Issue 21: Mar-Apr 2014

Now only $9.95

EX CL US IV E

GEORGE CLOONEY on history, the real Monuments Men, and working with Cate Blanchett

TOP TIPS FOR TRACING YOUR FAMILY TREE

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MA

R– A

PR

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Subscribe to win — see our offer on page 72!

archives worth visiting

ARTIST COLONY

How early convicts really saw Sydney

n Irish research n University archives n WWI resources

ON THE ROAD

Aus $9.95 incl GST NZ $10.95 incl GST PRINTED ON FSC-APPROVED PAPER MAR–APR 2014

9 771838 504008

ISSN 1838-5044

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Take a trip through historic North Queensland

HOW TO

FIND YOUR

female ANCESTORS Read our expert guide + groundbreaking women in science

A Voyage to Terra Australis

2014 MintMark SEriES

1300 652 020

RAMTA1402

A Voyage to Terra Australis, the historic journal of Matthew Flinders, recounts the extraordinary life of a remarkable, undeterrable man – the first European to circumnavigate the Australian continent. To celebrate the bicentenary of the journal’s 1814 publication, the Royal Australian Mint has released a stunning silver proof coin, complemented by an equally impressive uncirculated coin set.

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Contents ISSUE 21, MAR-APRIL 2014

On the cover

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Ask our experts Shauna Hicks helps an Inside History reader trace her Irish ancestry

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Westward bound We profile the Western Australian Genealogical Society, and their new project “Gallipoli Dead”

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Of monuments and men Actor and director George Clooney speaks to Inside History about his new film The Monuments Men, set during World War II

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The world anew The latest exhibition from the State Library of NSW looks at the luxurious art produced by the colony’s early European settlers and convicts.

We talk to the curator, Louise Anamaan

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What’s new online?

We spotlight 45 Australian and international online archives that are worth viewing

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Digging deeper Shauna Hicks investigates the holdings of the Noel Butlin Archives Centre at the Australian National University

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A life less ordinary Noeline Kyle offers an expert guide to finding those elusive women in your family tree

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Not just a man’s world Ian Hoskins looks at the women who forged careers in art, science and marine biology

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Going troppo Melissa Rimac packs up the car for a road trip to discover the rich history of North Queensland

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Inside History | Mar-Apr 2014 |

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Contents your family

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“We send you the following report…”

Di Rutherford from the Australian War Memorial looks at the effects of war on the families waiting at home

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Repairing the scars In the second of our two-part series on the experience of two grandfathers at war, Penny Hyde looks at how the two men coped with life after World War I

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Rallying the troops Ku-ring-gai Historical Society talks us through their project to commemorate local servicemen and women who served in the Great War

your history

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A nation’s first heroes Rowan Tracey remembers the six Victoria Cross recipients from the Boer War

regulars 6

Editor’s letter

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Postie’s here!

Your thoughts, your say

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Bob’s your uncle Network with other researchers and break down those brick walls!

13 Platform

Justice Michael Pembroke talks about his

new book on Governor Arthur Phillip;

plus the latest news from the genealogy

and history world 18

History now Great events you won’t want to miss around Australia and New Zealand

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History apps From Indigenous Sydney, to an interactive map of Australia, we look at the latest apps built for historians

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One picture…1,000 memories The story behind one reader’s precious family photograph

special offer

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Subscribe or renew with Inside History… …and you’ll go into the draw to win one of five signed copies of Sheila by Robert Wainwright!

44 50 74 4

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our family

PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 Australia PUBLISHER Ben Mercer ben@insidehistory.com.au EDITOR Cassie Mercer cass@insidehistory.com.au ART DIRECTOR Lucy Glover EDITORIAL ASSISTANT AND FEATURE WRITER Sarah Trevor EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Louise Anemaat Jean Bedford Liana Fitzpatrick Linda Funnell Barbara Hall Shauna Hicks Ian Hoskins Kate Hughes Penny Hyde Noeline Kyle Rod Madgwick Meg Quinlisk Melissa Rimac Di Rutherford Tracy Sorensen Rowan Tracey Jackie van Bergen INTERN Claire Paterson PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS See page 71 or subscribe online at www.insidehistory.com.au DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS For iPad, find us on Apple Newsstand For Android and PC, find us at au.zinio.com

COVER IMAGE

Our covergirl was photographed c.1940-to c.1954 for the Victorian Railways collection. Courtesy State Library of Victoria, ID H92.160/25.

Inside History (ISSN 1838-5044) is published six times a year by Cassie Mercer (ABN 13 353 848 961) PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 Australia.

Views expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright 2014 by Cassie Mercer and Inside History. All rights reserved.

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers should be aware that this magazine contains images and names of people who have since passed away.

DISTRIBUTED BY Gordon and Gotch Australia PRINTED BY Ligare Pty Ltd 138 Bonds Road Riverwood NSW 2210

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2014 |

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editor’s letter

But his latest work, The Monuments Men, took our team by surprise. Based on a true story from World War II, the film follows a secret Allied mission that set out to save Europe’s historic art treasures from looting and destruction by the Nazis. George Clooney, as the film’s star, director, and co-screenwriter, reveals his love of history, why it was important to tell the story, and why he likes working with Cate Blanchett. Turn to page 28 to read more.

