft, and the many roles the Catalinas played in WWII, including air-sea rescue, convoy escort, supplying coast watchers and others (such as Z Force) behind enemy lines, as well as the strategic mine-laying operations by the Black Cats. And at the end of the war, Catalinas were involved in repatriating POWs from Japanese concentration camps.

Hear about the history and incredible feats of these versatile aircraft and the bravery of the men that flew them during the dark days of WWII.

About Noel Phelan

Noel has been a volunteer guide at the Maritime Museum for over 15 years, and is a volunteer at the Naval Historical Society where he has developed three Navy harbour cruises. He has also organised a speaker’s program for the Navy Historical Society. Noel recently fulfilled a boyhood dream to fly a WWII fighter, by flying a Spitfire at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK.

As always, please keep an eye on our website in case of any last-minute changes.

The venue is Gordon Library Meeting Room No. 1, in the Old Gordon Public School, which adjoins the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon (corner Pacific Highway and Park Avenue).

It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station.

For a map and parking information, see our Contact page. 

Visit to Royal North Shore Hospital Museum and Archives, 29 Aug 2024

Visit to Royal North Shore Hospital Museum and Archives
Thursday 29 August 2024

IMPORTANT: Our first tour on 22 August is now full. This is for bookings for our second tour, which will be on 29 August.

BOOKINGS REQUIRED by Wednesday 21 August. RSVP to Judith Godden at secretary@khs.org.au

Have you ever walked past the historic Vanderfield building at Royal North Shore Hospital and wondered what was inside? Well, it’s time to satisfy that curiosity! Inside is a museum and an extensive, well-organised archive – and we can visit both!

Both places are treasure troves of local and hospital history. There is much to see: museum objects, photographs, biographical files… The honorary archivist, Dr Cate Storey OAM, and museum curator, Eileen Henderson, will kindly show our members and visitors around.

When? Thursday 29 August from 10am.

How long? Around 2½ to 3 hours, including morning tea, kindly provided by the Archive volunteers.

Cost? $20, cash only. The museum and archives are entirely reliant on volunteers and donations, so your $20 will support their work, and cover the cost of morning tea. Please bring the $20 cash on the day, to be collected before we enter the building.

Meet? Outside the Vanderfield building, Reserve Road, Royal North Shore Hospital (or on the verandah if it’s raining).

Getting there: It’s an easy 5-minute stroll from St Leonards station. Once through the turnstiles, turn right and use the pedestrian overpass which goes over Herbert Street. Follow the path to Reserve Road, then turn right onto Reserve Road, heading towards the main part of the hospital. The Vanderfield Building will be on your right.

OR

Drive to one of the Hospital’s carparks within an easy walk to the Vanderfield building. See www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/CYFH/HealthTopics/Documents/RNSH-Visitor-Parking-Map.pdf

Disabled access? The museum can be accessed without steps but sorry, the archives are on the first floor and there is no lift.

Kindly note: If you have booked for this event but your plans change, or if you have questions, please email Judith or contact her on 0408 967 937.

As usual, check for any updates on our website's Events Page, https://khs.org.au/events