Friday Event in the Society Rooms

This Friday between 10:30 am and 12:30pm Society President, Jackie van Bergen and Committee Member, Jill Ball will conduct a free workshop on Social Media in the Society Rooms.

You will learn about our Blog and Facebook pages and how to access them.  We will also take a peek at some other interesting blogs.  Please bring along your questions and we will endeavour to address them. If you and your friends are curious about Social Media please join us in this informal meeting where we will try to demystify the world of Social Media.

Bookings are essential: by email to khs@khs.org.au, by phoning the rooms, or dropping in to fill out the sheet with your name and contact telephone number.

The Life and Letters of Arthur Wesley Wheen

Guest speaker for Saturday's General Meeting will be Tanya Crothers will speak on the life of Arthur Wesley Wheen, little-known World War I hero, linguist, artist and writer (and former Gordon Public School pupil) whose Two Masters was one of the few contemporary anti-war books.

Tanya is the editor of the book  We Talked of Other Things The life and letters of Arthur Wheen 1897-1971.

Visitors are welcome to join us for the meeting and afternoon tea at 2:00 pm on Saturday 15th September in the Ku-ring-gai Library Meeting Rooms, The Old Gordon Public School (adjacent to the Gordon Library, 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon; Cnr Pacific Highway and Park Ave).

South of the Harbour

Around ten members of the Society will be travelling south to Gymea later this week to attend the 28th Annual Conference of the NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies.

Although registrations for the Conference have closed all are welcome to attend the free Pre-conference Family History Expo, open to the general public on Friday the 14th September.In addition to trade tables from societies and vendors there will be free 15 minute talks, free lookups and 1 hour workshops ($5 Entry)  by Heather Garnsey and Jill Ball.

Full details and directions to the venue can be found on the Conference website.

Vale Joyce Ryerson

Joyce Ryerson

Society members were saddened to hear of the death of our long time member, Joyce Ryerson, on August 30th.

The following tribute was read at last week's meeting of our Family History Group.

You will be saddened to hear of the passing last Thursday  afternoon  of our long time member and fellow family historian Joyce  Ryerson. 

Her archival activities at her old school SCEGGS Darlinghurst  will be  appreciated by generations of students in years to come. 

Joyce has left a legacy to many of us in company with the Sydney Dead Persons Society who named the Ryerson Index after her because of her huge collection of  Sydney Morning Herald Death Notices stashed away  in a  laundry cupboard. 

This Index is used by family historians world - wide, some  daily,  some not quite so often, but few have not ever used this index. 
 
Thankyou for your interest in our Family History Group, your company,  your family history skills and your friendship. 

Vale Joyce Ryerson.


An article published in the Sydney Morning Herald on July 26, 2005 tells the story of Joyce and The Ryerson Index.

Free Workshop - Blogs and Facebook

Join KHS bloggers, Jackie van Bergen and Jill Ball, at the Society for a workshop on Friday 28th September from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm.

You will learn about our Blog and Facebook pages and how to access them. We will also take a peek at some other interesting blogs. Please bring along your questions and we will endeavour to address them.
Bookings are essential: by email to khs@khs.org.au, by phoning the room (02) 9499 4568, or dropping in to fill out the sheet with your name and contact telephone number.

Non-members who want to learn about our Society and its foray into the world of social media are welcome to join us.

Brick Walls and Butchers

Armed with virtual sledgehammers the members who gathered for last Saturday's Family History Group workshop helped each other knock down the brick walls they have encountered in their research. The old adage A problem shared is a problem halved was supported as members offered each other suggestions for solving their research issues.

Geoff Hammond

 The guest speaker following our afternoon General Meeting was Geoff Hammond, a member of the Hammond family who had butcheries in Chatswood, Roseville and Gordon for over 100 years. Assisted by his daughter, Jennifer Patterson, Geoff told us the story of his family and their businesses, explained the issues facing butchers in the 19th century and amused us with anecdotes about life north of the Harbour. 

Near the conclusion of his talk we heard a little about Geoff's career in the NSW Police Force which included time as the Head of the Drug Squad. 

Thank you to Family History Group Leader, Jo Harris, for organising such an entertaining guest speaker. 

Hammond Family Photos

Social Media Seminar

Ku-ring-gai Council is hosting a seminar that some members may be interested in attending.

Introduction to social media for seniors

Learn how to connect with your family and friends online.  Anne-Maree Kerr from Tri Community Exchange will talk about a range of social media sites.

Date:  Thursday 20 September

Time:  10am to 12.15pm

Venue:  Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers - Level 3, 818 Pacific Highway, Gordon

Cost:  $10 - morning tea provided during break

   TARS and social media booking form.pdf (504KB)  (both Sept seminars on one form)

History Week Program

History Week 2012 will be celebrated from 8-16 September:

Threads They wore what?!

Long before the fashionistas of today decided ‘the look’, dress was an important element of human expression. From status to style, culture to professional identity, clothes have defined us. History Week 2012 will explore the history of threads and unpick the meaning behind the wardrobes of the past.

Details of  History Week  activities can be found here on the History Council of NSW website.