It’s a fitting time to reflect on how the past shapes our present, as we commemorate the first Anzac Day of the World War I centenary years.

Take a look at the Great War’s human impact, from the story of how one family coped with the loss of their loved ones on the battlefield (page 54) to how two soldiers adapted to life after war (page 58).

And then there’s the unofficial theme of this issue: Australian women’s history. On page 44, you’ll learn about the groundbreaking women from the 1700s to the 20th century who pioneered their scientific fields. As for discovering more about the women in your family tree, renowned genealogist and author Noeline Kyle shares her top tips and strategies on page 40.

We hope it helps you break down a brick wall or two!

Plus, we hear from State Library of NSW staff about the exciting new exhibition, Artist Colony, and what it tells us about the first European settlers’ responses to the bewildering new world of Sydney Cove (page 32).

And we embark on a journey of our own to tropical North Queensland and its fascinating history. Explore for yourself on page 64.

Thinking of subscribing to Inside History? Subscribe before 30 April and you’ll go into the draw to win a signed copy of Sheila: The Australian Beauty Who Bewitched British Society. See page 71 for details.

Happy reading,

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Image Courtesy State Library of Victoria, ID H2012.171/9.

I must say, Hollywood superstar George Clooney was not someone I ever expected to adorn the pages of Inside History. At first glance, it wouldn’t seem that this famous actor and director has all that much to do with history.

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THE STATE LIBRARY OF NSW PRESENTS A FREE EXHIBITION FROM 1 MARCH TO 11 MAY 2014

A lavish showcase of over 100 rare and evocative 18th century natural history drawings which tell an intriguing tale of European fascination for Australia’s natural world.

Featuring works from the State Library’s TAL & Dai-ichi Life Derby collection; the Natural History Museum, London; the National Library of Australia, Canberra; and the Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth.

From Gallery to Gardens

Saturday 29 March 12.30 pm Thursday 10 April 10 am Bookings essential: (02) 9273 1770 or bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au Cost: $30, $25 conc.

Stunning prints, cards and gifts are available from the Library Shop.

Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000 (02) 9273 1414 www.sl.nsw.gov.au P&D 4241 12/13

Principal exhibition partner

Join curator Louise Anemaat for a fascinating look at the exhibition, followed by a guided tour at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

National Collecting Institutions Touring & Outreach Program

Collection partners

our family

Congratulations to our competition winner from issue 19!

This issue we ask our contributors…

Who among your female ancestors do you most admire and why?

B Beadel from Banora Point, NSW, won a digitisation kit valued at $429 from Kaiser Bass!

Noeline Kyle “A life less ordinary”, page 40 I admire my great grandmother Mary Kirkpatrick, an Irish immigrant who became a single parent in 1890; she trained as a midwife working for decades in the Macleay Valley where she is remembered still for her professionalism, her philanthropy and her commitment to women’s health care in that community.

Ian Hoskins “Not just a man’s world” page 44 My mother trumps and probably would even if I knew a little more about my ancestors.

Margaret Chandler was a classically trained ballet dancer who was breaking into stardom on the London stage in the late 1940s when my father proposed. She gave up that career and then brought up six children — not always in the easiest of circumstances, but always selflessly.

I suspect her story reflects those of many talented women of that generation.

Melissa Rimac “Going troppo” page 64 I’m not close to my immediate family and don’t know any of my ancestors. However, I’ve often felt a strong sense of a protective and guiding female figure in my background, a woman who challenged the strict conventions of Slavic society and the limitations it placed upon free-thinking women, and did her best to follow her own path. My dark skin, addiction to travel and feisty music leads me to wonder whether there may be a Romany backdrop to my genetics.

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2014 |

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letters

Postie’s here!

Share your thoughts with the Inside History team.

Like us on facebook.com/ insidehistorymagazine Join us on twitter.com/ insidehistory

A TRUE SPORTS FAN

I love your magazine! Always a brilliant read and so very interesting! I have just finished reading Eugenia: A True Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Crime and Courage. The article, “The trial of the 20th century” in issue 20, made me go and buy the book. Kudos to Mark Tedeschi AM QC for such an interesting and well-written book. My heart went out to Eugenia for the way she was treated. Thank you for sharing such an interesting person from our history.

— Lyn Belcher, via Facebook

Your magazine certainly kept me busy over the holidays!

I just loved issue 20, and found all the stories most interesting.

I particularly liked the article on Sir Donald Bradman’s boyhood home (“Housing a legend”), and how the professionals go about restoring old heritage houses. What a joy to learn more about this little gem in Bowral.

Shauna Hicks’ article on sporting archives was also very good — it sent me scurrying away to look up my grandfather’s boxing career! Thank you for making your magazine such a wonderful read every time.

