November 2021 General Meeting (via Zoom)

 Carol Liston presents "Untold Stories - Women Transported from Britain to NSW"

Adjunct Associate Professor Carol Liston AO will be our guest speaker via Zoom on Saturday 20th November 2021.

Carol will discuss the crimes committed by women transported to New South Wales between 1800 and 1835.

Too often, convict women are described as poor and desperate - but many were experienced thieves whose crimes showed organisational skills and daring, and who probably had comfortable lives – until caught and transported!

Carol will discuss how to find this information online, without the expense of a trip to Britain.

Carol Liston AO, BA (Hons), PhD, FRAHS is an Australian historian who specialises in the history of early New South Wales.

She is President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for ‘distinguished service to the preservation and documentation of Australian history and heritage, to professional societies, and to education as a teacher and mentor’.

Join us via Zoom at 2 pm for what we are sure will be a fascinating presentation!

Details for joining the meeting will be provided to all members prior to 20th November.

October 2021 General Meeting

 Great News for Members!

After three meetingless months in lockdown, we're finally back in business on Saturday 16th October 2021!

Our October General Meeting will also be our first to be held via Zoom, and the link to join the meeting will be emailed to all members before the 16th October.

The meeting will commence at 2pm as usual. After our meeting, we are pleased to welcome our guest speaker: Chris Edye will present Alfred Wright's Autograph Book.

On his retirement from a career in university administration, Chris joined the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society. He became involved with our Rallying the Troops project, and wrote over 100 biographies and five chapters for our renowned series of books about Ku-ring-gai's contribution to the First World War effort.

Subsequently, Chris researched and wrote the story of Alfred Wright and his autograph book, which has been published as a book, appropriately titled Alfred Wright's Autograph Book.

So, just who was Alfred Wright? In 1916, Alfred enlisted in the AIF. After training at the Engineer Officer Training School in Moore Park, and at Roseville, he embarked aboard HMAT A14 Euripides, headed for Britain.

On the voyage he bought an autograph book, and over the next four years, during his time at war and on the way home, more than a hundred of the people he met signed it. This is the story of Alfred Wright's war – the places, the times, and of course, Alfred – illuminated by the stories of some of those he met, and of his return to a changed Australia.

Join us for what we are sure will be a fascinating journey on Saturday 16th October! Members, please keep an eye on your email closer to that date, for the link to the Zoom meeting.

Cancelled: 17th July 2021 General Meeting

Members Please Note

Our Saturday 17th July General Meeting has been cancelled.

David Wilkins was to have presented 'The Three Vietnam Wars from 1946 to 1975' after our July General Meeting, but due to the COVID-19 situation in the Greater Sydney area and the prevailing rules regarding indoor events, regretfully we have had to cancel the July Meeting and presentation.

Also kindly note that our Research Centre at Gordon remains closed until further notice.

Please keep an eye on our Events page for further information about how the developing situation may affect upcoming events.

Cancelled: July 2021 Family History Group Meeting

  Please Note

Our 3^rd July Family History Group Meeting has been cancelled
and our Research Centre is closed to visitors for the time being

We were to have presented a Forum after the 3rd July meeting, "My First Ancestor to Step onto Australian Soil", but due to the situation with the Bondi COVID cluster and the the current rules regarding the size of indoor events, regretfully we have decided to cancel the July Family History Group Meeting and Forum. We hope to present the Forum at a later date instead.

Kindly note that our Research Centre is also closed to visitors for the time being.

Please keep an eye on our Events page for further information on upcoming meetings.

Calling all old Aberfeldyans!

Help us to catalogue a new collection of historical material from Aberfeldy Preparatory School, Turramurra!

Ku-ring-gai Historical Society is fortunate to have received an extensive collection of memorabilia from the estate of the late Margaret Kennett.  

Margaret was first a teacher, then Principal, at Aberfeldy from 1974-1997. Originally employed by the redoubtable Mrs Rollinson, Margaret saw the transition through to Pittwater House schools in 1978.

Margaret wrote a history of Aberfeldy, “They Came to Aberfeldy” in 2002, and her research notes and ‘behind the lines’ insights for her book are part of the collection.

The collection also includes a testimonial book presented to Margaret at her retirement dinner in 1997.  The many letters from parents, students and staff speak volumes of her inspiration and devotion to Aberfeldy, and the deep regard and respect they held for her.

The collection also includes newsletters, plus hundreds of photos of students and events spanning her 23 years.

