~13th October 2004 ~  

MEETING DATES 2004

Every 2nd Wednesday commencing at 10am, Tebbutt Room, Windsor Central Library, Dight Street, Windsor.

NEXT MONTH'S MEETING - 10 November 2004

St Gregory’s Catholic Church at Kurrajong will be celebrating the centenary of the present building later this year but the history of a Catholic Church on that site goes back to a much earlier period. At next month’s meeting, researcher Rita Crane will be speaking about the history of the Catholic presence in Kurrajong from the first meeting held to discuss the building of a church and school in 1839 to the forthcoming celebrations in December 2004. Land for the church and school was provided by Richard Fitzgerald and the timber church building was consecrated by Rev Dr Polding in 1840, the day after the opening of St Matthew’s Catholic Church in Windsor. The school operated from 1840 until 1880 and was attended by all denominations from the Kurrajong community. By the 1900s the old timber building was in need of replacement and the present church was opened and blessed by the Archbishop of Sydney, Rev Michael Kelly on 11 December 1904. Rita has also been researching St Gregory’s Cemetery which surrounds the church, the oldest surviving headstone dating from 1845. The listing of unmarked burials as well as a detailed survey of the cemetery has also been undertaken by Rita as part of her research project.

INFORMATION

BATTLE OF RICHMOND HILL & LAUNCH OF MEMORIAL PROJECT - 17th OCT 2004

Sunday 17th October 2004 10.45am-2.30pm at Richmond Hill, in the grounds of St John of God Hospital, 177 Grose Vale Road, North Richmond. Annual Commemoration with Peace procession and ceremony at 10.45am. Launch of the Richmond Hill Project & Reconiliation Council Local History Grantat 12 noon, followed by free BBQ Lunch at 12.30pm. RSVP for lunch to Melissa Stubbings 4588-5618 or melissa_stubbings@fcl.fl.asn.au

"KEEPING HISTORY" RAHS STATE CONFERENCE 23-24 OCT 2004

The Royal Australian Historical Society State Conference will take place on the weekend of 23-24 October 2004 at Blacktown City Council, Campbell Street. The 2 day conference (which includes m/a teas, lunch and tours) $100 each. Speakers include Ian Jack, Siobhan Lavelle, Heather Nicholls, Marie Metzke with a great range of topics. And conference offers. For more info contact the RAHS on (02) 9247-8001.

PIONEER REGISTER OF COWRA PRE-1900

Available late September 2004. Hard cover A4 x 300pp. For more details contact the Secretary, Cowra Historical Society, PO Box 95 Cowra, 2794 or tel (02) 6344-3526.

BLUE MTNS PIONEER REGISTER PRE-1920

Blue Mountains Family History Society newest publication is out now. Cost of this publication is $40 + $8 P&H send cheque to BMFHS, PO Box 997, Springwood 2777.

NEW LOCAL STUDIES ITEMS

New Local Studies items now available to consult in the Local Studies Collection at Windsor Central Library. To check the Library catalogue online go to http://catalogue.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/amlibweb/

On the Kurrajong-agriculture, Comleroy School of Arts, Wood traders [extracts] / BIRCH at RL994.42 ONT

The Australian Windsor & Richmond hawkesbury Advertiser Index 1873-1883 / GOW at RL079.9441 GOW

Occupational records in Australia / NUM at RL929.1072 NUM

The Grono, Books, Ellis and Dawes family / TAYLOR at RL929.20994 GRO

RESEARCH WIDELY

It is particularly useful when undertaking any research to read widely about a subject and delve into a range of material. Family History is no different and there are a wide range of subjects that family historians are interested in as a result of their research. Check the catalogue at http://catalogue.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/amlibweb/ for more information. Lending items can be reserved online (if you are a member and have pin) If you would like a pin number see library staff or ring 4560-4460. The
following items may be of interest :-

The trial of the cannibal dog : Captain Cook in the South Seas / SALMOND at 910.92 SAL

Australian mandarin : the life and times of Quong Tart / TRAVERS at 994.41 TRA

The navigators : Flinders vs Baudin : the race between Matthew Flinders & Nicolas Baudin to discover the fabled passage through … Australia / TOFT at 994.02 TOF

Slow water / JAGOSE at F JAGO

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. Richmond also has access, for bookings phone 4578 2002.

Richmond War Cemetery ~ http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/cemetery/richmond_war_cemetery/index.html

Convict burials 1828-1879 Convict Death Index (NSW) ~ http://www.hotkey.net.au/~jwilliams4/cdeath1.htm

Australian War Memorial, London (Battle names & Place names) ~ http://www.dva.gov.au/commem/oawg/london_awm.htm

Australian & NZ shipping info ~ http://www.blaxland.com/ozships/page.htm

Blue Mtns Cemetery Register ~ http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/cemetery/index.cfm

Blue Mtns FHS ~ http://www.rootsweb.com/~nswbmfhs/

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