— Ann Donahue, Merrylands, NSW

A NEVER-ENDING SEARCH

SAVOUR THE HISTORY

ON EUGENIA

Re-reading the Nov-Dec issue (issue 19), I realised that the article on the Benevolent Asylum in Sydney (“The records that keep on giving”) about Patrick Walsh and his parents Kate Walsh and Patrick Brennan is partly about my mother-in-law and her search! She was the one who contacted them looking for her ancestor Patrick’s birth details. In fact we were only doing a follow up on this the other day looking for proof that Patrick Brennan, the father, was Irish.

It just goes the show that even as the years pass some people still elude us, and that all the hard work and developments by the many, many workers and volunteers is greatly appreciated by all.

— Renee Nelson, via Facebook

Congratulations, Inside History.

Each issue is anxiously awaited and the content never fails to delight. Online access is excellent and the ‘feel’ and quality of the paper magazine makes this a publication to savour in all of its formats.

— Anna Graves, via www.insidehistory.com.au

Congratulations to Cassie and all the team at Inside History!

It’s a great publication, well presented with clear information and links, and very professional.

Well done to all of the team!

— Pauleen Cass, via www.insidehistory.com.au

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Want to have your say on “Postieʼs here” ?

Write to us at contribute@insidehistory.com.au Each issue our star letter will receive a prize for writing in! This issue, Ann Donahue wins a 12-month subscription to Inside History, valued at $50.

Image Courtesy State Library of Victoria, ID H34566.

PAT ON THE BACK

your family

Bob’s your uncle Are you looking to connect with other descendants or historians?

Each issue we’ll feature who and what people are researching.

Image Douglas Stewart Fine Books, www.douglasstewart.com.au

100 YEARS OF RED CROSS IN ARMIDALE

August 2014 marks the centenary of the Red Cross in Armidale. This organisation was formed in the shadows of World War I and its members contributed to many of the activities designed to support the wounded and sick troops and the innocent victims of the war.

The UNE Heritage Centre has been collecting material and researching the activities of the local Red Cross for many years. In particular, we are interested in finding additional information on the Booloominbah Convalescent Hospital that ran in Armidale between 1916 and 1919. We are keen to find any additional photos or papers in addition to the fine photo albums we already hold.

There are many individual stories of the returning soldiers. One soldier was a British serviceman who moved on to Canada after spending time in Booloominbah, while at least one other soldier married a nurse and returned to Armidale after the war. Many of the patients can be seen visiting the homes of local people and Armidale’s tourist sites as part of their rehabilitation.

The Heritage Centre plans to launch an exhibition to reflect on the centenary of the Armidale Red Cross and would like to hear from anybody who can add to our understanding of this time in our local history.

— William Oates, woates@une.edu.au

SEEKING LOST DIGGER DESCENDANTS

A group of French teens and adults from the Maison des Australiens — Vignacourt Association

will be touring Australia in July and August 2014 for a self-funded World War I documentary and multi-media project called ʻ(Hi)Story Tellersʼ. For this documentary, we are looking to interview descendants of the World War I diggers who were photographed by Antoinette and Louis Thuillier during the war and have been positively identified by the Australian War Memorial as a Thuillier portrait sitter.

We are particularly interested in hearing from descendants of diggers who had Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or multicultural heritage, as well as those who still have their ancestor’s personal objects such as medals, diaries or photographs in their possession.

We hope to meet the families of at least one digger from mainland Australia’s state capitals and as such are looking for families living in or willing to travel to Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. (Please note that as a non-profit organisation we are unable to pay interview participants or reimburse any travel expenses.)

— Alison McCallum, mccallumalison8@gmail.com

Lots of researchers are linking up and knocking down their research brick walls via “Bob’s your uncle”. To place an ad, email contribute@ insidehistory.com.au. Adverts are free!

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2014 |

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what’s on

History now

The best events across Australia & New Zealand COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY SARAH TREVOR

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Journeys: National Trust Heritage Festival 2014

1 April to 31 May; varies by state Pack your bags and prepare for takeoff on a journey through Australia’s heritage! The theme of this year’s National Trust Heritage Festival, Journeys, celebrates our status as a nation of travellers and invites you to explore Australia’s riveting history for yourself, from city to coast to Red Centre. Over 1,500 events are scheduled around the country throughout April and May. Check the National Trust website for talks, exhibitions, walking tours, cruises and other events near you to embark on your very own historic journey of discovery.

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.au

Above The Geelong Flier train leaves Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station on its first trip to Geelong, 3 May 1926. Courtesy State Library Victoria, ID H28686/11 .

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Planning a genealogy, history or heritage event that you’d like to share with Inside History readers? Email us at contribute@insidehistory.com.au Events are subject to change. We recommend contacting the organisers beforehand to confirm details.

NSW

RAHS Regional Seminar

21 to 22 March The historic coastal town of Port Macquarie is the setting and focus of this in-depth two-day Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS) seminar. Hosted in conjunction with the Port Macquarie and Districts Family History Society, Port Macquarie Historical Society and Port Macquarie Library, the seminar will examine the town’s history, archaeology and the cutting-edge historical research underway. Learn about RAHS’ many projects, programs and genealogical resources in expert talks, hands-on tutorials, land titles workshops and much more. The cost is $30 per day or $50 for both days.

