The FAHS remembers Weston Bate long-serving member of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria
Weston Bate served on the Museum Advisory Board in the 1980s.
He was awarded a fellowship of the the RHSV in 1991 and served on the
RHSV Council for fifteen years from 1990 and as President of the RHSV
from 1991-97 and 2002-05. He was awarded a fellowship of the FAHS
in 2001
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The Royal Historical Society of Victoria
(RHSV) and the community History movement in Victoria is saddened by the
passing of one its greatest sons, Professor Weston Bate on 31 October.
Weston Bate was born in Surrey Hills Melbourne, son of Mary Olive Akers,
a Californian and Ernest Bate an English-born engineer. He attended
Surrey Hills primary for three years before moving to Scotch College. He
then served in the RAAF and flew Lancaster bomber missions from
England.
After the war he enrolled at the University of Melbourne under a
serviceman’s tertiary scholarship and was captivated by History under
the tutelage of Max Crawford and his few staff. Weston began teaching at
Brighton Grammar in 1949, under the headship of Philip Wilson his
future father-in-law. taking teacher training classes each afternoon. He
began a part time MA in 1950, while teaching. His marriage to life-long
partner Janice Wilson in 1955, and their four of six children being
born before 1962, delayed the MA. It then became the ground
breaking A History of Brighton (1962, 1983).
After fifteen years of teaching at Brighton Grammar and Melbourne
Grammar, Weston was appointed to the History Department at the
University of Melbourne, where he became a passionate and captivating
lecturer. He became Professor of Australian Studies at Deakin University
in 1978 before retiring in 1989.
If his History of Brighton set new standards in local history, Lucky City (1978) and his second volume of Ballarat’s history, Life After Gold (1993)
set new heights in goldfields community history. This writing assisted
the creation of Sovereign Hill, which honours him with the Weston Bate
annual lecture. In retirement he wrote histories of Geelong and
Melbourne Grammar, of the Metropolitan and Barwon Heads golf clubs (for
he was a skilled player into his nineties), a wonderful book on
Melbourne laneways and other publications. He also published a chat book
of love poems to the Mornington Peninsula, Haphazard Quilt (2006).
Weston Bate served on the Museum Advisory Board in the 1980s. He was a
long-serving member of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and was
awarded a fellowship of the Society in 1991. Weston served on the RHSV
Council for fifteen years from 1990 and as President of the RHSV from
1991-97 and 2002-05. His greatest gift was to energise all those he met
and to inspire historical societies across the state to pursue history
with more skill, passion and tenacity.
The RHSV sends its deepest sympathy to his wife Janice Bate, their
children James, Rosemary, Tristan, Nicholas, Linden and Christopher,
their partners and their families. His last days were spent peacefully
at Cabrini Prahran with close friends and his much loved and loving
family by his side. A passionate lifeforce finally quelled.
Tribute by Emeritus Professor Richard Broome
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Vale Donald Menzies Gibb, FRHSV
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The FAHS recognises Donald Gibb, councillor of the FAHS and the RHSV.
Don was a powerhouse in the Canterbury History Group and produced a significant book on shops and shopping in Canterbury, Visions of a Village (with
Stuart Warmington). He was made a fellow of the RHSV in 2005
and received a Merit Award for his services to history from the
FAHS in 2010.
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Don was a wonderful man and a good
historian. He was selfless to a fault and gave of his time so
generously. He ran the Publications Committee of the RHSV for many years
and continued to be a member and support its activities since I took
over in 2013. Don contributed ‘Books Received’ for many years; was a key
member of the Remembering Melbourne team and fact checked the whole
book at the end.
Carole Woods can testify how much time he put into judging the VCHA
awards, reading about 150 entries each year from 2011 to 2016. He was a
consummate volunteer.
Don was good company, the nicest of men, a person of high integrity, and a meticulous historian.
He taught history at teachers college and then Deakin University, wrote
educational texts in the 1970s and was involved with the History
Teachers’ Association of Victoria as well. He was an active member of
the History Safari delivering lectures to country VCE students.
He was a councillor of the Federation of Australian Historical
Societies, receiving a Merit Award for his services to history from the
FAHS. He was an RHSV Councillor and made a fellow of the RHSV in 2005.
Don was also a powerhouse in the Canterbury History Group, often
organising its speaking program. He produced a significant book on shops
and shopping in Canterbury, Visions of a Village (with Stuart Warmington). Sadly his history of Canterbury was unfinished at this death.
Tribute by Emeritus Professor Richard Broome
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FAHS launches Succession Planning Guide and Workbook
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Image Courtesy of Michael Leunig
The FAHS launches the Succession Planning Guide and Workbook for Historical Societies and Community Heritage Groups.
