MAY 2001 NEWSLETTER

MONDAY JUNE 4

The cheque for $3,376 from Parks Victoria is to be presented to our society on Monday morning by Dianne Hadden, member for Ballarat in the Legislative Council of Victoria. To show our appreciation and offer Dianne some Newstead Historical Society hospitality, it is hoped that lots of our members can be present. We expect Dianne at about 10.30 – 10.45am. ln the afternoon, an excursion has been arranged to the Newstead cemetery. We did visit the cemetery a few months ago but realised how much better it would have been if Moira Petersen had been there to explain some more details for us. Moira is going to be there on Monday afternoon to meet with us. Assemble at the courthouse at 1.45pm or meet at the cemetery at 2.00pm if you are interested.

INDEXING FAMILY HISTORY FILES

There is a need to be able to get ready access to the valuable information at present stored in the filing cabinet in family history files. Liz Coady has put her mind to the problem and has suggested a working bee at her house on Wednesday June 6 at 9.30 am. Bring your lunch and be prepared to help in writing out data that can then be put onto computer. Everyone welcome!

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Thanks to the many people who have already paid. The information was a little unclear – subscriptions are Single $15 Family $25 If you get the newsletters posted to you, an additional charge of $5 is requested to cover the cost of postage, envelopes etc.

MICROFILM READER-PRINTER

The society is now the proud possessor of a second-hand Canon machine. All did not go entirely smoothly but after three visits by Graeme Bowles from Microview the machine is in place and working. There is a written 3-month warrantee. It represents a major expense, $2,915, (which is the proceeds of 6 markets!) but it means assistance in several ways. 1; We will be able to get printed copies of articles in the copies of the Newstead Echo. At the moment we have copies of the years 1896 – 1920 and have a grant to get the remaining years, 1920 till ] 968. The whisper is that these might be here before the end of the month! 2; Two people can be involved on Monday mornings on the job of indexing the data from the Echo. Up till now, Janet Trudgeon has single handedly done this painstaking job and now Di Reid will also take on the project.

3. At times we have researchers also wanting to make use of a reader, so that at least one machine can be in use for our own work. At this stage we are still working out the cost for members and visitors to use it.

WHITE ANT TREATMENT

After a visit by Mandy Jean, Heritage Adviser to the Mount Alexander Shire, the society resolved on having treatment for termites. Two quotes have been obtained and the successful tenderer, Alan Poole, will treat the courthouse and surrounds.

MAINTENANCE

John Neall has been involved in repairing the mortar in the sandstone foundations. Mandy Jean had noted that a stone had fallen out and advised continual checking. John has also replaced the tap on the tank with one that has a removable handle, now kept in the kitchen cupboard to protect our water supply.

MUSEUM EXCURSION REPORT

Five members had a most enjoyable day, travelling by train and tram to the new Melbourne Museum. Unfortunately the new dinosaur section had not been opened but there was plenty to see, including the temporary exhibition “Forging A Nation” about federation. The Charles Nuttall painting of the opening of the first parliament was on view, a copy of which is hanging in our courthouse. The collection of the art of Lin Onus was on view in the Aboriginal Centre Bunjilaka. The outside Forest Gallery was impressive and we were pleased to see that the Science and Life Gallery still had a lot of the old exhibits of Australian animals, birds rocks etc that were a feature of the old museum. The museum is exceedingly spacious and fantastic but there were those of us who couldn’t help agree with some of the criticisms that have been aired – the positioning beside the splendour of the Exhibition buildings, poor lighting in some areas and the wisdom of that amount of money and space to show ”1% of their collections”. So you see you will just have to go and make up your own minds!

ACQUISITIONS

Copy of the Pedler Family Book, photos and letters from Laurie Redfearn including an early photo of the children at Joyces Creek school, a framed photo of the band in Rotunda Park originally presented to F W Ellis in 1920 and another collection of material from Margaret Di Fiore from the State Library,

CALENDAR

Monday June 4th 10.30 am. Visit by Dianne Hadden to the Courthouse

Monday June 4th 1.45 pm. Excursion to the cemetery

Wednesday June 6th 9.30 at Liz Coady’s house – indexing family history files Next meeting 18 June 1.30pm at the courthouse.

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