Welcome new members - North Sydney Council

North Shore Historical Society Inc.
PO Box 399 North Sydney NSW 2059
Email: NorthShoreHS@Hotmail.com
ABN 58 742 490 986
Secretary ph: 9929 6637
President ph: 9450 1552
BULLETIN for June 2014
NEXT MONTHLY MEETING - Thursday 12 June 2014
will be held in the 2nd floor conference room, Stanton Library, Miller St, North Sydney.
Light refreshments are served from 6.30pm prior to the meeting commencing at 7.00pm.
VALE - Phyllis Geoghegan
It is with great sadness I report the death of Phyllis Geoghegan on Saturday the 3rd of May 2014.
Phyllis joined the Society in 1978 and for 12 years was our Secretary (1987 -1999).
During her years with the Society, Phyllis worked tirelessly on the Committee and behind the scenes and
was always looking for positive ideas to benefit the organisation. Her dedication, perseverance and
recordkeeping, particularly while she was Society Secretary still remains a valued legacy.
In 1997 Hazel Hawke presented Phyllis a Royal Australian Historical Society Certificate of Achievement
award; this was a very proud moment in her life.
Additionally, in 2008, Phyllis was awarded Life Membership of our Society and continued on the
Management Committee until July 2010.
During her 35 years association with the Society, Phyllis diligently undertook numerous tasks - particularly
noteworthy included:-Updated historic plaque register, which included taking photos of relevant plaques. The register is now
part of the Stanton Library Heritage Databases and acknowledges Phyllis' involvement.
-Assisted with the compilation of our monthly Bulletin.
-Attended Speech Days at schools to whom we continue to donate history prizes.
-Was the Society's delegate to a number of RAHS Conferences
-Instituted afternoon meetings at Don Bank and arranged guest Speakers.
-Researched and documented our Society's first 50 years of History.
-Administered the Brierley Prize and managed the launch of several of the Society's books including A Lady
in a Thousand, Larrikins of Lavender Bay and Henry Lawson's North Sydney.
At our May General meeting, a tribute for Phyllis was given by the Chair. Tom Ingham presented a moving
tribute to her and we observed some moments of silence in her memory. The meeting also moved to send
a condolence message to her family, noting her outstanding contribution to the Society - Phyllis will be long
remembered.
On behalf of the Historical Society I offer the deepest sympathy to Phyllis' family.
We can rejoice in knowing her, but we will miss her greatly.
Geoff Huntington, President
Welcome new members Ruth Holmes, Karla Whitmore, Greg Wilson, Ross Berry, and Jill and Garry Payne.
June Speaker: Don Eyb Former Commander of the NSW Mounted Police Unit
With 44 years of experience, Don Eyb is a very busy person with involvement in a number of organisations.
He trained the stock horses for the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and also travelled
to the Middle East to Doha, Qatar doing a similar thing for the Asian Games in 2006.
Topic:
NSW Mounted Police
Don will speak on the history of the NSW
Mounted Police Unit which is the oldest
continuous operational Mounted unit in the
world. It was formed by Governor Brisbane
on the 7th September, 1825 and consisted of
recruits from the colonial army regiment,
consisting of 2 Officers, 2 Sergeants, and 20
privates.
In comparison the London
Metropolitan Mounted Police were formed
in 1828 and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police in 1863. He will also speak on the
NSW Mounted Police Unit’s involvement
with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012
in the UK including a short DVD of the
Australasian segment.
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2014 May Meeting Report
Speaker: Robert Nash
The Huguenots: the Almost Forgotten People'
The Huguenots arose in France in the 16th and17th centuries when Calvinist Protestants questioned
the authority of the Pope and the sacramental rituals of the Catholic Church. Although Huguenot
numbers never exceeded 10% of the French population, France was ruined by the 30 year war
(1562-94) between the two creeds.