This invaluable resource helps to identify and nurture the best people
to achieve society goals over the next two, five or ten years. It
helps safeguard the critical work of members and volunteers so that
it continues well beyond their involvement with the society.
The Succession Planning Guide offers solutions to succession challenges
with success stories from around the country. Ever wondered where you
are going ? Who you are as an organisation and where you want to
be ? The step by step process helps you evaluate your situation,
whether you are facing the challenge of diminishing membership,
considering who will be the next President or how you can find that
special person to photograph the collection.
The Guide and Workbook are available for Free on the FAHS website http://www.history.org.au/SuccessionPlanning.html
The workbook can be accessed as a full document or in sections. Download
the Guide and Workbook and put your plans into action for
attracting and developing potential successors for your organisation.
The Guide has been written by Dr Bernadette Flynn. In association with
the launch of the Guide, Bernadette Flynn is offering assistance in
Succession Planning through the FAHS History Clinic.
Whether you are just beginning to think about future needs or need
help with updating your succession plan, contact the outreach officer
to book in for a session fahsbflynn@gmail.com
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Mungo Man Returned to Country
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A casket made of ancient redgum containing the remains of Mungo Man is
laid on the ground in today's repatriation ceremony at the Willandra
Lakes. Picture: Christopher Testa.
Mungo Man, whose remains revealed Aboriginal people had settled inland
Australia at the Willandra Lakes more than 40,000 years ago, has been
returned to country after a four decade-long wait.
The Paakantyi, Parintyi, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa Aboriginal tribes
welcomed Mungo Man and 104 other indigenous remains home at a ceremony
by the shores of Lake Mungo.
A hearse arrived carrying the ancestors, having travelled all the way from Canberra to the Willandra Lakes.
Aboriginal elders said the repatriation was one of healing after efforts
to bring Mungo Man home since he was taken to Canberra 43 years
ago.
Dr Jim Bowler, who found Mungo Man in 1974, also addressed the ceremony,
calling on the government to build a memorial and educational centre at
Mungo.
Source: http://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/story/5064627/mungo-man-returned-to-country/
Related articles:
https://theconversation.com/mungo-man-returns-home-there-is-still-much-he-can-teach-us-about-ancient-australia-87264
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-17/mungo-man-returned-to-ancestral-home/9159840
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-20/mungo-man-return-celebration/9166862
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Featured Historical Society - The Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society
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The Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society in Sydney NSW collects, researches and preserves items and information relevant to the history of the Campbelltown district.
The Society is based at Glenalvon, a heritage listed sandstone colonial Georgian style town house.
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Since
1947, the Society has collected artefacts and items of note from around
the country and particularly those from the Campbelltown district. The
Society works to preserve the range of material in their collection
including agricultural items and wedding dresses, as well
as books, plans, and other manuscripts. Over
8,000 photographs, images, and documents have been digitised and catalogued in Collections MOSAiC. Access to the digital records are available to the public by prior arrangement.
Glenalvon,
is listed on the State Heritage Register as one of the oldest urban
townhouses in the township of Campbelltown (built in the 1840s). It was purchased by
the State Government in 1967 from a sympathetic owner who recognised
its heritage value. Consisting of a two storey main house, the
earlier servants quarters, and a Victorian coach house and stables,
Glenalvon is now run by the society as its headquarters, display and
meeting space. The Campbelltown City Council maintain the building
and cover the preservation expenses.
On
open days, tours are available of the house, heritage gardens,
buildings and the rural exhibition centre. Georgian, Victorian,
Edwardian and other period furnishings and memorabilia are showcased in the house with the servants quarters and kitchen used as a meeting area for the Society. The
society also has temporary displays, most recently an
exhibition telling the story of Fred Fisher for Fisher's Ghost
Festival (a local ex convict ghost!) and Victorian themed Christmas
decorations in the dining room. The society has decided not
to develop digital exhibits and instead retains its focus on
preservation, historical research, and showcasing the collection.
CAHS is a Museum & Galleries Standards Participant.
Membership is around 200 with about 30 of these members active in society matters and volunteering at the house. Like many historical societies, CAHS struggles to attract new members and volunteers. A significant proportion
of the members have moved away but retain membership and an active
interest in the history of the local area. In addition to the annual
lecture, members can attend the various celebrations at significant community and heritage festivals, book launches and excursions.
CAHS
works diligently for the conservation of Campbelltown's built, natural
and cultural heritage. Although the the City Council Heritage Protection
Sub-committee has now been disbanded, the society continues to function
as an informal advocacy group and is approached by Council on any matters of heritage interest. Located within the Heritage Precinct, formerly the town square established by Lachlan Macquarie, Glenalvon is now in the middle of a busy CBD. Local papers help to promote the activities of the society and obtains tremendous support from council and individual councillors.
