Athel D’Ombrain photograph collection

University of Newcastle Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses the recent digitisation of the Athel D’Ombrain Collection comprising of over 2,500 negatives, and talks about his life and extraordinary contribution to the Hunter Region.

Broadcast Notes:
The Athel D’Ombrain Collection was deposited with the University of Newcastle Archives in 1982.
The following notes are from an 1981 article in the University News entitled “University Post” (Vol. 7 No. 12 July 1981 p.[3]) supplemented with further notes from a variety of websites. He left an incredible and varied legacy in the wider Regional community. These photographs are an outstanding document of his life’s work and contribution to the natural world, history, architecture, science and art. They document many historical buildings throughout the Hunter Region, prior to restoration. They also document buildings and structures no longer extant.
The negatives were digitised by Sharon Mee and Michael Sherriff, and both should be congratulated for scanning the two and a half thousand odd negatives that are very challenging to handle. Sharon is currently uploading the negatives to the University Cultural Collections flickr site.

National Trust News

Trust News, Vol.4, no. 10, November 2011. Contents include:

• Ned Kelly's story lives on : old bones and new science
• Challenge on Perth's waterfront project
• Promoting Queenslan's secret sites
• Treasure of a sunken battlefield
• Our heritage at risk 2011 - a review
• Rediscovering Governors Macquarie's 19th century armchair
• Australia's forgotten wartime hospital
• A grave on the shore of Botany Bay
• Sir Howard Florey - a place on the National Heritage List

Milton Morris - Scrapbooks stay at ‘home’

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Flip open any page in one of about a dozen scrapbooks kept during Milton Morris’s almost 25 years as the Liberal Maitland MP and there is a snapshot of the city.
There’s a picture of a young Mr Morris jumping into Maitland Pool for charity and riding a camel along Church Street.
For as much as the yellowed pages filled with press clippings from the Maitland Mercury, the national papers and beyond document Mr Morris’s distinguished political career, they also tell of what life was like in Maitland in the era he represented the city in parliament.
Mr Morris could not be happier that the material will be permanently shelved at Maitland Library, in the electorate that returned him as its parliamentary representative nine times.

Full article by Briony Snedden available at Maitland Mercury, 21 Nov, 2011.

Another fabulous old tree in trouble

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Another of Maitland’s iconic London plane trees is in danger.
The tree, at the front of Maitland City Library, looks half dead with leaves only growing on one side.
The tree is the third London plane tree in Maitland’s CBD to show signs of ill health.
Two trees near Maitland courthouse were identified as suffering from a bug infestation and heat stress when Lochinvar arborist Steve Watson and Newcastle arborist John Atkins examined them at the Mercury’s request in February.
Full article by Belinda-Jane Davis available at Maitland Mercury, 15 Nov, 2011.

Inside History Magazine

Inside History is for people passionate about Australian and New Zealand genealogy, history and heritage. In the November-December 2011 edition (issue 7):

• Our preservation special looks at how to care for mementos, and how you can help conserve a piece of Australia's history
• It's our first birthday! You could win up to $970 in prizes, including the ultimate findmypast subscription package
• Looking for the lost grave of an ancestor? Read our guide first
• What heritage roses in cemeteries can reveal about your family's past
• She has my face! How author Hazel Edwards caught the genealogy bug
• Plus, take a tour around Tasmania's stunning – and historic – Maria Island

New Exhibition - National Museum of Australia

Inside: Life in Children's Homes and Institutions

On show from 16 November 2011 to 26 February 2012
Studio Gallery, National Museum of Australia
Free

Inside features the words, voices and objects of the Forgotten Australians, Former Child Migrants and those who experienced institutional care as children.
About half a million children spent time in Children's Homes and institutions, mostly run by state governments, charities and churches from the 1920s to the 1980s.
Inside examines how children were committed to 'care', what it was like to grow up on the inside, life on the outside and reactions to the Australian Government's 2009 National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants.

Memento: National Archives of Australia

Issue 4 of Your Memento from the National Archives of Australia includes:

• Death register sheds light on those laid to rest - North Head Quarantine Station
• ‘Holding you in my Holden’: a nostalgic look at an Australian icon
• Traversing Antarctica: the Australian experience
• Promoting history, culture and literature: ABC television and the creative writer

Ghost Tour - Miss Porter's House

SUN 27 NOV | 6.30PM - 9.30PM | Miss Porter's House

A night to dabble in the extra-terrestrial, learning more about the history of the House and Porter family – and perhaps getting in touch with those who lived there! Newcastle Ghost Tours paranormal investigation team will talk about how spirits manifest themselves and we will look at the modern ghost-hunting equipment they use. Perhaps we will learn more about Herbert and Florence Porter, or their daughters Ella and Hazel, than has been documented to date!  Bookings: essential Tickets/Enquiries: Renata Daniel 0411 357 519

Paterson Historical Society

From the Maitland Mercury article:
Concerned Paterson residents have joined forces to save Australia’s only public corn staddle from demolition.
The Paterson Historical Society has brought in reinforcements to save the iconic Tucker Park building before it is too late.
During the past week community members have lifted the main section of the building from its beams with a view to restoring the staddle to its former glory.
The century-old corn staddle and hearse shed are remnants of the once thriving coach business run by two generations of Maitland’s well-known Fry family. The staddle was built to store cobs of corn when they were harvested off the flat. They remained there until they were ready to be milled for horses.

Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 08 Nov, 2011.