The ascension to the French throne of Henry of Navarre, himself a Catholic who had converted
from Huguenot Calvinism, eased the religious and civic constraints on the Huguenots and slowed
their emigration from France. However, when Henry's grandson, Louis XIV, came to the throne in
1661, he was determined to make the Huguenot's life impossible unless they converted to
Catholicism. His brutal persecution led to a dramatic diaspora of some 200,000 Huguenots who
sought religious freedom in other Protestant countries, as indeed had the earlier waves of
Huguenot emigrants. Some fled to neighbouring countries with significant Protestant
communities, such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, while others ventured farther
afield to America and South Africa. About 50,000 fled to England at this time, some of whom
settled at Spitalfields in East London, among whom were Robert's ancestors. While Spitalfields
became a centre for silk weaving, the Huguenots arrived in England with a remarkable range of
artisan skills: there were gold and silversmiths, sculptors, tapestry weavers, furniture makers, etc.
While there were at least four Huguenot descendents in the First Fleet, there was never any direct
migration of Huguenots to Australia. Subsequently, however, there has been significant migration
of Huguenot descendents; prominent Australians with Huguenot names include: La Trobe,
Piguenit, Cazneaux, Chauvel, Bonynge, Cazaly and Crommelin.
The Huguenot Society of Australia currently has 300 members. Robert's fascinating talk was
enjoyed by all present.
................... Don Napper
NSHS Bulletin June 2014 page 2 of 4
June Outing - Visit to the Shore School - Thursday June 19th 2014
By special arrangement, we will be taken on a fully conducted tour (lasting about 2 hrs) of this
famous Anglican educational icon of the Lower North Shore. The tour will be personally conducted
by Mr Rick Clive, President of The Old Boys` Union and Ms Kate Riseley, Shore School Archivist .
This is a unique and rare opportunity to see the inner workings of the school and to hear about its
fascinating history past and present.
Established in 1889 by The Church of England, the school caters for approx 1600 day and boarding
boys to Year 12 . The school's first building was the magnificent Victorian mansion of the famed
gold prospector Bernhardt Holtermann; it now is a boarding house for the school.
In more recent times, the school purchased from the State Government the historic Graythwaite
mansion and its surrounding land to expand the school campus . The mansion was the former
home of Sir Thomas Dibbs, general manager of The Commercial Banking Company who in 1916
donated the building and land for the use of wounded soldiers. The school has recently completed
extensive building and restoration work associated with the purchase of Graythwaite.
To see photos of this wonderful restoration work use this link in your web browserhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zuG7OlWVPRg
GETTING THERE: The school is only a short walk up Blue St from North Sydney Station or Miller St
by bus.
MEET: Main school entrance in William Street opposite Blue St , North Sydney at 10.15 am for the
tour commencing at 10.30am.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Don Orr - phone 9955 2616
or email
don3070@exemail.com.au
Please register on booking sheet at June meeting. Note: numbers are limited Free to members
Graythwaite
C 1880
and
2014
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July Outing - Parramatta Heritage Tour Thursday July 17th, 2014
We will be taken on a fully guided “Drive by
Heritage Tour” in a 14 seat mini bus of the
Female Factory, Female Orphan School
(pictured), Old Government House, Parramatta
Park and Elizabeth Farm with a special stop to
visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Cost includes
morning tea (cakes, cookies, dip and biscuits)
at historic Lake Parramatta and an “all you can
eat” buffet lunch at Rosehill Bowling Club.
NSHS Bulletin June 2014 page 3 of 4
Parramatta tour cont.
Meet: 8.45 am Number 5 Wharf Circular Quay to catch the 9.07 River cat Ferry to Parramatta
where we will be picked up at 10.30am by our mini bus to commence our tour.
Return: We will be driven to Parramatta Wharf to catch the 2.35pm return River cat ferry to
Circular Quay arriving 4.00 pm approx..
Cost: $33 per person (cost excludes $2.50 Seniors Travel ticket)
Note: Numbers must be limited to a maximum of 12, so members will have to book and pay early
to secure a place on this great tour.
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Looking Forward
Wednesday August 20th,
Outing to Power House Discovery Centre, Castle Hill.
More details in the July Bulletin.
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May outing- Society members at Loreto Kirribilli.
Please note- we have a new email address
NorthShoreHS@Hotmail.com
NSHS Committee:
Geoff Huntington
Don Napper
Gaynor Austen
Elizabeth Fountain
Vilma Bowers
Don Orr
President
Vice-President/Treasurer
Secretary
Minutes Secretary
Speaker Coordinator
Outings Coordinator
9450 1552
9460 0634
9929 6637
9925 0523
9955 4339
9955 2616
NSHS Bulletin June 2014 page 4 of 4