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JUNE
NEWSLETTER 2003 EXCURSION The
dozen or so members and others who scrambled about on this delightful and
little-known area, enjoyed our trip to the Precipice. It was remarked that there
seemed to be more lichen growing on the litany of names scratched into the rock
face. The participants were interested in the area in varied ways. Some were
imagining the groups of local lads and lasses that had gathered here in the past
while others were interested in the geology of the place and curious if the
strange pools of water were natural or had been the work of aboriginals. Others
were interested in the flora of the site - rock fern, sundews and an indogofera
– but we all agreed that it was a naturally beautiful site. As the day was
cold we adjourned to the courthouse for our get-together afterwards. NEXT EXCURSION Because
of the wintry conditions it was decided to seek an indoor destination next month
and we have accepted the invitation of the Pioneers and Old Residents to visit
their premises in Castlemaine. If you are interested, either meet at the
courthouse as usual at 1.30 and we will car-pool, or meet us at the Faulder-Watson
Hall at 2 pm when Cliff Sheehan will show us their collection and tell us about
their organization. OUR WISH LIST! One
of the things that has been a result of ‘Newstead Remembers’ is that our
eyes were opened to the new technology that was used to scan images, burn them
to CD’s etc. Our computers are ‘dinosaurs’. They have cost us virtually
nothing and do a fantastic job of indexing the Di Fiore and Trudgeon files. But
if we had a powerful computer with scanner, CD burner and good printer it would
be possible to digitise our photographic collection. Copies could be produced on
site instead of going to Castlemaine and copies of the collection could be
stored off- site for safety’s sake. The entire cost would be in the region of
$3,000 so we are in the process of doing a detailed cost-analysis and looking
for grants that we could apply for. At this time we are lucky enough to have
talented, interested people willing to do this work and it would be a shame if
it stalls for lack of funds. 30,000
ENTRIES Brian
Dieckmann has done the latest merge of entries indexed in the Di Fiore and
Trudgeon files. Because we have a range of computers with varying capacities,
every so often Brian has to do the complicated job of assembling them onto our
main computer. The total now is 30,000 and thanks go to Brian, Margaret Di Fiore
who provides us with indexing of the Mount Alexander Mail etc, Janet Trudgeon
and Di Reid who are indexing the Newstead Echo and the team who are
‘beavering’ away each Monday putting it onto computer. Thanks also to Liz
Coady who had the vision to start us off on this project. ACQUISITIONS In
recent days we have been given ·
Several
old accounts from E A Rowe for shoe repairs that had been hanging in Boots café.
These had been donated to Bev and John Foreman by Wally Butler and have now been
passed on to us for safekeeping. ·
A copy of
the booklet produced by the Pioneers and Old Residents of Castlemaine. ·
A copy of
the Vaughan Cemetery records from David Avery. ·
An
article on John Andrews, a local aboriginal in the early days of Sandon by
Claude Culvenor and given to us by Joan and Alex Culvenor. OLD
ECHO OFFICE We
have had a request from a person interested in the old Newstead Echo
office and its removal to Swan Hill Pioneer Museum. Does anyone remember its
removal and if so how they felt about it? WEB SITE Newstead
now has its own website – www.newstead.info. This was the result of funding
from the Streetlife funding and a lot of hard work by Rose Walter, Jan Duncan
and Julia Elkins. We get a mention and are investigating having our own website.
At this stage we are checking out other historical societies’ websites and
working out how we would like our site to look. Any opinions and help would be
appreciated. WORKING BEE For
those able to help, next Monday, June 23rd, a working bee will be
held to plant a row of shrubs along our eastern fence line. The old fence would
be better if it was screened by continuing the line of greenery formed by the
acacias along our Canrobert Street frontage. There are several suckers of Acacia
boormanii that we hope to relocate and augment with small hardy plantings
from Frances Cincotta’s Newstead Natives. Any helpers will be welcome on
Monday morning. NEXT MEETING Our next meeting will be on July 21st at the courthouse at 1.30 pm.
A
suggestion has been made that we incorporate into our monthly newsletter as well
as the routine information for the month’s activities, an historical item. Our
subject for this month is the photo of the dinner to the old Pioneers. It shows
a gathering of elderly men ranged around a long table and in the background
another table on the stage with what could be the dignitaries of the evening. A
sign above the stage area reads ”WELCOME TO THE OLD PIONEERS”. experienced
in hewing a home and living out of the primeval forest whilst on earth.
Certainly, there are some still alive; a few were present at the dinner, and
others are scattered over the face of the globe. The dead were well represented
by their stalwart sons and other relatives, and all told, about
120 persons were present Mr Keast had invited many of his parliamentary
colleagues, who were represented by the Hon D McLeod and Mr H Lawson, M’s LA.
All arrangements had been left in the hands of Mr F. Nomens, and his stewardship
was most satisfactory. Mr. P. Harte, of the Newstead hotel, had charge of the
catering, and the cuisine was of the best. He had a large staff of waitresses at
his command, and their work was carried out so expeditiously as to leave nothing
to be desired. Cr. Kyd, president of the shire, occupied the chair, and several
of his colleagues in the council were also present. On the cards there were nine
toasts, embodying no less than twenty-two speeches, which we did not feel equal
to stand, therefore we refrained from attending. There was also a musical
programme of ten numbers, yet, although a start was not made until seven
o’clock the whole affair concluded by midnight. The dinner and the evening’s
entertainment were much appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed. The following was
the order of the evening:- The King, proposed by the Chairman, Cr J Kyd, JP,
President of the Shire, and which was musically honoured. Selection,
Caliph of Bagdad, Mrs. Nomens (piano), Mrs. Parks, Messrs F Mackie and F
Leathbridge (violins). The
Old Pioneers, proposed by W S Keast, Esq, MLA, supported by Dr Kilpatrick.
Responded to by Mr Geo Turvey and others. Song,
The Skipper, Mr J Lorraine. Our
Host, proposed by Mr C Atkin, supported by Cr E A Rowe and responded to by W S
Keast Esq MLA. Recitation,
Dr Kilpatrick. The
State Parliament, proposed by Mr H W James. Responded to by the Hon D McLeod,
MLA, Mr W S Keast, MLA and Mr H S Lawson MLA. Duet,
Albion on thy Fertile Plains, Messrs James and Skate. Municipal,
proposed by Cr R Beddoe (Melbourne suburb) and Cr E A Rowe. Selection,
Mrs Nomens (piano), Mrs Parks and Mr F Mackie and F Leathbridge (violins). The
Mining Industry, proposed by the Hon D McLeod. Responded to by Mr G McKay. Song,
Mr Lorraine. Agriculture
proposed by Cr C J Smith. Responded to by Cr C Coutts. Recitation,
Dr Kilpatrick. The
Press, proposed by Mr P Hanley. Responded to by those present. Song,
The Death of Nelson. Mr James. The
Chairman, proposed by Mr Alex McPhee. Responded to by Cr J Kyd.”
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Page last updated: 20 December 2008