Visit www.rahs.org.au

Celestial City: Sydney’s Chinese History

Opens 29 March Delve into the multi-faceted stories of Sydney’s Chinese community at this intriguing Museum of Sydney exhibition. Celestial City explores in depth the 1888 ‘Afghan incident’, where growing hostility towards Chinese immigrants saw harsh new immigration laws introduced. Chinese passengers aboard the SS Afghan, Menmuir and Guthrie were then detained and deported. Using individual stories, Celestial City explores the impact of the crisis on Sydney’s Chinese community, and celebrates its ongoing successes and contributions.

Visit www.hht.net.au

Kiama Family, Local & Social History Expo

12 April Happy 25th birthday, Kiama Family History Centre! To celebrate this anniversary, the Centre is hosting a free history expo extravaganza at Kiama Pavilion, right by the beach.

Genealogists, history organisations and family history societies from around the South Coast and New South Wales will be attending. Keep an eye out for Inside History, too! Speakers include Gail Davis from the State Records of New South Wales, and genealogy expert Cora Num of

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CoraWeb fame. Historical walks through Kiama led by local historian Ray Thorburn will further immerse you in this seaside town’s interesting past.

Call 02 4233 1122

Charting Your Family Tree

12 April Researching your family tree is one thing; charting it in a clear and concise manner, according to the protocols, requires another set of skills entirely. Learn how to present the fruits of your research at this practical two-hour session hosted by the Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG). Led by presenter Jeremy Palmer, attendees will learn the principles of putting together a pedigree chart, and how to go about creating a standard drop line chart of their own. Jeremy will also explain why many family history software packages are inadequate for producing pedigree charts. The cost is $20 for SAG members; $30 for non members.

Visit www.sag.org.au

Below Post Office Corner in Kiama, on the New South Wales south coast, c.1880s.

Courtesy Kiama Family History Centre.

ACT

Women’s History Month Landmark Debate 26 March Australia has celebrated Women’s History Month in March every year since 1999.

But, in contrast to the successes of the original American Women’s History Month, our national commemorations here in Australia typically remain small-scale and voluntary. This year, the Australian Women’s History Forum will hold a headline debate on the proposition that ‘Australia doesn’t need Women’s History Month’. Professor Marilyn Lake and Dr Anne Summers are among the line-up of prominent thinkers and historians debating this controversial claim. Held at Albert Hall in Canberra, at a cost of $15, this important debate guarantees a thought-provoking look at Australian history.

Visit www.womenshistory.net.au

Anzac Day Ceremony

Image Courtesy Australian War Memorial, ID H17709.

25 April As the centenary of the First World War approaches, this year’s Anzac Day is particularly noteworthy.

As such, it is an apt time to commemorate the tragedy, loss and sacrifice of the world wars at the Australian War Memorial’s definitive Anzac Day Ceremony. The Dawn Service alone attracted a record attendance of 35,000 in 2013, with numbers expected to rise further yet this year. The National Anzac Day Ceremony and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemorative Ceremony are also important events worth attending on this year’s special Anzac Day. Visit www.awm.gov.au

NT

Alice Springs Heritage Festival

13 to 20 April Explore the rich heritage of Alice Springs at this week-long festival. A tour of the historic St Mary’s Chapel will display the exquisite 1956 mural by Hungarian artist, Robert Czako, and there is also a bus tour of the region’s heritage properties. Local historic sites — such as the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and the Old Hartley Street School — will also hold open days during the festival.

The Stuart Town Gaol’s open day includes a lecture by historian Dick Kimber on the building’s past.

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.au

QLD

Finding Grandma

15 March Somewhere on the family tree, many of us have that one tricky female ancestor that insists on eluding our best attempts to track her down. In this session, Marg Doherty, President of the Genealogical Society Queensland (GSQ), will discuss the roles women played in Australian societies in the past, and share some tips on how to learn more about their lives. This should help you flesh out the details of your ancestors’ lives and trace down the elusive members on the female line of your family tree. Cost is $10 for GSQ members or $15 for non members.

Visit www.gsq.org.au

Fred Williams: Painter, Printmaker

Until 16 March Fred Williams was one of Australia’s most influential 20th-century artists, credited with transforming Australians’ views of their surroundings.

Realising that the vast Australian outback could not be encapsulated using traditional European artistic methods, Fred’s paintings incorporated Indigenous influences. In addition to his distinctive landscapes, this exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery includes a series of Fred’s prints and sketches of London’s vivid social life and music halls in the 1950s.

Visit www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/exhibitions

Family History Up Late

3 April Ever been kept up past your bedtime by the uncontrollable urge to continue your family history?

(We thought so!) If genealogy and research are your favourite night-time activities, we’ve got just the event for you: Wynnum Library in Brisbane is holding a special night-time session from 6 to 7:50pm for family history researchers. You are invited to bring your research and enjoy the Library’s facilities at their utmost peace and quiet, in the company of your fellow genie fanatics. It’s a free event, but be sure to book in early to make sure you secure your spot.

