Maitland Gallery to show eclectic collection

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland will be treated to art royalty in a one-off exhibition from well-known Australian art dealer, Frank Watters.
Dedicated to Frank’s late godson, Jasper Legge, Franks Flat: the Frank Watters Collection will open at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery on Saturday.
The rare, private collection of more than 200 artworks was co-curated by Mr Watters’ close friend and business partner, Geoffrey Legge, together with Mr Legge’s daughter-in-law, Sonia Legge.

Full article by Clare Harris available at Maitland Mercury, 26 May, 2011.

Boer War exhibition, NSW Lancers Memorial Museum

To commemorate Boer War Day (the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging) and the over 16,000 Australians who fought in the Boer War, the NSW Lancers Memorial Museum is mounting a special Boer War exhibition between 29 May and 5 June 2011. The Boer War broke out 16 years before Gallipoli, and many participants left this country as soldiers of one of the Colonies but returned as soldiers of Australia, because Federation was declared while the war was being fought.
When: 10am to 4pm on Sunday 29 May and again on Sunday 5 June and, by appointment through enquiries@lancers.org.au, midweek for groups.
Where: Commonwealth heritage listed Lancer Barracks, 2 Smith St, Parramatta
Further information: http://www.lancers.org.au/

Tom Hamilton a big part of Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Tom Hamilton, the influential Irishman, was a big part of Maitland life for many years.
The loving husband and family man died peacefully on May 18 at the age of 89 and he will be missed by many people. He was a linotype printer and later the first public relations man at The Maitland Mercury where he worked from 1960 through to 1985.
Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 24 May, 2011.

Unlock the Past New South Wales Expo at Coffs Harbour

A major history-genealogy-heritage event for much of New South Wales and Southern Queensland - and anyone with research interests in the region.   
3 Jun - 4 Jun 2011. The Expo will feature:

• A major exhibition - including local and family history societies, libraries, archives, museums, product and service suppliers. We welcome expressions of interest from anyone in the history, genealogy and heritage fields.
• Presentations from leading experts from around Australia. There will be a $5 charge for the main talks. Some others will be free.
  Unlock the Past web site has more info.

Trove 4.0 now available - National Library of Australia

The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce the release of Trove 4.0.
The Trove homepage has been redesigned to make it easier for us to communicate with you, and for new users to understand the benefits of Trove.

Historic Houses Trust new exhibition

The Enemy at home: German internees in World War 1 Australia.
Newly discovered photographs by internee Paul Dubotzki reveal what it was like to be interned in Australia during World War I.
During World War I nearly 7000 so-called ‘enemy aliens’ were interned in camps in New South Wales. One was young Bavarian photographer Paul Dubotzki whose remarkable photographs record the experience of internment from 1915 to 1919. In 2007 his entire archive was discovered in the small German town of Dorfen and it has been brought to Australia for the first time.
More information at Historic Houses Trust.    
Address: Corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney, NSW 2000
Contact: 02 9251 5988

Maitland Library compiling database on city’s history

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland City Library is collating a bank of resources to write the city’s history.
The Maitland Local Studies Strategy was unveiled on Thursday in what was touted as the first step toward the development of a “gateway” database and website as a single access point to historical resources. The strategy was written to address issues such as access, preservation, disaster management, promotion and education and to set a foundation for the care and growth of the city’s historical documentary resources.

Full article by Briony Snedden available at  Maitland Mercury, 13 May, 2011.  

St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Thieves have stolen copper guttering and downpipes from St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral in Maitland. The damage will cost many thousands of dollars to repair, Father Chris Butterworth said. “St Mary’s is an icon of Maitland and we like to be open and accessible to the community. Now we will have to increase our security, so this is disappointing.”

Full article by Kate Morris available at Maitland Mercury, 12 May, 2011.