L to R: At the launch of the latest Grist Mills Journal Over the Creek and Down the Hill, Early Life in Leumeah and East Minto by Wayne Williams. Wayne with Society President Kay Hayes. Inside Glenalvon House, Photograph by Chis Lane.
CAHS has published and sells local history books in the online shop. Grist Mills the
official journal of CAHS reflects the research endeavours of society
members and has been published 3 times a year since 1947. Campbelltown Stories is a collection of observations and recollections by people who lived in the area and now available on the website.
Kay Hayes in her second term as President, reflects how she wishes she hadn't waited so long to be involved in CAHS. Kay recognises
the demands of running a society and outlines how CAHS has changed from
being a social group concerned with history to one running a small
business. The society is a registered charity with DGR (deductive gift
recipient) status and has a variety of income streams through venue hire
(weddings and events); book sales and events. The Society recently
celebrated its 70th anniversary this year.
The House is open 1st Monday, 2nd Saturday and 4th Saturday of every
month, February to the end of November, 10 am to 1.00 pm, by appointment
and for groups. Free entry
Address: 8, Lithgow Street, Campbelltown
Website: http://www.cahs.com.au/
email: secretary@cahs.com.au
telephone: 02 4625 1822
Sources: The Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society Website and interview with President Kay Hayes
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Parramatta Female Factory added to National Heritage List
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A
convict-era site where 'uncontrollable' young women were sent to
be reformed has been formally recognised as one of Australia's most
significant heritage places.
Western
Sydney's Parramatta Female Factory precinct has been added to the
National Heritage List – a decision that may prove a thorn in the side
of the NSW government's property development arm, which wants to build
30-storey apartment blocks near the site.
Heritage
campaigners (from left) Noela Vranich, Beth Mathews, Gay Hendriksen,
Kerima-Gai Topp and Judith Dunn have long fought for the female factory
precinct to be preserved. Photo: Geoff Jones
Environment
Minister Josh Frydenberg said the listing would 'allow the Australian
community to stand witness to the lives and experiences of women and
children who lived there'.
The Female Factory precinct occupies a largely neglected, inaccessible three-hectare site next to the Parramatta CBD.
Parramatta Female Factory Friends have set up an online petition seeking World Heritage Listing for the site.
The only sure way for this heritage site to remain accessible to all
Australians is for it to be included as part of the World Heritage
Listing for Convict sites.
Click here to sign the petition.
The gazettal notice observes that the factory is a 'rare surviving
example of its type in Australia', compared to the 'variation of sites
associated with male convicts.. and that nine of the 12 female
factories constructed in Australia during the colonial period have been
completely demolished'. The full Federal Government Gazette
notice of 14th November is here
Further information: http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/parramatta-female-factory-and-institutions-precinct
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/parramatta-female-factory-named-one-of-australias-most-important-heritage-sites-20171113-gzkt1d.html
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Australia elected to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee
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On November 15th Australia was elected in
Paris to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee by the General Assembly of
States Parties to the World Heritage Convention. Australia will serve a
four year term, concluding in November 2021.
Australia was a founding member of the World Heritage Convention in 1974
and have served four times on the World Heritage Committee, most
recently from 2007 to 2011.
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Australian Diary Archive, Centre for Applied History
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Seeking diaries of ordinary life
Do you or your family have diaries, personal memoirs or letters in your possession?
Macquarie University’s Centre for Applied History want to develop an Australian diary archive revealing everyday histories.
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Do you or your family have diaries, personal
memoirs or letter collections in your possession? These can be written
in any language, and describe any aspects of the lives of Australian
people or people who have lived in Australia. The Centre for Applied
History want to collect documents that have not been written for a
public audience.
If you’d be interested in donating your diaries to this potential
archive, please contact the Centre for Applied History briefly
describing the document: who wrote it, how long is it, what period does
it cover, what subjects are discussed?
Contact: Diary Project, Centre for Applied History,, Macquarie University
email: arts.cah@mq.edu.au
Image: Letters from Louis Vasco (Vasco Loureiro) from England and France, 1916-1918, courtesy State Library of NSW
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Heritage Writing Competition, ACT
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Young people in Canberra are invited to put into words what their
cultural and family heritage means to them in the “Back to Your Roots
2017-18″ writing competition.
The competition encourages young people to express their cultural
heritage in a creative piece of writing such as a poem, song, story,
comic, script or essay.
