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.

Australia's First Strike

Attendees at yesterday's General Meeting were entertained by guest speaker Ralph Hawkins, a local author and historian, who is the Archives Officer at The Society of Australian Genealogists.

Ralph Hawkins at KHS

Ralph shared the story of Australia's first strike in which a group of convicts successfully managed to earn an increase in their rations. During his talk that was supported by a range of fascinating images Ralph treated us to a number of interesting stories. Ralph's enthusiasm for his topic was infectious and those present left the event similarly enthused.

If you missed this opportunity to hear Ralph all is not lost. Your blogger has noticed that Ralph will be presenting this same talk at Hornsby Library and also at The Hornsby Historical Society in the near future. Details are available from those organisations.

Australia’s First Successful Strike

Our next General Meeting will be held on Saturday 18 May at 2pm.

Our guest speaker is local historian Ralph Hawkins. He will present an illustrated talk based on some new research, and revealing some surprising facts from early colonial times.

The meeting is held in the meeting room between Gordon Library and our Research Rooms in the Old Gordon Public School on Pacific Highway Gordon from 2pm. 

Visitors are welcome and afternoon tea is provided.