Call 07 3403 8888

Education Department and School Records

11 April Educate yourself on education records, an invaluable yet often under-utilised resource.

Presented by Dr Geoff Morgan at the Queensland Family History Society’s Library and Resource Centre in Gaythorne, this educational workshop will highlight records of teachers, students and district inspectors.

The session will cover records across a range of educational jurisdictions. The cost is $11 for QFHS members and $15 for non members.

Visit www.qfhs.org.au

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VIC

Bendigo Family & Local History Expo

Australian Heroines

of World War One 16 March The annual Bendigo Family and Local History Expo is always a standout on 15 April Australian nurses in the the history lover’s calendar and this year, First World War showed the same its 24th incarnation, is no exception. Local courage, resilience and heroism historical and family history societies from as their Anzac counterparts. Learn all around Victoria gather to attend the more about the hardships World WWI nurse by George James Expo, and an array of databases, indexes Coates, c.1915. Courtesy War I nurses faced, and the and other genealogical resources from State Library of Victoria. successes they nevertheless Australia and overseas will be available. achieved, at this compelling Highlights include the many local authors two-hour lecture delivered by scheduled to attend, alongside more than Susanna de Vries, author of Australian Heroines 60 specialist consultants with expertise on areas of World War One. Susanna will recount the ranging from the history of the Bendigo district experiences of eight extraordinary nurses who to the UK, Ireland and beyond. Entry is $10. served at Gallipoli, Lemnos islands, the Western Visit www.bendigofamilyhistory.org Front and on various hospital ships. Held at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, this event is free, though gold coin donations are welcome.

The Story of Your Past is in Your DNA Visit www.mhhv.org.au 27 March One of the most intriguing and enlightening aspects of family history research is realising how the experiences of our ancestors More than Green and Gold have impacted our lives today. But have you ever Until 20 April Did you know that the oldest extant considered how your ancestry may have had an artefact from historic Australian team uniforms impact upon your DNA itself? Science and history — a sash from the 1880 national cricket team — is unite at this one-of-a-kind Thursday Talk hosted by coloured pink and black? Learn more about the the Genealogical Society of Victoria (GSV). Dr Jim Aussie athletes of yesteryear at the sportingCamakaris, a Professor in the Department of cross-sartorial exhibition More than Green and Genetics at the University of Melbourne, will Gold: Australia’s Sporting Colours. On display at discuss how the past can leave its trace upon your the National Sports Museum in the MCG, this own biological makeup. This talk may just have exhibition features a rare collection of sporting you seeing your family tree in a whole new light! artefacts and uniforms throughout Australian Cost is $8 for visitors and free for GSV members. history, through to today’s green and gold.

Visit www.gsv.org.au Visit http://bit.ly/1hRGuk5

SA

Onsite Family History

26 March Familiarise yourself with the State Library of South Australia’s extensive family history resources. Covering South Australian, interstate and overseas resources, as well as particularly strong English and Irish collections, this free one-hour evening session will focus on materials from the Library’s collections that aren’t yet available online.

Learn what materials the Library holds, which you can only access on-site, and how to use them.

Visit www.slsa.sa.gov.au

Traversing Antarctica

Until 30 March Venture through Antarctic history!

As the earth’s final frontier of discovery, Antarctica

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has drawn many a scientist, explorer and researcher.

Traversing Antarctica: the Australian Experience, on display at the South Australian Museum until the end of March, examines Australia’s links to the frozen continent dating back to Sir Douglas Mawson’s famous 1911–1914 expedition. A joint project between the National Archives of Australia, the Western Australian Museum and the Australian Antarctic Division, Traversing Antarctica showcases original equipment, early explorers’ diaries and a wealth of archival material. It traces a course of its own through Australia’s Antarctic story.

Penguins on an ice shelf Visit http://bit.ly/1eB1SEI during Mawson’s Antarctic expedition, c.1911–1914.

Courtesy National Archives of Australia.

Image Courtesy University of Tasmania.

WA

Overseas Research Mix and Mingle

18 March If you’ve ever daydreamt about taking an overseas research trip to learn more about your ancestors, this Mix and Mingle hosted by the Western Australian Genealogical Society (WAGS) could well prove to be the first step on your journey! Guest speaker Ian Scott will discuss his extensive experiences doing genealogical research throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland, underlining the importance of walking in your ancestors’ footsteps and visiting the places they once called home.

Practical information will also be included, such as what is involved in the process of developing your itinerary, making your own bookings, and formulating a research plan. The cost is $5 per person.

Visit www.wags.org.au For more on WAGS, turn to page 24

Bride Ships in All But Name

23 April From the 1850s to the early 1900s, ‘bride ships’ brought hundreds of young women from the United Kingdom to Western Australia. This free one-hour workshop — presented as part of the National Trust Western Australia’s Heritage Festival — will examine the story of these ‘bride ships’ and their transnational voyages. Focussing on their passengers from 1880 onwards, the workshop will delve into the back story of how the women were selected, how they experienced the long voyage, and how they were treated on arrival. Among the stories presented is an interesting case study of Miss Monk, a kindly matron who accompanied many would-be brides on their journey around the world.

