Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Trove Tuesday - Killara

For our post this week I have selected this llittle poem published in The Sydney Morning Herald in 1927.

1925 'KILLARA.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 28 March, p. 13, viewed 22 July, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16188139
The poet was Charles Walker Chandler.

Another poem by Chandler published in the Herald in 1926 was Bringin' 'em back.

1926 'BRINGIN' 'EM BACK.', The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), 16 January, p. 13, viewed 22 July, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16268750

Thursday, July 17, 2014

In our mailbox...

...is this invitation which may interest members and friends.

For enquiries please contact Sydney Living Museums.


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Trove Tuesday - Wonderland of Trees

Do these words from 1930 describe Wahroonga in 2014?

1930 'WAHROONGAN TREES.', The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), 13 June, p. 15, viewed 7 July, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16704444

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Rallying the Troops set to be launched

The first volume of our WWI commemorative book series is about to be launched.

We are excited that Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial (and former Federal MP for Bradfield) is returning to Lindfield on Saturday 26 July at 2pm to launch:

Rallying the Troops, a World War I Commemoration by Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, Volume I.

This volume includes chapters on Ku-ring-gai society before the War, memorials both local and overseas, early military campaigns, and biographies of those with surnames beginning with A to F. 
Dr Nelson has written a stimulating Foreword for the book.

The launch afternoon is almost fully subscribed, with about 120 people already booked in. If you would like to attend, please phone or email KHS as soon as possible to book your place.

We have a special early bird purchase price of $40 for purchases up to 31 August.

From 1 September 2014 the price will be $50.

Packaging and Postage within Australia is $15.

Please check our website for purchase details.
You can pay by EFT, cheque or visit the research rooms to pay in person by cash.
Copies will be available for purchase at the launch.
If you pay before the launch, you may collect it on the day and have it signed.


This is no ordinary World War I reference book.
Members of Ku-ring-gai Historical Society have rallied to delve deep into the service and family records of local soldiers and nurses to reveal their involvement in the Great War of 1914-1918. This volume is the first in the series; a second and third will be published in 2015 and 2016.
In the municipality of Ku-ring-gai in northern Sydney over 1,300 men and women served from a population of just over 12,000. They came from all walks of life, from labourers to university lecturers. Their origins were diverse, not only from the immediate locality but also from other parts of New South Wales, from other states and from other countries.
Their achievements were many; one in every ten was decorated. Their losses were great; one in every five did not return. What all did for their nation is monumental.
The Society has endeavoured to do justice to these veterans, to tell the stories that many never lived to tell or were unable to tell. The telling became a passion; it engendered pride and sorrow, anger and despair. Yet each and every story deserved to be told, to be recorded for all time.
At the moment of death, they became beyond time.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Picture South Perth

In the Federation of Australian Historical Societies e-Bulletin No. 126 - 28 June 2014 we have been alerted to a new  digital collection.

Copied below is the notification:

The City of South Perth recently launched a digital collection of historic images online; this project only went live a few short weeks ago and has been titled Picture South Perth. The website link to visit is: http://picture.southperth.wa.gov.au

Picture South Perth is an online collection of historic images dating back to the 1870s that showcases the people, places and events that have shaped the City of South Perth.
It contains photographs from the City of South Perth’s Local History Collection and artwork from the May and Herbert Gibbs Collection which has been scanned and catalogued by dedicated library staff.
Through Picture South Perth you can search, tag and comment on images. Key words such as people’s names, places and subjects can be clicked on to view more images that have been tagged with the same terms.

Share your images through Picture South Perth to preserve our cultural heritage.
Contact the City of South Perth Libraries on 9474-0800 or localhistory@southperth.wa.gov.au to arrange for your images to be scanned and returned to you.
(Sources: RWAHS – Email 24 May 2014 - History Council of WA’s Email Roundup, 23 May 2014)

Image source: http://southperthlocalhistory.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/picture-south-perth/

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Technology Special Interest Group - Thursday 10 July

Having returned from my travels I look forward to catching up with fellow members at our next  Technology SIG Meeting on Thursday 10 July at 1:30pm in the Society Rooms.

Please come along with your technology news and questions for discussion.

I had great success finding resources at The National Archives in Kew and would like to show you how and what I found about some of my ancestors by using the Discovery online catalogue.

Prior to going away I participated in the Royal Australian Historical Society's first webinar which was a worthwhile learning experience. I will spend some time talking about webinars for historians and family historians.


We will also take a look at Lifelink - the new Births, Deaths and Marriages search portal for indexes from the NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages.

Jill Ball

Monday, July 7, 2014

Family History Conference

The Illawarra Family History Group, hosts for the 2014 Annual Conference of The NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies, has asked us to share details of the conference with our members.

Each year several members of our Society attend and enjoy this conference which has a range of learning activities for all family historians.


Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Paul Brunton presents Joseph Banks

Come along to our next Family History meeting - this Saturday 5 July from 2pm.

Paul Brunton OAM FAHA is Emeritus Curator, State Library of New South Wales and an Honorary Associate of the School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry, University of Sydney.

He was Senior Curator of the Mitchell Library until 2012 and Curator of Manuscripts between 1986 and 2000.


An enthralling speaker, Paul Brunton brings to life the amazing Joseph Banks.


As a young man, Joseph Banks travelled with James Cook on “Endeavour” from 1768-1771. It was the great adventure of his life and produced one of the greatest of all manuscripts relating to Australian history.

Did you know:
·          -       He transcribed the Aboriginal word for kangaroo as ‘kanguru’ in 1770
·          -       He was wealthy and influential with a passion for botany
·          -       He accompanied James Cook on the Endeavour charting the Australian coastline
·          -       He kept an accurate and extensive journal describing Australia
·          -       He recommended NSW as the site for a penal settlement


Visitors are welcome and afternoon tea will be served after the talk.
Admission is free.

The meeting will be held at 2pm in the library meeting room between Gordon Library and the KHS research rooms.