Maitland and District Historical Society

The Annual General Meeting of Maitland and District Historical Society Inc. was held on 18 March 2014.

 

A new committee was elected and these are the successful applicants:

 

President                            Ruth Trappel

First Vice President            Peter Smith

Second Vice President       Keith Cockburn

Secretary                            Tom Skelding

Treasurer                            Kevin Short

Recorder                             Judy Nicholson

Publicity Officer                 Val Rudkin

Bulletin Editor                    Judy Nicholson

Research Coordinators      Judy Nicholson, Val Rudkin, Ziggy Szyda

Technical Officer               UNFILLED

Committee                         Adele Cockburn, Elizabeth Martin

Public Officer                     Dennis Martin

Hon. Auditor                       Jennifer O’Neill

Society of Australian Genealogists

CALENDAR - April

A chronological list of all activities is now available for online viewing and bookings here. You can also phone Monday to Saturday during office hours on 9247 3953 or book over the desk during library hours Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday.

All activities are held at Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street unless otherwise specified.

• Thursday 3 April (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Getting Started on Your Family History - Members Only
  For new members with no family history research experience. Learn the basics of how to start researching, what to do, and where to find and ask for help. Members Only. Bookings Essential and limited to 10. Cost $10.00.
• Friday 4 April (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Hands On - SAG Library Electronic Resources & catalogue tips
  THIS SESSION HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM 21 MARCH. Held at 2/379 Kent Street Sydney. Our librarian will show you how to locate & use the many databases contained within the Electronic Resources section of the SAG library computers and give tips on effective searching of the library catalogue. You never know what you might discover! Limited to 14. Presenter - Lorraine Brothers. Bookings essential. $30 ($45 non-members).
• Saturday 5 April (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Hill End & Tambaroora Gathering Group and its resources
  Established in the 1930s this family history group has researched and compiled a considerable amount of detail from various sources about your goldfield ancestors. It has culminated in printed publications and the formation of a website which will help you understand the living conditions of this unique district.Established in the 1930s this family history group has researched and compiled a considerable amount of detail from various sources about your goldfield ancestors. It has culminated in printed publications and the formation of a website which will help you understand the living conditions of this unique district. Presenter: Lorraine Purcell. Bookings essential. $20 ($30 non-members).
• Saturday 5 April (1.30pm - 3.30pm) - Finding Margaret - a Hill End Case Study
  Margaret King was a servant in Hill End who died in 1872 and was buried in Tambaroora Cemetery in an unmarked grave. Using the clues contained in two letters written by Margaret and produced at her coronial inquest and reproduced in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, Lorraine Purcell will demonstrate the amazing amount of information that can be found about Margaret’s poignant life within the sources covered in her lecture held in the morning on the Hill End and Tambaroora goldfields. Presenter - Lorraine Purcell. Bookings essential. $20 ($30 non-members).
• Tuesday 8 April (8.00pm - 9.00pm AEST) - Webinar - Getting the Most Out of FamilySearch
  When Claire Brisson-Banks was in Sydney in 2013 she shared some great tips with our members for using this website. Returning via a webinar from Salt Lake City, she will share more ideas on using www.familysearch.org Presenter - Claire Brisson-Banks. Bookings essential and limited to SAG members only. Price $10.00.
• Thursday 10 April (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Writing Discussion Group - Appendices
  Other than the index, what else goes in the back of the book? Find out what you can put in as an appendix and why. Bookings Essential. $8 ($12 non-members).
• Friday 11 April (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Hands On - Staffordshire, Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire
  Join us at 379 Kent Street for this session which will highlight selected online sources and other types of material available for these three counties and where they can be found in the SAG library. The session includes an hour of research time at the library to consult the county records which have been featured. Presenters - Joan Healy & Philippa Garnsey. Bookings essential and limited to 14. $30 ($45 non-members).
• Saturday 12 April (10.30am - 12.30pm) - Charting Your Family Tree
  This practical session will introduce methods and guidelines used in the construction of family history charts, or pedigrees. Many family history software packages are very poor at producing standard drop line pedigree charts and knowing how to arrange information and set out a clear and concise chart is a useful skill for all researchers. Presenter: Jeremy Palmer. Bookings essential. $20 ($30 non-members).
• Wednesday 30 April (8.00pm - 9.00pm AEST) - Webinar - Sydney's Cemeteries
  Join Martyn Killion as he looks at Sydney’s major cemeteries and their records, with particular emphasis on what you can find from home. Bookings essential and limited to SAG members only. Price $10.00.

End for Kurri’s historic hall

From the Maitland Mercury report:

The 100-year-old Kurri Kurri Drill Hall was demolished during the latter part of 2013 to make way for a proposed medical centre. 

It was during the demolition that the old building saw its centennial anniversary, but no one seemed to notice. 

Once it was gone, questions were asked. How old was the building? And when and why was it built?

 

Full report available at Maitland Mercury, March 29, 2014. 

Hunter Councils has been going for nearly 60 years

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Hunter Councils has achieved many things for the region since it was formed 59 years ago, according to Maitland mayor Peter Blackmore.

The organisation, which formed in response to disastrous floods in the region in 1955, marked the beginning of its 60th year on Thursday with a board meeting at Thornton.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, March 28, 2014.

Les Darcy fan lands US soap acting role

From the Maitland Mercury report:

The man who is determined to bring the story of Maitland boxing legend Les Darcy to the masses has scored a ­recurring role on one of America’s longest running medical dramas.

Zac Garred has been cast as new age hippy Levi in the daytime soap General Hospital with his first episode to air on April 3.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, March 26, 2014.

East Maitland CWA celebrates 64 years

From the Maitland Mercury report:

There was a good roll up for the East Maitland CWA 64th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

A bush bash, barbecue lunch, bush poetry and Aussie songs were some of the entertainment on the day.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, March 25, 2014.

Historic trail just the ticket for bike track to link Maitland, Cessnock and Newcastle

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Lush bushland paints a spectacular backdrop to a planned off-road cycle path that would link Maitland, Cessnock and Newcastle.

The Richmond Vale Rail line would form a large part of the path, complete with 100-year-old trestle bridges and tunnels once used to haul coal.

“This will be seen as an international tourist attraction one day,” Aberglasslyn man and proponent David Atkinson said.

 

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, March 13, 2014.