Visit www.slwa.wa.gov.au

NZ

Scrapbooking for family history

19 March Scrapbooking and family history go together like hand in glove. Far from simply cutting and pasting photographs and memorabilia into books, scrapbooking is today a creative, elegant craft. It offers an artistic way to showcase and share your research and memories, incorporating text, images and more — the only limit is your creativity.

During this free, one-hour Family History Lunchtime talk held at the Whare Wānanga of Auckland’s Central City Library, Lauren Bavin, an experienced scrapbooker and designer, will demonstrate how to put together an artistic display of your family history.

Book via http://bit.ly/1aAhklK

TASMANIA

Jane Franklin at Port Arthur

27 March Lady Jane Franklin (inset) was an early Tasmanian pioneer, avid traveller, and an all-round enigmatic figure. During her extensive travels around the Australian colonies, she made a visit to Port Arthur in 1837, along with her husband Sir John Franklin who was none other than the lieutenantgovernor of Van Diemen’s Land. An acute observer, Jane described Port Arthur frankly and throughouly in her diary and letters. She was noted for her compassionate attitudes towards female convicts compared to the standards of the day. In this talk, historian Dr Alison Alexander, author of recent book The ambitions of Jane Franklin, will explore Jane Franklin’s attitudes to Port Arthur and its occupants.

Fittingly delivered at the Port Arthur Historic Site, this session promises a deeper understanding of both Port Arthur and the intriguing Jane Franklin.

Visit http://bit.ly/1biaUKH

The spice of life

17 April Sample some culinary history at this interesting session by National Trust Tasmania at the historic Georgian-era Franklin House near Launceston. This two-hour session is the third in a series of talks on ‘History out of the Kitchen’.

Speaker David Barrett will explore the history of a surprisingly crucial spice in international affairs: pepper. As he will explain, this ‘spice of life’ has played an important role in exploration, trade and international commerce over the centuries. The cost is $10 including morning tea. Bookings are essential for this ‘spicy’ historical talk!

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.au

Scotland’s People

2 April Renowned genealogist Jan Gow believes that the only research method more useful for Scottish family history research than the genealogy website Scotland’s People is delving into the archives in Edinburgh itself. If you want to learn more about your Scottish ancestors but can’t quite make it to Scotland in a hurry, come along to Central City Library in Auckland, where Jan will present an informative Family History Lunchtime talk on Scotland’s People.

This free, hour-long session will go through the basics of using Scotland’s People and demonstrate the site’s potential to transform your Scottish research.

Book via http://bit.ly/1aAhklK

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2014 |

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society profile

Westward bound In our regular column, we’re spotlighting history and family history organisations, showcasing the collections they hold, and their projects on the go. Here, Liana Fitzpatrick, President of the Western Australian Genealogical Society, talks about what’s in store next as the society gets ready to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

When did the Society open its doors?

The Western Australian Genealogical Society (or WAGS as we are more commonly known) was formed in January 1979, the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of Western Australia’s colonisation by Europeans. This year is our 35th anniversary.

What are your opening hours and contact details?

We’re open from 9:30am to 8pm on Mondays; 9:30am to 2:30pm from Wednesday to Friday; and 1pm to 5pm on Saturdays. You can phone us at 08 9271 4311 or email us at genealogy@wags.org.au.

We’re located at 6/48 May St, Bayswater 6053.

What is the cost to join?

The cost is $60 per year for an individual membership and $85 for a joint membership, plus a $15 joining fee. Both Affiliate Society and Associate memberships cost $100 per year.

Image Courtesy State Library of Victoria.

Can you tell us more about the history of your Society’s local area?

24

Our local area is the whole of Western Australia — all 2,529,875 square kilometres of it! Our state’s rich Aboriginal history dates back more than 40,000 years. Western Australia has some of the oldest and largest open-air rock art sites in the world including the Burrup Peninsula and the Woodstock Abydos Reserve.

In 1616, Dirk Hartog, a Dutch explorer, was the first European to visit Western Australia. He landed at what is now known as Cape Inscription, Dirk Hartog Island. In 1826, the British established a military outpost at King George Sound, which was later named Albany. On 1 June 1829, Captain James Stirling established the Swan River Colony. By 1832 the official name was changed to Western Australia.

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Between 1850 and 1868, convicts were transported to Western Australia on 43 ships. The convicts were guarded by former British soldiers who were called the Enrolled Pensioner Guards. Our Society’s Enrolled Pensioner Guards (EPG) Special Interest Group is undertaking a research project on these guards and the ships they arrived on.

Not many early colonial buildings remain.

One important building still with us is Fremantle Prison, which was built by the convicts in the 1850s. Today it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Another historic building was the Pensioner Barracks, which was built in 1866. Unfortunately most of it was demolished and only The Barracks Arch was retained.

What are the most popular records that you hold?

n The table of Genealogy Links on the WAGS website (www.membership.wags.org.au/ links-table). This consists of more than 1,530 genealogical links from around Australia and the world. New links are updated monthly. n Karrakatta Cemetery Headstones. These are searchable tables containing information shown on the headstones at both Karrakatta and Fremantle Cemeteries during the 1980s, recorded

by WAGS members. Available on our website exclusively for WAGS members, these tables contain direct links to The West Australian newspaper family notices on Trove. We also have an expanding photo gallery of the headstones. n Our exclusive 1898–1926 Passenger List.

