~ May 2009 ~  

MEETING DATES 2009

Meeting held 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10am in the Tebbutt Room, Windsor Library

INFORMATION

REMINDER 10th June 2009 meeting

Note - there will be no meeting on the 10th June 2009 as the group will be on an excursion. Tour of Ebenezer Church & Cemetery with Ted Brill cost $7.50 includes morning Devonshire teas. Bookings essential. Ring 4560-4460

Oral History Session

The Library is holding an Oral History session for persons actively wanting to conduct oral history interviews. The session will be held by Rosie Block from the State Library of NSW on Wednesday 20th May 2009 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The session is FREE but bookings are essential contact 4560-4460 if you are interested in attending or see staff at the Information Desk.

“Blessing of the Bonnets”

The a 'Blessing of the Bonnets' in will take place on Sunday 2nd August at 2pm at the St. Matthew’s Anglican Church Windsor. There will be a cuppa afterwards for people to be able to chat. For bonnet pattern and more information see http://www.christinahenri.com.au/ More news as it comes to hand.

Join in the Hawkesbury Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Program

Does your organisation have an event to be held in 2010 that they would like to be part of the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Program? In 2010, Australia will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the swearing in of Lachlan Macquarie as Governor of New South Wales on 1 January 1810.  Governor Macquarie had a profound influence on the development and landscape of the City of Hawkesbury, which included the naming of the townships of Windsor, Richmond, Pitt Town, Wilberforce as well as Castlereagh on 6 December 1810.

The Macquarie 2010 bicentenary is a national and state significant event.  Council is aware that a number of community groups are interested in staging celebratory events and activities and that planning is already underway for some of these events.  Council resolved that the most appropriate role it could take to support the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Celebrations in the Hawkesbury would be to facilitate the community’s response to the 200th anniversary date. Council has established the Hawkesbury Macquarie 2010 Committee, consisting of 19 community members, three Council staff and Cr Rex Stubbs as its Chairperson. The Committee’s work will focus on local celebrations within the Hawkesbury. Major roles of the Hawkesbury Macquarie 2010 Committee are to:

• Develop an overall calendar of events and activities that Council and community groups or individuals plan to stage during 2010
• Develop ways to assist groups in gaining information and skills in event planning and staging
• Co-ordinate branding and promotion of the Hawkesbury’s Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Program
• Promote Council’s Community Sponsorship Program, under which community groups and individuals may wish to seek funding support.

An online draft calendar of Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary events and activities will be developed as information is received from groups via a signed registration form.  To officially register your event or activity for inclusion in the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Program a registration form must be completed.  This can be downloaded from Council’s website http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/  or contact Keri Whiteley, Manager Cultural Services on 4560 4468.

Help select new books for the library collection

Do you enjoy reading and looking for new books to read? To celebrate Library & Information Week 2009, the Hawkesbury Library is inviting those that are passionate about reading to lend a hand with choosing new books from our suppliers. Come along on Thursday 28 May and assist staff with selecting fiction and non-fiction books for the collection. Participants will have the chance to reserve and then be the first to read the item after cataloguing. For people who enjoy reading this is great opportunity to see behind the scenes. Choose your own library books session will be held at the Hawkesbury Central Library from 10am to 2pm on Thursday 28 May. Refreshments will be provided for those participating. If there are any enquiries please contact the library on 4560 4460.

Bicentenary of Ebenezer Church 1809-2009

Oldest existing church in Australia ~ Now a Uniting Church, Ebenezer Church ~ was the first Presbyterian Church in Australia
Program of Events  Celebrations will extend over three days in June 2009 at Location of Ebenezer Church 95 Coromandel Road, Ebenezer, NSW.

Friday 19 June 2009 - Historical display open in the pavilion and Devonshire teas available
Saturday 20 June 2009 – Main Day From 10.00am: Historical display open in the pavilion; Barbecue & Food Stalls; Souvenirs; Antique Engine Display; Vintage boats on river; Entertainment; Re-enactment Outdoor Service starting at 2.00pm
Sunday 21 June 2009 - Family Picnic Day From 10.30am: Displays open; Working Antique Engines; Musical Entertainment; Barbecue, Devonshire teas; Historical walk-and-talks in church grounds; and to the nearby quarry and beach.
Ebenezer Church being the oldest existing church in Australia and, for the first 20 years of its existence being not aligned to any one denomination, we invite everyone to join us in these celebrations.  

More info www.ebenezerchurch.org.au email tedbrill@ebenezerchurch.org.au Ph 02 4579 9235

Surfing the internet……. Sites for family historians

Members with internet access should check out the following interesting sites. The Library has free access to the internet, contact 4560 4460 for bookings at Windsor & 4578 2002 for Richmond bookings.

• Lost & Abandoned Graves of the Hunter Region http://huntergraves.dnsalias.net/Graves/Container.htm
• Origins Networks – Ireland http://www.originsnetwork.com/
• QLD Archives Indexes online Including Index to Australian South Sea Islanders 1867-1908 & Justices of the Peace 1859-1910 http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research/indexes.asp

~ Let us know of sites, that you have tried with (or without) success ~