The goal is to encourage young people (8-18) who live, work or study in
the ACT to develop a closer connection with their family histories and
better understand the significance of certain parts of their parents’ or
even grandparents’ culture.
All submissions will be judged and prizes awarded to winners in each of
three age divisions. The winners, and other select entries, will
also have their submissions published online.
Entries close at midnight Friday 26 January 2018, with the winners announced on 23 February 2018.
Further information: http://www.back2yourroots.org/
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Australian Heritage Festival 2018
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Australian Heritage Festival 2018: 18th April – 20th May 2018
The 2018 Australian Heritage Festival theme is My Culture, My Story celebrating
the diversity of cultures that have shaped our shared heritage. The
Festival is an opportunity to reflect on the places where we live, work,
and travel, and why they are special, celebrating our many diverse and
distinctive cultures. Communities are invited to tell their stories and
celebrate their traditions, including storytelling, music, food, dance,
traditional games, and crafts.
What are the cultures of your region, and how are they celebrated? What
are the stories of your community? Do you know an untold story that
should be shared? What is the role of new generations in celebrating and
protecting our heritage?
Registration are now open to submit event details. Listings go live from mid-February.
Further information https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/ahf/
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Fannie Bay Gaol Heritage Restoration, NT
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The Fannie Bay Gaol site will undergo a
$700,000 restoration process to protect and revitalise the local
heritage site.
Opened in September 1883, Fannie Bay Gaol was Darwin’s main prison for
almost 100 years until 1979. An infirmary was added in 1887, which
contained gallows used up until the last executions held in the Northern
Territory in 1952. Read More
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Australian Historical Association’s 2017-18 Awards and Prizes
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Applications have now opened for
the Australian Historical Association’s (AHA) awards and
prizes for 2017-18. The AHA offers four biennial and two annual prizes,
which range from awards for postgraduates and support for early career
research projects through to a biography award and first book award.
These include:
The Magarey Medal for Biography, awarded
biennially to the female person who has published the work judged to be
the best biographical writing on an Australian subject. The Magarey
Medal will be awarded next in July 2018 for a book published in 2016 or
2017.Applications close 31 January 2018.
The Kay Daniels Award, a biennial prize
recognising outstanding original research with a bearing on Australian
convict history and heritage including in its international context. The
next Kay Daniels Award will be made in July 2018. Applications
close 31 January 2018.
The W.K. Hancock Prize, a biennial prize that
recognises and encourages an Australian scholar who has recently
published a first scholarly book in any field of history. The next W.K.
Hancock prize will be awarded in July 2018 for a work published in 2016
or 2017. Applications close on 31 January 2018.
The Serle Award, a biennial prize given to the
best postgraduate thesis in Australian history. The next Serle Award
will be made in July 2018 for a thesis passed in the period 1 January
2016 to 31 December 2017. Applications close 31 January 2018.
The Allan Martin Award, a research fellowship
intended to assist early-career historians further their research in
Australian history. The next Allan Martin Award will be made in July
2018. Applications close 1 December 2017.
The Jill Roe Prize, awarded annually for the best
unpublished article-length work of historical research in any area of
historical enquiry produced by a postgraduate student. The next Jill Roe
Prize will be awarded in July 2018. Applications close 31 March
2018.
http://www.theaha.org.au/awards-and-prizes/
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NFSA, A Shared National Infrastructure for Audiovisual Heritage
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Image: Flood damaged film, NFSA
More than 800,000 hours of Australian audiovisual content must be
digitised before 2025 or it will perish, according to National Film and
Sound Archive CEO Jan Müller.
The Dutch-born archivist aims to form a hub of media preservation
partners such as the ABC and other broadcasters, the film industry,
libraries with audiovisual collections and the National Archives of
Australia.
'It should be a joint task to build a shared national infrastructure for digitising audiovisual heritage.... There
are so many audiovisual collections spread across the entire country,
mostly still analogue, it is very fragmented. That needs some
clustering and some leadership. We need to digitise as much as possible
in the years ahead.'
Source: https://www.if.com.au/nfsa-ceo-jan-muller-save-australias-audiovisual-heritage/
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Local History Grants Program, Victoria
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The Victorian Government recognises that local and community history is
an important part of Victoria’s memory. The Local History Grants
Program encourages and fosters community activities that preserve,
record and share the local, social and community history of Victoria and
Victorians.
Applications are now open for the 2017-2018 round
Applications close 5pm Wednesday 31 January 2018.
Application Guidelines, FAQs and Past Recipients
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Skills Development Program, RWAHS
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Spring Clean your Collection with
Natalie Evans, Director, CulturewithaK Museum Consultant.
