• FAMILY HISTORY FEAST 2008 This is held annually during National Family History Week and features a day of free information sessions for family history researchers at the Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria. Includes the annual VAFHO Don Grant Lecture by Professor Alistair Thompson from the School of Historical Studies, Monash University on "Moving stories: British migrant women and family life in postwar Australia". Bookings essential. If interested please contact Public Record Office of Victoria on (03) 9348 5600 or 1800 657 452 (toll free).

• DATING PHOTOGRAPHS BY COSTUME Mrs. Jacki Mitchell, of Cheltenham, Victoria has offered to provide members with the benefit of her extensive experience in estimating the date that early photographs were taken by observing the fashion of the subject's clothing. See the June - July 2008 Newsletter for details or e-mail Jacki direct.

• ANNUAL PIONEERS SERVICE A Pioneer Service is held at St. James Old Cathedral in early November each year to commemorate the laying of their foundation stone by His Honour Charles Joseph La Trobe in 1839. Refreshments are served in the adjoining Conference Centre after the service. This year on 9 November 2008 we are hoping to participate in a 30 minute program loosely based on a timeline of events in Victoria leading up to the middle of 1851. This will give 6 members the opportunity to give a 5 minute presentation. It will be held in the Conference Centre at 11.30 am. after refreshments. If you would like to be a part of this please contact Barbara Hawkins on 9763 8252.

• FEBRUARY MEETING At our February meeting there was a display of family history memoribilia by members:

• SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER Subscriptions for 2008/2009 will become due on 1 July 2008. Members who have not yet renewed their subscriptions for 2007/2008 are urged to do so as soon as possible. For any enquiries please contact the Honorary Treasurer, Susan Grant. We are very grateful to the following PPPG members who have made a financial donation to the Group during 2007 and 2008 and we extend our sincere thanks: Mr. John Campbell (No. 1287); Ms. Marlene Campbell (No. 1211); Mr. Donald Henwood (No. 693); Mr. Richard Highett (No. 1041); Mrs. June Johnson (No. 1167); Mrs. Mary King (No. 939); Mrs. Maureen Maynard (No. 1299); Miss Audrey Morwick (No. 614); Mr. Leo O'Keeffe (No. 1225); Mrs. Sheelah Owen (No. 550); Mr. Ken Stewart (No. 712); Mr. Lester Stephen FGSV (No. 56); Mrs. Valerie Wilkinson (No. 605); Ms. Frances Wylie, in memory of her mother Mrs. Nona Wylie (No. 181).

• PIONEER REGISTER More people are still being sought to index this project. Basic computer skills are needed. You will be given a disk with the database already on it. No previous indexing experience required. It can be done in your own home at your leisure. If you would like to help please contact Barbara Hawkins on 9763 8252.

  Hut at Porcupine Township near Maldon, Victoria	PPPG Stand at the VAFHO Treasure Chest, 2006

• FAMILY HISTORY MEETINGS & DISPLAYS PPPG President Barbara Hawkins represented the Port Phillip Pioneers Group at the "AIGS Bendigo Family & Local History Fair" at the Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre on 2 March 2008. We were also represented by Barbara Hawkins at this fair last year as well as at the "Goulburn & Murray Association Family and Local History Expo" at Club Mulwala in November 2007. She was also guest speaker at the Heritage / Genealogy Group of the Probus Club of North Balwyn in July 2007; the Rotary Club of Eltham at the Immigration Museum in August 2007 and the Parkdale Library in November 2007. Assistance in setting up and staffing displays at future events and talks is sought from members. If you would like to help please contact a member of the committee or e-mail Barbara Hawkins.

• NEWSLETTER News items and articles should be sent to the Editor Barbara Hawkins, by e-mail. Ideas for articles include an account of some of your research work in progress or a visit to a place associated with your ancestors. Why not share some of your tips for filing, organizing, scrap booking and storing your archives? The editor's closing dates for forthcoming newsletters are 12 August 2008 (August-September Newsletter), 14 October 2008 (October-November Newsletter), and 5 February 2009 (February-March Newsletter).