Unfortunately many of the photos are not accompanied by names or events – so… we are hereby putting out the call to any old Aberfeldy students and staff to assist us by filling in the blanks!

Here we present a sampling of the photos in the collection, and as we scan more, we'll add a few more here as well.

Do you recognise anyone, or any of the events? If so, then do let us know, either in the Comments below, or by email or via the Contact Us form on our website!

You can also help by coming into our Research Centre at Gordon, where you can look through them to see if you recognise anyone – please contact us to arrange a suitable time.

So get sleuthing – and help us to keep the memories of this historic local institution alive!

1980 School Photo

1981 School Photo

1982 School Photo

1983 School Photo

1984 School Photo

Margaret Kennett wrote on this one 'My first class at Aberfeldy' (c1973)

1982 Year 2

1983 Year 2T

1984 Year 2

1985 Year 2

1987 Staff

1987 Year 2

1988 Staff

1988 Year 2

1989 Hills District Eisteddfod (won fourth place)

1989 Some of Year 2 Sports Day

1989 Staff

1989 Year 2

1990 Staff with Rex Morgan

1990 Year 2

1991 Staff

1991 Year 2

1992 Staff with Rex Morgan

1992 Year 2

1993 Staff with Rex Morgan

1993 Year 2

1994 Staff with Rex Morgan

1994 Year 2

1995 Staff with Rex Morgan

1995 Year 2

1996 Staff

1996 Year 2

1997 Staff

1997 Year 2 (Margaret wrote on it 'My last Year 2 class' with 'the Boss' Rex Morgan)

1985 School Photo

1896 School Photo

1987  School Photo

1988 School Photo

1991 School Photo

1992 School Photo

1993 School Photo

1994 School Photo

1996 School Photo

June 2021 General Meeting

 Come along to our General Meeting

Held on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 2pm
(January - November)

Our next General Meeting is
Saturday 19th June 2021

Following our meetings we present our Speakers Program. Non-members are most welcome to come along to join us for our short meeting - or if preferred, just for the speaker's presentation, which normally starts around 2.20pm, followed by afternoon tea.

This month's General Meeting guest speaker will be

John Brooks

John will tell us all about...

"The Hassall Family in Australia"

Fleeing to Sydney in 1798 from hostile Tahitians – who seemed more interested in muskets than the Gospel – missionary Rowland Hassall thrived in his calling in the infant colony.

With his wife Elizabeth, the Hassalls went on to prosper and multiply, counting the City of Sydney Historical Society’s John Brooks among their many descendants.

John is a retired engineer, and a direct descendant of Jonathan Hassall, the third son of Rowland Hassall.

Currently, John is Treasurer of the City of Sydney Historical Association and has been a member of the Committee for fifteen years. He is also Treasurer of the Hassall Family History Association, whose objectives are to research and foster interest in the pioneering work of the family.

John is also Convenor of the Blackwattle Cove Coalition, which was formed to work in consultation with the Wentworth Park Sporting Complex Trust, the City of Sydney, and the various State Government Departments involved in planning the future of Wentworth Park and the Blackwattle Bay foreshores.

Read more about the Hassall family in our June Newsletter – then come along and hear John’s fascinating story!

See our Events page for further information.

Visitors welcome – afternoon tea will be available

No need to book – just turn up!

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.

June 2021 Family History Group Meeting

Come along to our Family History Group Meeting

Held on the 1st Saturday of each month at 2pm

(February – December)

Our next Family History Group Meeting is
Saturday 5th June 2021

Following our meetings we present our Speakers Program. Non-members are most welcome to come along to join us for our short meeting - or if preferred, just for the speaker's presentation, which normally starts around 2.20pm, followed by afternoon tea.

This month's Family History Group guest speaker will be

Ralph Hawkins

Ralph is the former Archives Officer at the Society of Australian Genealogists, and he'll be presenting...

"The Early History of Millers Point"

Ralph was Archivist at SAG from 1993–2008 and was awarded a Fellowship of the Society of Australian Genealogists. After many years of interest in Australian History, Ralph has used his knowledge to teach others via audio, video and internet platforms, as well as through his many publications.

Ralph is a guide at Parramatta Park, and conducts heritage walking tours around Millers Point. We are hopeful that the Society’s Tour Group may also organise one of these, led by Ralph, at a future date!

See our Events page for further information.

Visitors welcome – afternoon tea will be available

No need to book – just turn up!

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.