This includes more than 560,000 entries from passenger lists of vessels arriving at Fremantle from 1898 to 1926, with some gaps in the later years. n The Western Australian Cemeteries Index.

Compiled by WAGS members, this index contains

Left Anzac Cove in May 1915. Courtesy Julie Martin.

Below A burial ground at Watering Bay on Dolphin Island. Courtesy Jan Addison. Bottom A lone memorial for miner Barry George. Courtesy Andrea Lewis and Jill Heather.

* the state’s most significant record of details from the burial registers of gazetted cemeteries. In addition, headstones sighted in burial grounds and on lonely graves throughout Western Australia have been transcribed and recorded. n The Dictionary of Western Australians.

Compiled by Rica Erickson, it’s a valuable resource held at our Society library. Its five volumes cover Western Australia’s early settlements, convicts, free settlers, and growth in the late 19th century.

Do you want to highlight the great work being done by your local society? Contact Inside History at contribute@insidehistory.com.au

from the blog, forums, event calendar and our very popular genealogy links, our website also includes 29 public and 23 members only indexes, databases and transcriptions.

We also have a new initiative, WAGS GenWiki (wiki.wags.org.au), which aims to provide a one-stop resource for researchers’ Western Australian family history questions. 

What are some of your projects in the pipeline?

One of our projects, called Gallipoli Dead, is almost completed. The exact number of Western Australian men who died at Gallipoli was not known, but estimated at between 900 and 2,500.

In June 2013, in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign, a WAGS member named Shannon Lovelady invited the WA Special Interest Group and others to collaborate on a project to identify the Western Australians who died at Gallipoli and determine the exact number of deaths. Visit gallipoli.wags.org.au for more details.

The Lonely Graves project is ongoing. Yvonne and Kevin Coates have written several books on lonely graves of Western Australia and they have allowed WAGS to put their images online.

See walonelygraves. wags.org.au for info.

What WAGS resource is under-utilised but well worth a look?

The WAGS website (www. wags.org.au) is well used but still under-utilised. Apart

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2014 |

25

latest resources

Billions of records at your fingertips.

Millions more added every month. The only downside to the exciting, ever-expanding wealth of digital history resources is that it can be tricky to keep tabs on recent additions.

Sarah Trevor discovers the latest collections available online to keep you up to speed!

36

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Image Courtesy State Library of Victoria, ID H2009.50/464.

What’s new online?

Ancestry.com.au

n Isle of Man Baptism Index, 1600–1981 n London Selected Rate Books, 1684–1907 n Select Cheshire Workhouse Records, 1848–1967 n Surrey Electoral Rolls, 1918–1945 n UK WWII Civilian Deaths, 1939–1945 n Wales, Select Glamorgan Parish Register Marriages, 1837–1922 n West Yorkshire Electoral Registers, 1840–1962 Visit ancestry.com.au

Findmypast.com.au

n British India Collections n Convict Transportation Registers, 1787–1870 n New South Wales and Tasmania: Settlers and Convicts, 1787–1859 n Plymouth & West Devon Rate Books, 1598–1933 n Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records, 1919–1934 n Southwark Rate Books n Westminster Rate Books, 1634–1900 Visit findmypast.com.au

FamilySearch

n Bristol Parish Registers, 1538–1900 n Essex Parish Registers, 1538–1900 n Norfolk Register of Electors, 1844–1952 Visit familysearch.org

LINC Tasmania

n 1837 New Town district census n Hobart reports of ships’ arrivals with lists of passengers records, 1829–1970 n The Weekly Courier, TAS, 1901–1935 Visit linc.tas.gov.au

My Heritage

n Australia Births and Baptisms, 1792–1981 n Australia Deaths and Burials, 1816–1980 n Ireland Marriages, 1619–1898 n Ireland Deaths, 1864–1870 n Warwickshire Parish Registers, 1538–1900 Visit myheritage.com for more

Royal Australian Navy

n Navy Lists, 1900s-1980s (details of officers of the Australian Navy) Visit navy.gov.au

Scottish Association of Family History Societies (SAFHS)

n Database of burial grounds in Scotland Visit safhs.org.uk

State Library of New South Wales

n Shipboard: the 19th century emigrant experience Visit sl.nsw.gov.au

State Library of Queensland

n World War I ephemera Visit slq.qld.gov.au

State Library of South Australia

n Savill Index of The Advertiser Funeral Notices, 1971–1990 and 1997–2013 n South Australia Directories, 1864–1899 Visit slsa.sa.gov.au

State Records NSW

n Department of Education photographs of schools around NSW, 1850–1991 Visit records.nsw.gov.au

Trove

n Woroni, ACT, 1950-2007 n The Bathurst Daily Argus, NSW, 1909 n Tamworth Observer and Northern Advertiser, NSW, 1910 n National Leader, QLD, 1916–1918 n Huon Times, TAS, 1910–1933 n The Australasian, VIC, 1864–1946 For more titles, visit nla.gov.au/ australian-newspaper-plan/news