A practical two-day course to health check your policies, governance and
National Standards alignment, review your documentation procedures, and
delve into the RWAHS collections.
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Ideal for paid and unpaid museum staff
looking to refresh existing skills and practice; collecting
organisations looking for governance basics and skills
development.
When: Saturday 24 February and Sunday 25 February 2018
10am – 3pm both days
Where: RWAHS, 49 Broadway, Nedlands
Cost: $165.00 (including GST) per person,
includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea both days
Tel: (08) 9386 3841 email: admin@histwest.org.au
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NLA Community Heritage Grants Recipients
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Congratulations to the historical societies and community groups who
have been awarded Community Heritage Grants from the National Library of
Australia.
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Successful Applicants include:
- Corowa District Historical Society - Preservation needs assessment of the Federation Museum Collection $5,150
- Eden Killer Whale Museum - Preservation needs assessment of the collection $4,500
- Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation - Significance assessment of the Djomi Museum Collection $9,330
- Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Inc - Preservation needs assessment of the Yirrkala Museum Collection $7,440
- The Queensland Women's Historical Association - Preservation needs assessment of the collection $4,950
- Peterborough
History Group SA Inc - Digitisation and archival storage for the
Peterborough Times Printing Office Collection Stage II $12,260
- Civil Aviation Historical Society Inc - Significance assessment of the Archives and Airways Museum Collection $4,950
- Kew Historical Society Inc - Significance assessment of the collection $4,500
- Eastern Goldfields Historical Society Inc - Archival storage of the photographic collection $1,200
- Royal Western Australian Historical Society Inc - Preservation needs assessment of the Costume Collection $4,500
- Warmun Art Aboriginal Corporation - Conservation treatment of the Warmun Community Collection priority items $13,530
Further information: https://www.nla.gov.au/chg/community-heritage-grants-recipients-2017
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Heritage-listed Tree in Darwin under threat
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The days of a Heritage-listed Milkwood tree in Foelsche St in Darwin’s CBD may be numbered.
Top End Native Plant Society committee member Lon Wallis said an
inspection last month revealed there was now no leaf coverage at all on
the ageing plant. 'Sadly, it would seem that Darwin’s recent 155 days
without any rainfall may have been the tipping point that has been one
stress too many,' Lon said.
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Considered to be the oldest and largest
specimen of its type in the Darwin region, it was Heritage-listed in
2006, and described at that time as a fine, healthy specimen.
Further information: http://www.topendnativeplants.org.au/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=200402 Source: ntnews.com.au
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History Council of NSW, Awards and Prizes
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The History Council of NSW awards and prizes for 2018 are now open.
The program of awards and prizes foster excellence in
Australian historical writing, showcase and reward best practice, and
advance and promote public understanding and appreciation of history.
Students and early-career researchers are especially encouraged to
apply, as these awards are an ideal opportunity for them to have their
work recognised in the history sector.
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The awards are:
The Deen De Bortoli Award for Applied History ($5,000), generously
sponsored by De Bortoli Wines – 2018 Nomination form (pdf
170KB)
The Aboriginal History Prize ($1,000) – 2018 Nomination form (pdf 145KB)
The Max Kelly Medal ($500), sponsored by Geoffrey Jones – 2018 Nomination form (pdf 128KB)
Entries Close: Saturday 31 March 2018
The winners will be announced at the Annual History Lecture
in September 2018. Nomination forms and further information can be
found at: https://historycouncilnsw.org.au/about/awards-and-prizes/
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History Festival 2018, History Trust SA
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The History Festival is an annual celebration of South Australia's
history. Each May South Australians explore history through hundreds of
events which range from talks to tours; walks to workshops; exhibitions
to special events.
Registrations are now open for the 2018 History Festival.
Stay in touch via our email newsletter (sign up below), or on Facebook and Twitter.
Register your event for the 2018 History Festival now
The History Festival is one of South Australia’s largest community
events. The festival promotes the State’s wonderful collections,
places and stories through an amazing range of history-related
activities. The History Festival began in 2004 as SA
History Week and has grown each year, becoming a month-long
festival in 2011. Its popularity and success is due to the hard work and
enthusiasm of the event organisers, including thousands of volunteers,
who are passionate about sharing our history. Open Doors: Built
Heritage Weekend The 2018 History Festival will open on 28 & 29
April with a special weekend focusing on South Australia's buildings
and architectural history. From heritage icons to bold contemporary
design, Open Doors will provide an opportunity for people to
see behind the façades and explore the state’s buildings in new ways.
https://historyfestival.sa.gov.au/
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The FAHS e-Bulletin, No. 172,
11th Dec 2017
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