History Week Event Registration – Deadline Extended

History Week : 3 - 11 September 2011
EAT History : Edible, Appetising and Tasty history of food :
The deadline for registering an event for History Week 2011 has been extended to Monday 16 May 2011.
To register an event, log on to the History Council website and click ‘Create a History Week event’
or contact the Administrative Assistant on 9252 8715 or admin@historycouncilnsw.org.au.

Maitland's Holocaust connection

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland’s connection to Jewish victims of the Holocaust and non-Jews targeted for persecution by Nazi Germany and its collaborators may be revealed as part of a worldwide online project.
Ancestry.com.au has teamed up with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to launch the World Memory Project to build the world’s largest online resource for information on victims of the Holocaust.
Maitland historian and co-researcher of the Maitland Jewish Cemetery Project, Dr Janis Wilton said the World Memory Project was a fantastic concept that also hit close to home.

Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 06 May, 2011.

Full steam ahead at Richmond Vale

From the Maitland Mercury report:
She's the only one of her kind still going and she'll be ferrying model train and vintage truck enthusiasts on joy rides at Richmond Vale Railway Museum next weekend.
The museum is holding its annual model exhibition in conjunction with the biennial Hunter Valley Vintage Truck muster and, as an added attraction; two trains will be offering free rides to visitors.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 07 May, 2011.

Australian War Memorial: rare memorial footage now online

Rare footage of Australian soldiers at the 1916 battle of Pozières is now part of an online exhibition of First World War films on the National Film and Sound Archive’s australianscreen online , published in collaboration with the Australian War Memorial. ‘This footage represents the first serious attempt to make an Australian war documentary. It changed warfare forever’, says Paul Byrnes, Senior Curator, australianscreen online.

Society of Australian Genealogists events

SAG events for May 2011 include:
Saturday 21 May (9.00am) orientation tour - Members only. A one hour orientation tour of our library at 379 Kent Street - find out how the library is set out and what services we offer there. Bookings Essential.
Thursday 26 May (10.30am - 12.30pm) Getting Started on Your Family History This opportunity is especially for new members with no family history research experience. Learn the fundamentals to start you on the road, and where to find and ask for help. Members Only.
Saturday 28 May (10.00am - 4.00pm) Schools, Teachers & Pupils Day. How to find records relating to schools, teachers and pupils through to the 20th century. Learning about an ancestor’s education or the perceived lack of it, need not be just about finding a pupil’s name on a school roll, join us to learn why.
Full list of events at SAG website.

Cross purposes: move to sell historic church at Bolwarra

From the Maitland Mercury report:
One of Maitland’s oldest church halls is about to be deconsecrated and sold.
On May 14, St Augustine’s Hall, Bolwarra, will be deconsecrated with plans to sell the hall to establish another building in a growing area.
It will mark the end of an era and herald the start of a new chapter for the Anglican Parish of Maitland.

Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 03 May, 2011.

Unlock the Past New South Wales Expo 3-4 June 2011

New South Wales Expo 3-4 June 2011
The first of four Unlock the Past History and Genealogy Expos this year will be held in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.
This is the major 2011 history, genealogy, heritage event for New South Wales and Southern Queensland. You will see numerous exhibitors in one place, hear expert presenters from four states with great opportunities for chatting and discussions with 100s of other family & local historians. You will pick up any tips and tricks, and perhaps even break down that brick wall you have in your research.

Museums and Galleries 2011 IMAGinE Awards

In partnership with Museums Australia (NSW), Museums Australia (ACT) and Regional Public Galleries Association of NSW, M&G NSW are pleased to announce the 2011 IMAGinE Awards . The Awards cover exhibitions, programs and projects that primarily occurred in the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.
The IMAGinE Awards celebrate the achievements and extraordinary diversity of the NSW and ACT museum and gallery sector and those who work within it, both paid and volunteer.

The 2011 IMAGinE Awards night will be held in the Australian Museum on Friday 30 September 2011.
More information at the Museums and Galleries website.