Lucy Taksa – Commemorating the Centenary of the NSW General Strike of 1917

Max Solling – Greyhound Racing in New South Wales

Peter Moore – Queen Victoria’s Statue at Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building

Sue Tracey – Fake But No Fortune: Noel Lambert, The Forger’s Draftsman

Christine Yeats – What was the New South Wales Government doing in 1987?

Peter Hobbins – ‘341 Emigrants from Southampton’: A Stonemason in Quarantine

Christine Yeats – Resources about the Great Strike of 1917

2017 RAHS Conference in Cowra, NSW

2017 Cultural Grant Recipients

2017 Heritage Grants Recipients

2017 Certificate of Achievement and Certificate of Appreciation Recipients

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

HISTORYM a g a z i n e o f t h e R o y a l a u s t R a l i a n H i s t o R i c a l s o c i e t y

DECEMBER 2017 Number 134 $5.50(inc gst)

HISTORY December 2017 23

2017 RAHS CONFERENCE IN COWRA, NSW Lynne Allen and Suzanne Holohan

The theme of the 2017 RAHS Conference in Cowra was ‘Finding Lost Places, Lost People’. Delegates from 37 historical societies reconnected with friends and learned new skills to share with their local and community history organisations.

The Friday Pre-Conference drinks held at Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre provided a chance to experience the history of Cowra’s places and people. Hosted by the Mayor of Cowra, Councillor Bill West, delegates enjoyed an exuberant performance by Cowra High School Wagambirra Dance Group. Delegates listened to a number of speeches and discovered how the garden and cultural centre became a place of reconciliation between Australia and Japan.

On Saturday Wiradjuri elder Aunty Robyn Coffey opened the conference with a Welcome to Country and local speakers Councillor Ray Walsh, Graham Apthorpe and Lawrance Ryan explained how ‘Coura Rocks’ became the Cowra of today. Delegates learnt how railways played an important role in this process, making Cowra a fitting location for RAHS President Associate Professor Carol Liston AO and RAHS Senior Vice President Christine Yeats to discuss the steps in publishing Shady Acres: Politicians, Developers and Sydney’s Public Transport Scandals, 1872-1895 by Dr Lesley Muir. Carol also spoke of Lesley’s land titles research and encouraged historical societies to undertake similar work.

Increasing the accessibility of history resources was the focus of Saturday afternoon’s talk. Jenna Bain, Digital Projects Leader at the State Library of NSW, discussed Amplify, a platform for the delivery and transcription of the State Library oral history collections. Jenna shared ways in which local historical societies can collaborate with the State Library to increase the online availability of oral histories. RAHS Senior Vice President Christine Yeats then explained the significance of NSW Government Gazettes and Commonwealth Government Gazettes, and how best to access them online through Trove. Debbie Sommers highlighted Port Macquarie Historical Society’s eHive catalogue project and how it is helping researchers find

people, places and events that might otherwise have been overlooked.

Many delegates actively participated in the popular Sunday morning Business Session, during which the RAHS Affiliated Societies Committee facilitated debates on managing historical organisations. This was followed by the session ‘Backtracking – Discovering our Lost Transport History’. Emeritus Professor Robert Lee spoke of railways as a transient symbol of colonisation in the Lachlan Valley, and Dr Michael Bennet delivered a presentation ‘Trackers on Trains: The mobility of Aboriginal People in the age of rail, 1882-1950’. Both speakers inspired delegates to consider the richness of transport history and were encouraged to apply for funding through the Transport Heritage Grants program. RAHS Vice President Dr Christine Wright shared insights from

the Independent Funding Advisory Panel (IFAP), which approves the grants and provides oversight of, and direction over, decision-making on funding across the State’s transport heritage portfolio.

The final session of the conference focused on lost and found people. Margaret Stent, Vice President of Cowra Family History Group, discussed the Pardey Collection and the ways the images taken at the Pardey Studio reflect the forces that shaped Cowra’s history. RAHS Councillor Dr Peter Hobbins then asked delegates to consider the last traces of life and what can be learned from the inscriptions made by detainees at Sydney’s Quarantine Station. The final speaker, RAHS Councillor Judith Dunn OAM, explored how a whole cemetery may be lost but how researchers can resurrect this lost history.

The conference also featured tours, grant and certificate awards and raffles. A full program is available on the RAHS website.

The RAHS would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s conference, including Cowra Council, Cowra Family History Group, Cowra & District Historical Society, the RAHS Affiliated Societies, as well as the speakers and delegates who ensured that everyone discovered something new about New South Wales history.

Cowra High School Wagambirra Dance Group performing at the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre. Wagambirra Dance Group promotes Wiradjuri heritage and culture through dance, music and performance. [Photography courtesy of Lawrance Ryan]

The Hon Michael McCormack MP, Minister for Small Business, and RAHS President Associate Professor Carol Liston AO at the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre.

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The Cultural Grants Program is a Create NSW devolved funding program administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS). The 2017 Cultural Grants were awarded at the RAHS Conference and presented by RAHS President, Associate Professor Carol Liston AO.Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre – $2,000 Oral History Project – Pentecostalism in Diverse Communities of Western SydneyBlue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations – $800 Blue Mountains History Journal Issue 8

Recipients of the 2017 Create NSW Cultural Grant Awards presented by RAHS President, Associate Professor Carol Liston AO at the 2017 RAHS Conference in Cowra.From Left to Right: Dawn Springett – Central Coast Family History Society; Elizabeth Roberts – Convict Trail Project; Elizabeth O’Connor – Watsons Bay/Vaucluse Social History Group; Anthony Dawson – Port Macquarie Historical Society; RAHS President Carol Liston; Penny Sheppard – Coleambally-Darlington Point Country Education Fund; Alan Clarke – Shoalhaven Historical Society; Peter Morris – Wagga Wagga & District Historical Society; Jan Koperberg – Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations; Phillipa Morris – Mosman Historical Society; Ian Jack – Wellington Historical Society.