Australian War Memorial exhibition - Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan

The Australian War Memorial’s exhibition Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan opens to the public on 2 December 2011. Australian nurses have been going to war for well over 100 years, but their important contribution to Australia’s overseas military operations often goes unreported.
The exhibition explores the involvement of nurses from the first known Australian in the Zulu War of 1879, right up to the experiences of the male and female nurses serving in recent conflicts and peace keeping operations.
Using the Memorial’s rich collection, the exhibition will highlight the personal stories of Army, Air Force and Navy nurses who have served overseas; their difficulties and challenges, along with their determination to care for the sick and wounded come what may.

Steamfest wins category

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland has come away with one first place and was highly commended in three categories at the weekend’s Tidy Towns, Sustainable Communities Awards.
Hunter Valley Steamfest took out the Cultural Heritage Award category, in which the Look Who’s Talking Local History program was also highly commended.
The Les Darcy Family Vault restoration project was highly commended in the Bush Spirit category, and improvements to Morpeth Museum were highly commended in the Heritage Building Restoration category.
Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 07 Nov, 2011.

Liverpool Leader added to digitised newspapers

The National Library of Australia has announced that the Leader (Liverpool, NSW : 1946-1949) is the most recent New South Wales newspaper added to Digitised newspapers on Trove. This title has been funded by Liverpool City Library. 

Women of Tocal remembered

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The lives of many strong women are recounted in Jean Archer’s Tocal book. There are the Aboriginal women, followed by the convicts and, more recently, the details of Myrtle and Marguerita Curtis who lived at the homestead until they died – three days apart – in 1985.
Titled The Women in the History of Tocal, the book is also a first for the region and includes a historical section and an imaginative re-creation of events. “I’ve written stories that could have taken place featuring women’s perspectives,” Mrs Archer said.

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

Dates for Australian Heritage Week 2012 announced

Tony Burke, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has announced the dates for Australian Heritage Week 2012. It will be held from Saturday 14 April until Sunday 22 April 2012. These dates incorporate 18 April which is the International Day for Monuments and Sites celebrated around the world every year.
Heritage Week is about honouring the places and stories that make Australia special and provides the opportunity to celebrate Australia’s unique heritage. State and territory Government agencies are encouraged to host events or activities.
Australian Heritage Week website has details. 

Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material

AICCM (the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material) presented ten awards on Thursday 20th October 2011, to conservators, volunteers and the media for their significant contribution to the conservation profession in Australia. This coincided with their National Conference in Canberra, ACT.
More information at the AICCM web site.

Milton Morris steps down

From the Maitland Mercury report:
After 30 years at the helm of Australia’s oldest and largest group training organisation, Milton Morris borrowed the words of a Labor prime minister to explain his decision to step down as chairman of the Hunter Valley Training Company. Mr Morris, also fondly known as as Mr Maitland, said he was “taking a step back”.
Full article by Briony Snedden available at Maitland Mercury, 01 Nov, 2011.

Trampolines, girls and a rich history

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Mick Fairleigh and long-time friend and collaborator Paul Doherty have reflected on their years at the PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Club) for their fifth book on the history of Maitland.
“We used to go to the police boys club when we were kids and we had such a great time there so we thought we’d put together a book on what we did there, but we’ve also decided to chase a bit of history as well,” Mr Fairleigh said.

Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 01 Nov, 2011.

Society of Australian Genealogists

CALENDAR - November
•Saturday 12 November (9.00am - 10.00am) - Orientation Tour
Members only. A one hour orientation tour of our library at 379 Kent Street. Bookings Essential. Free - but a gold coin donation to our Building Appeal on the day would be appreciated.

•Tuesday 15 November (8.00pm - 9.00pm AEST) - Webinar - Are Your Ancestors Hiding?
Tips and tricks to help you locate ancestors that you know must be there somewhere. Presenter: Heather Garnsey. Bookings essential and limited to SAG members only. Price $10.00.

•Tuesday 15 November (10.45am - 12.15pm) - Parramatta Heritage Centre - Behind the scenes tour
346a Church St Parramatta. Join Gay Hendrickson at the Parramatta Heritage Centre. Bookings Essential. $15 ($20 non-members) - limited to 20 participants.

•Saturday 19 November (10.30am - 12.30pm) - British Military Service Records
The records of members of the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force are extensive and can provide an insight into the lives of our ancestors who served their country. Presenter: Jeremy Palmer. Bookings Essential. $20 ($25 non-members).

•Thursday 24 November (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Getting Started on Your Family History
Learn the fundamentals to start you on the road, and where to find and ask for help. Members Only. Special Price of $10.00. Bookings Essential.

Tribute to Galtons history

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A beautiful part of Maitland’s history has finally seen the light of day thanks to the Maitland Historical Society.
Seven brightly coloured leadlight panels from the famous Galton’s department store are among the newest additions to the historical collection.

Full article by Clare Harris available at  Maitland Mercury, 31 Oct, 2011.

An Afternoon with Mrs. Beckett at Brough House

National Trust Event
Spend an afternoon with Mrs Beckett at Brough and Grossmann Houses, the 1870's National Trust's houses in Maitland's beautiful Church Street. Experience a taste of the leisurely activities in which an 1870's lady of the house would have participated, such as card games, and croquet, as well as learn about the social customs of the time. A traditional afternoon tea will be provided.

Saturday 12 November 2011
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Cost: $17 NT Member / $20 Adults
Please contact Holly McNamee for details (02) 4934 4314