Western Australian Genealogical Society

n WA Lonely Graves Geo-location map n South West Anglican Churches Baptism Indexes, 1926–1984 Visit wags.org.au

World War One overseas resources Imperial War Museums

n War Memorials Archive Visit www.ukniwm.org.uk

The National Archives, UK

n First World War unit diaries n Middlesex military service appeal tribunal 1916-1918 Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

The Daily Telegraph, UK

n Daily newspapers 1914–1918 (added daily) Visit www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ ww1-archive

In Flanders Field Museum

n Ireland’s Memorial Records (Irish World War I casualties) Visit www.inflandersfields.be

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2014 |

37

George Clooney

monuments Of and men

George Clooney’s latest film sees him helping to save millions of art treasures looted by the Nazis during World War II. Here, Clooney talks to Inside History about the real-life Allied mission, the importance of history, and working with Cate Blanchett.

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your history

A nation’s

first heroes

At a time when our separate colonies were on the verge of becoming a nation, the Boer War produced some of Australia’s first military heroes. Rowan Tracey remembers the war’s six Victoria Cross recipients from this important period in our national history.

T

NEVILLE HOWSE

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Image Courtesy Australian War Memorial, ID A02711.

HE Boer War, also known as the Second South African War, was fought between October 1899 and May 1902. The two Boer republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State were eventually defeated and required to federate into a British South Africa. The British Empire was at its zenith, but nevertheless its Army was supported in the war by volunteers from its colonies, including those in Australia. Although it was fought over 100 years ago, the war still has a unique place in Australia’s social history.

The war spanned the period when Australia developed from a number of separate colonies to form a single nation. And when the nation’s first Governor General, Lord Hopetoun proclaimed Australia a Commonwealth in Centennial Park, Sydney on 1 January 1901, its soldiers were veterans

of the conflict. By then, three soldiers had performed actions which resulted in them receiving the Empire’s highest military award, the Victoria Cross.

When Tommy Atkins embarked at Southampton for the voyage to the Cape Colony or Natal, the excitement of the coming war had spread through the whole community. Children wore patriotic buttons, featuring Generals Buller and French. And they soon had a hero in the person of 14 year-old bugler, John Dunne, who was at the disastrous Battle of Colenso in December 1899.

Dunne although wounded, continued sounding the charge only to lose his bugle in the Tugela River. On his return to Portsmouth, he was carried off the ship on the shoulders of his comrades and later he was presented with a silver bugle by Queen Victoria.

Reportedly, Dunne died in Sydney in 1950.

The first Australian to earn the Victoria Cross was Lieutenant Neville R Howse (1863–1930) of the New South Wales Medical Corps on 24 July 1900. This was for rescuing a wounded trumpeter under heavy fire who had fallen from his horse five miles southwest of the town of Vredefort in the Orange Free State. He returned to Australia after being captured by the Boers and received his award at a ceremony at Victoria Barracks, Sydney.

At the outbreak of World War I he joined the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force that occupied German New Guinea.

He then served at Gallipoli. Howse is recognised for developing the Australian Army Medical Corps into a professional service after witnessing the rudimentary support provided by the British at Gallipoli.

In 1917 he was knighted and promoted to major general. Later, he became a Minister in the Commonwealth Parliament. His Cross is on display at the Australian War Memorial.

JOHN BISDEE

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your family

One picture…

1,000 memories

I think this photo is wonderful for the seriousness of the men’s expressions paired with the rakish boater hats, and the potential explosive energy of the five puppy dogs. In the back row from left is Harry Hale Teal and Fred Teal; in the front row on the left is Frank Teal and on the right is Harvey Teal. All the Teals were brothers. We don’t know who the gent is in the center front.

Harvey Teal (my grandfather) was a teacher, initially in a one-room schoolhouse, which he had helped to build. In the summers, Harvey earned extra money by pitching for semi-professional baseball teams in northeastern America. For that reason, my father Hal and his mother Jesse went to spend summers with Jesse’s family in Sycamore, Ohio. Harvey continued

to play ball in the summers, and a Philadelphia team offered him a contract to go into pro ball. At that point, he took stock of his family, which by then included Hal’s younger sister Elizabeth Leah Teal, eight years his junior, and decided that education offered a more secure future. He stopped his baseball summers and switched to working on a Master’s degree in education during the summer, a degree he earned from Ohio State University in 1928. At the end of his baseball career, he had the experience of pitching to renowned hitter Frank “Home Run” Baker!

Harvey’s great-great grandson now lives in Sydney and has inherited a love of cricket from his baseball-loving forebears.

— Janis Teal, New Mexico, USA

✻ Do you have a favourite family image you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear from you. Email a high-quality scan and the history behind the picture to contribute@insidehistory.com.au and we’ll publish it here.

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Getting started on your family tree is easy Ancestry.com.au is the perfect place to start your family tree. With helpful features such as Ancestry Hints™ plus over 9 billion searchable historic family history records from Australia, the UK, the US, and Europe, you will be amazed at what you can discover.

5 easy steps to get started

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