Central Coast Family History Society – $3,340 Publication – Point Frederick Pioneer Park CemeteryColeambally-Darlington Point Country Education Fund – $5,000 Coleambally: Looking Forward, Looking BackConvict Trail Project – $750 The Pick of the Great North Road – Volume 10Dangar Island Historical Society – $3,000 Dangar Island Historical Society Historical GuideGymea Community Aid Information Service – $3,500 Russian and Ukrainian Oral Histories of the Sutherland ShireHillston Historical Society – $583 Brochures – Hillston Heritage WalkLennox Head Residents Association – $5,000 Publication – Surfing Lennox: From sleepy hamlet to global surfing destinationMosman Historical Society – $3,000 Mosman Mail Digitisation ProjectPort Macquarie Historical Society – $2,400 The Birrpai – Beyond the Lens of Thomas Dick St Clair Museum, Goulburn – $4,000 St Clair Villa – 175 Years of Goulburn HistoryShoalhaven Historical Society – $880 Coachmen of the Nowra DistrictWagga Wagga & District Historical Society – $5,000 Digitisation Project – Daily ExpressWatsons Bay/Vaucluse Social History Group – $2,400 Oral History and Publication – The Way We WereWaverley Woollahra Arts Centre Co-op – $3,000 Oral History – 50 years of the Waverley Woollahra Art SchoolWellington Historical Society – $2,000 Publication – History of WellingtonWindellama Historical Society – $3,400 Publication – Some Windellama History

2017 CULTURAL GRANT RECIPIENTS

2017 HERITAGE GRANT RECIPIENTS

Administered by the RAHS, the historical research and local archives grants are funded by the Heritage Council of NSW. The 2017 Heritage Grants were awarded at the RAHS Conference, and are listed below. RAHS President, Associate Professor Carol Liston AO, presided over the presentation ceremony.

Clyde River & Batemans Bay Historical Society – $5,000 To digitise Shipping News

Co.As.It. Italian Association of Assistance – $4,680 To digitise photograph collections for the Association’s 50th anniversary

Fort Street High School Archives – $3,300 Fort Street Admission Registers Project 1911-1994

Hill End & Tambaroora Gathering Group – $5,000 Hill End & Tambaroora Pioneer Cemeteries Project

Lennox Head Heritage Committee – $2,400 Surfing Lennox: A journey of 60 years

Olga Sedneva – $849 Rockdale Art Award (1955-1977), its annual exhibitions and Rockdale Council Art Collection

Russell Workman – $2,210 For completion of the Shoptops project – Sydney’s Inner West

Darian Zam – $3,561 Crown Jewels

HISTORY December 2017 25

2017 CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT

2017 CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

Hazel Brombey Randwick & District Historical Society

For her considerable contribution to the Society as a valuable member since 2007, including her time as President. Hazel is currently Secretary of the Management Committee and the Public Officer.

Ross Cleary Canowindra Historical Society & Museum

Leonie Knapman

Leonie was an enthusiastic member of the RAHS Affiliated Societies Committee for 12 years, participating in both planning and facilitation of RAHS Conferences. As a member of Berrima District Historical & Family History Society, Leonie is a passionate advocate of the Berrima District. Her rescue of the archival and photographic collection of the Berrima Cement Works is highly acclaimed, as is her ongoing work with the former residents of the Mittagong Children’s Home, for whom she has restored a connection with the past.

Laura Signorelli

For her hard work in carrying out a variety of projects for the RAHS including podcast production, managing the RAHS shop, and indexing collections donated to the RAHS library.

Catherine Stuart

For her dedication in managing the RAHS Flickr Channel. Over the last six months Catherine has digitised several RAHS Photograph Collections previously unseen by the public and uploaded them to Flickr, making these images accessible online for the first time.

For his considerable contribution to the Society and Museum since 2007, which includes his appointment of Secretary in 2014 and President since 2015. Ross was actively involved in the organisation of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Society and Museum.

Ronda Gaffey Parramatta Female Factory Friends

For her work with the Parramatta Female Factory Friends, which Ronda has carried out efficiently and enthusiastically. Ronda has attended events held by developers and put forward the reasons for preservation and the urgency for National Heritage listing.

Mary Oakenfull Marrickville Heritage Society

For her considerable contribution to the Society over many years as a member, and since 2012, a Committee Member. Mary

has been particularly active in organising guest speakers and numerous outings with a wide variety of topics.

Debbie Sommers Port Macquarie Historical Society

For her achievements as a member of the Port Macquarie Historical Society since 2003, which has included management, policy development, procuring grants, as well as serving as President and Vice President.

Certificates of Achievement provide recognition to those members of societies whose contribution is significant and noteworthy to their Society and the community. RAHS President, Associate Professor Carol Liston AO presented the certificates and lapel pins, and those honoured are listed below.

Recipients of the 2017 Certificates of Achievement presented by RAHS President, Associate Professor Carol Liston AO. From Left to Right: Iain Carolin accepting for Mary Oakenfull, Marrickville Heritage Society; Leonie Knapman accepting for Lavinia Ford, Berrima District Historical & Family History Society; RAHS President Carol Liston; RAHS Councillor Judith Dunn accepting for Ronda Gaffey, Parramatta Female Factory Friends; Ross Cleary – Canowindra Historical Society & Museum; Debbie Sommers – Port Macquarie Historical Society; RAHS Senior Vice President Christine Yeats accepting for Hazel Brombey – Randwick & District Historical Society.