• PIONEER PROFILES Pioneer Profiles Volume 5 is now available. Priced at $15.00 (plus postage and packing $4.50). See publications page for information on ordering your copy. Material for future volumes of Pioneer Profiles is being sought by editor Maree Posthuma. Profiles should be kept to about two to two and a half A4 size pages as this makes it fair for everybody. Members are also welcome to submit photos with their profiles, but please only send a copy, no originals. Remember if the picture is of poor quality it won't get any better with printing. Send to the Editor, Maree Posthuma by post, fax (5973-4600) or e-mail. See our publications page for further details of Volumes 1 to 4.

• MEMBER'S QUERIES If you can help with any of these queries please reply direct or e-mail Barbara Hawkins.

  LANCEY - Barbara Hawkins is looking for information on John Lancey ( of the Fawkner arrival ) and family. If anyone can help please contact Barbara direct.

  GALAGHER, MATHEWSON, ASH - Gloria Galagher writes: I have read "Pioneer Profiles" (volume 4) through and through many times and am just amazed at the lives of our Pioneers. The Robert Galagher and Isabella Mathewson article was of my husband's great-great-great-grandparents and is the reason I purchased it but I was blown away when I found two other articles on different members in my own family tree. One in particular I am interested in is the Ash family article by Cynthia Tate. If there is anyone out there who knows of Cynthia's planned book "The Ash's, Is Not Cricket" please contact Gloria Galagher.

  BOWMAN, HUTCHINSON - SUTTON GRANGE RUN - Debbie Hamilton has been given the task of finding descendants of William Bowman, who with his father-in-law William Hutchinson, purchased land at Sutton Grange in the Port Phillip District in 1838. She has other details and wishes to find this family as the Sutton Grange Run celebrates the 170th anniversary of settlement next year. She would be delighted to contact anyone who has contact or knows where some family members are.

  MILLAR/MILLER, WHITE, McCLUSKEY, WAREHAM, FORBES - Lynn Haines of Nagambie, Victoria is seeking information on Thomas Millar/Miller married Euphemia White. Owned property at Saltwater River (Maribyrnong) circa 1839. William McCluskey born Antrim, Ireland. Married Elizabeth Millar, daughter of above, March 1843 in Melbourne. William Wareham born Hampshire, England, circa 1805. Transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1831. Married Esther Forbes, September 1844 in Melbourne.

  ROBERTS, PEDRANA, CARR - John Lewis Roberts of Coleraine, Vic. states that in 1841 T. A. Roberts opened the Union Hotel in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. He also shows up in the census for the same year as Robert Arthur Roberts, Innkeeper, Union Hotel. The building was erected of brick and stone, and housed a family of 8 persons (6 female, 2 male) ranging in ages from 1 year to 45 years. John's great-great-grandfather was also in Melbourne at this time. He was in his mid-twenties and came from Lambeth, London (his birth and arrival dates are not known). He associated with Lewis Pedrana, a sometime Overseer of Roads at Melbourne who later operated the Dundee Arms Hotel. This is thought to have been a renamed Governor Bourke Hotel, which was owned by Michael Carr and his wife Kitty and located in or near Flinders Lane. John's great-great-grandfather married Mary Pedrana in May 1841 at St. James Church of England, Melbourne. She was Lewis Pedrana's only daughter and they had many children. John would like to find out more about the history of the Union Hotel and the family that operated it, including any family Christian names, and their descendants.

  BRYANS, BUDDEN, CORBETT, BAILLEIU/BAILLIEU, JACKSON, SHATNELL/SHACKELL, BLACK, NETTLEFOLD, HALLENSTEIN - Margaret Findlay of Davidson, N.S.W. is seeking information on William Bryans (Draper, of Collins Street, Melbourne) who first wife was named Anne who died in 1848. He married secondly in 1851 to Fanny Budden and had a son named William. William Bryans (snr.) went to Ireland to claim Magheramore Estate (there is a Rosborough connection which features in family names). His brother was Hugh Bryans who arrived in Melbourne in 1849 to join William in his Collins Street business. Hugh married firstly in 1855 to Jessie Corbett (d.1868) and had a daughter named Margaret (b.1858). Hugh married secondly in 1868 to Margaret Bailleiu (Baillieu?) and had a son named William (b.1873). They moved to Queenscliff in the 1860's and had a business in Hesse Street. Family names include Jackson, Shatnell/Shackell, Black, Nettlefold and Hallenstein.

