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JUNE 2001 NEWSLETTER VISIT BY DIANNE HADDEN Thank
you to the members who worked to get our courthouse looking so good for
Dianne’s visit. The large and very heavy display case was moved out of the
workroom to make way for the new reader-printer and eventually placed on the
magistrate’s bench. Sounds easy! It involved removing the panelling from the
front of the magistrate’s bench, with advice from Steve Walter, and assembling
4 strong men to lift. Those advertisements for Work Cover where the worker’s
back collapses took on special meaning! Help was forthcoming in cleaning and
setting up the exhibits as well as cleaning the courthouse and toilet, mowing
etc. A good crew of members were on hand to accept the cheque from Dianne who,
as a member of the Creswick Historical Society was well aware of our needs and
had many suggestions and an invitation to visit to Creswick to see their
exhibits. The cheque for $3,376 will be used to replace the agricultural drains
that are not working, remove the wooden plinths, slope the area adjoining the
courthouse and cover with a compacted material. The steep slope will also be
reshaped to allow for easier mowing. The date for finishing is February 2002. TERMITE TREATMENT The
termite treatment has been done in the courthouse and the treatment of the
surrounds will be completed in the coming week. As access to areas under the
courthouse is only possible in the area of the magistrate’s bench, several
trapdoors had to be cut to allow the chemical to be sprayed. However under the
watchful eye of our maintenance man, John Neall, this was carried out
sympathetically in areas where it would not be too obvious. EXCURSION TO CEMETERY It
was encouraging to see lots of members turn up to meet with Moira Petersen,
secretary of the Trustees. It was also heartening to see the dedication that
Moira brings to this position. She showed us the plans and answered our
questions before leading us on a tour. The cemetery trust is using money from
the former Racecourse trustees to have dangerous and illegible headstones
repaired. Moira was also sympathetic to our request to produce a booklet similar
to one published by the Buninyong and District Historical Society in association
with the Buninyong Cemetery Trust. MICROFILM READER-PRINTER At
the conclusion of our June meeting, Janet Trudgeon gave a demonstration. It is
in use on Mondays as a reader by Di Reid who is helping Janet index copies of
the Echo and as a printer when a hard copy of an article is needed. The cost of
using it will be Members: 20cents per sheet. Non-members: 50 cents per sheet INDEXING
FAMILY HISTORY FILES The
working bee to start this project was held. Several members are involved in
writing onto forms, information that is contained in these files. It is then
entered into an ”INMAGIC” program on the PC. When it is completed this
project will make available at the press of a button, where to find all the
relevant information on a particular topic. For example, if a request is made
for information on the name McKay, by accessing the files in FILEMAKER (articles
in the Mount Alexander Mail and the Echo) and INMAGIC (family history files and
catalogued articles), the whereabouts of photos, newspaper articles mentioning
the family and its links to the Byron mine would be available As the people
already doing this work will tell you, this job is tedious but not difficult and
only involves the use of a pen! You do not need computer skills. EXCURSION TO THE HARRY LAUDER MINE Some
time ago, Janet Trudgeon was reading the microfilm of the ”Echo” in the year
1910 and noticed several articles about the Harry Lauder mine. Some extracts
from them are as follows- 7.9.1910: Jones Bros crushed 17 tons for 51 oz 17 dwt
of gold. ”About the best show since the palmy days of the Byron”. Lansell
and others motored down from Bendigo on Saturday and on Monday a company was
floated. Newstead speculators applied for 11,000 shares but there were only
10,000. On Monday night shares were sought at 2/- but none were available.
28.9.1910: It is queer why the reef at this spot had not been prospected before
especially as the creek had washed it bare for about 20 feet. Several residents
knew the existence of gold in the stone but none had ever attempted to work it.
And it probably would have been allowed to remain in its natural state had not
Miss Jones accidentally seen gold shining in the stone as she crossed the creek
This induced her brothers to take out a crushing from where the creek formed a
ledge. A list of shareholders reads like a list of who’s who of Newstead and
the local poet wrote ”But we mean to pawn our trousers And even to the wowsers
Are battling for to see who’ll get in first; So the views we take are broader,
Pop our beans on Harry Lauder, And we do not care a tinker if we bust.” An
excursion is planned for Monday July 2 leaving from the Courthouse at 1.30 to
visit the site in Campbelltown. All welcome. ACQUISITIONS A
cup presented to Joan Cameron in 1934 for having the best general knowledge in
the YFC by Col. Lansell, has been passed on to the society. We also have a photo
of Joan with her pet sheep published in a newspaper at that time. Next
meeting Monday July 16 at 1.30pm in the Courthouse.
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Page last updated: 20 December 2008