Please Note
Please keep an eye on our Events page for further information on upcoming meetings.
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
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| Margaret Kennett wrote on this one 'My first class at Aberfeldy' (c1973) |
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| 1982 Year 2 |
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| 1983 Year 2T |
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| 1984 Year 2 |
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| 1985 Year 2 |
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| 1987 Staff |
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| 1987 Year 2 |
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| 1988 Staff |
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| 1988 Year 2 |
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| 1989 Hills District Eisteddfod (won fourth place) |
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| 1989 Some of Year 2 Sports Day |
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| 1989 Staff |
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| 1989 Year 2 |
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| 1990 Staff with Rex Morgan |
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| 1990 Year 2 |
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| 1991 Staff |
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| 1991 Year 2 |
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| 1992 Staff with Rex Morgan |
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| 1992 Year 2 |
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| 1993 Staff with Rex Morgan |
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| 1993 Year 2 |
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| 1994 Staff with Rex Morgan |
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| 1994 Year 2 |
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| 1995 Staff with Rex Morgan |
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| 1995 Year 2 |
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| 1996 Staff |
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| 1996 Year 2 |
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| 1997 Staff |
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| 1997 Year 2 (Margaret wrote on it 'My last Year 2 class' with 'the Boss' Rex Morgan) |
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| 1985 School Photo |
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| 1896 School Photo |
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| 1987 School Photo |
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| 1988 School Photo |
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| 1991 School Photo |
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| 1992 School Photo |
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| 1993 School Photo |
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| 1994 School Photo |
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| 1996 School Photo |
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.
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
"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.
Following our General Meetings, held at 2pm on the 3rd Saturday of the month, we present our Speakers' Program.
Members of the general public are most welcome to come along to join us for the Society's short meeting - or if preferred, just for the speaker's presentation which normally starts at approximately 2.20pm, followed by afternoon tea.
This month's special guest speaker will be TV weather presenter Dick Whitaker, Chief Meteorologist on The Weather Channel.
Having joined the Bureau of Meteorology in 1971, this year Dick celebrates 50 years of working in weather! But today, he'll be wearing a different hat, as Dick will be presenting...
"The Infamous Eveleigh Payroll Robbery of 1914"
Dick Whitaker has captivated us in the past with his fascinating presentations, and this month he returns to enthral us with the tale of the infamous Eveleigh Payroll Robbery of 1914 – a bizarre story from the inner-city underworld that shocked Sydney in its day: the first robbery where an automobile was used as a “getaway” vehicle. It was carried out in broad daylight, too!
Visitors welcome – Afternoon Tea will be available
No need to book – just turn up!
The venue is Ku-ring-gai 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.
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| David Wilkins accepts the award on behalf of the KHS World War I Writers Group |