  BROOKS/BROOKES, PATTERSON, THOMPSON, BAKER, DAVIS - Leanne McCann ( nee Brooks ) of Sydney, N.S.W. is the great-great-granddaughter of John Brooks ( or Brookes ) who was born at Stringybark, Port Phillip District in 1841, the son of Thomas and Sarah Brooks. A death certificate for Sarah Brooks ( wife of Thomas ) lists her as dying in 1845 at the River Plenty aged 27 years. No other information can be found about Thomas and Sarah Brooks. Leanne is the daughter of Norman Brooks ( & Ruvai Patterson ), son of George Henry Brooks ( & Frances Ruby Thompson ), son of Hugh Brooks ( & Naomi Jane Baker ), son of John Brooks ( & Mary Frances Davis ), son of Thomas and Sarah Brooks.

• HELP SOUGHT Isobel Fox of Cambridge, England writes that she is researching her ancestors, the Hutcheson family of Runnymede. This family features in the book "Cherry Stones" by our late member Helen Hudson. Isobel is concerned that Helen's research material may have been lost when she died and is trying to locate other family members that may have inherited them. If you can help please contact Barbara Hawkins on 9763 8252.

• MEMBERS INPUT AT MEETINGS A segment at meetings for members to present items of interest has been introduced. If you have had a "find", hold an interesting document or possession that belonged to your Port Phillip Pioneers, or have information or tips which may assist other members with their research, we would like to have you participate in our members' forum at meetings. These segments should be kept short, and will probably be limited to one member each meeting. If you would like to participate please contact Barbara Hawkins on 9763 8252, and arrange the most suitable meeting date.

• MICROFICHE READER The PPPG has a microfiche reader and large collection microfiche available for short term loan (approximately two weeks at a time) to enable members to continue their personal research in the comfort of their own homes. A deposit of $20.00 is required, $10.00 of which is requested as a donation with the remaining $10.00 being refunded on return of microfiche and reader. Donations will be used to purchase further microfiche as they become available. If possible, it is requested that the microfiche and reader be collected from and delivered back to the Secretary. Contact Marilla James on 9822 1776 for further details.

• OFFICE BEARERS & COMMITTEE FOR 2008 The following persons have been elected/appointed for 2008 - Barbara Hawkins (President); Margaret Kaan (Vice-President); Marilla James (Honorary Secretary); Susan Grant (Honorary Treasurer), Mavis Gerdtz, Jan Walker, Pam Fenwick and Michael Grogan (Committee Members). Mavis Gerdtz is Examiner of Proofs; Jan Walker is the Public Officer; Barbara Hawkins is Newsletter Editor; Librarian position is vacant, Tom Davison is Property Officer, Lester Stephen is PPPG Registrar and Alexander Romanov-Hughes is Auditor. There are still vacancies for a librarian and committe members - contact the Honorary Secretary on 9822 1776 if you would like to volunteer.

• REPRESENTATIVES The PPPG has representatives in Queensland (Elaine & John Bampton, 16 Robina Court, Robina, Qld., 4226. Tel: 07-5578-8382) and in the United States of America (Ken McNaughton, 3788 College Avenue, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043, U.S.A.).

• QUEENSLAND MEETINGS John and Elaine Bampton hold morning teas at their Gold Coast home for local Port Phillip Pioneers Group members. Future meetings may include discussions about member's ancestors and the districts they came from or possibly audio tapes of speakers at our Melbourne meetings. Contact John and Elaine on (07) 5578 8382 if you would like to attend one of their get-togethers.

• ADDRESS The Registered Office of the Port Phillip Pioneers Group Inc. is maintained by the Genealogical Society of Victoria at Level B1, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

• ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA. The Port Phillip Pioneers Group is a "Society member" of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. Our members are therefore entitled to visit the Society and consult their extensive records. When visiting you will be asked for proof that you are a PPPG member. If you are planning to visit please contact Susan Grant and she will post you a membership card which you can use as proof of your membership. Please note that we will not be issuing membership cards to all PPPG members.

• PIONEERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC. We have recently developed closer ties with this organization whose membership is open to persons who are directly descended from one of the Pioneering Families who arrived in South Australia between 1836 and 1845. They are located at Stafford House, 23-25 Leigh Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Telephone: (08) 82315055 or e-mail..

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