Ashgrove Historical Society

Visitors are encouraged and very welcome at the Ashgrove Historical Society meetings held at the Ashgrove Library on the first Saturday of the month 10am-noon. The topic for the meeting on 4 March will be Civilising Brisbane presented by author and historian, Duncan Richardson.

Precis: In the second half of the 19th century, Diamantina Bowen, Sister Ellen Whitty and Eliza O’Connell battled indifference and prejudice to improve health care, the arts and education in Brisbane. Crossing the sectarian divide, they often worked together, and their letters and diaries reveal a fascinating story of struggle to improve lives in a rapidly growing town.

Duncan is author of two other historical publications: 1864 - The Year of Disaster (2017) about the fires, cyclone, flood and typhoid outbreak that befell Brisbane that year and Captives of the Spanish Lady (2019) about the flu quarantine in 1919. He has also written junior fiction and short stories. Books will be available for purchase on the day.

There will be a shared morning tea following the presentation which will provide the opportunity to chat with Duncan and other people interested in local history.

AHS publications will also be available for purchase: Local Government in Ashgrove: A History by John Laverty (2022) $30 for Ashgrove Historical Society members and $35 for non-members. Other books include Lost Ashgrove, an easyto-read pictorial record of Ashgrove then and now (members $20, non-members $25); the revised Ashgrove Heritage Tour 2nd ed. (2019) $10; Ashgrove 150 Timeline ($6) provides added information on the plaques that are in place along the Enoggera Creek bikeway (Ashgrove Sportsground section); Brisbane: People and Places of Ashgrove (2010) $15. If you would like to make a purchase, come along to a meeting or contact the secretary, Julie by email: ahs.secretary@bigpond. com or phone on 3366 4621 and she will make arrangements for you to collect your order or receive it by post.

If you would like to become an AHS member or purchase membership as a gift for someone, fees are $10 single per annum (1 July - 30 June), or $15 couple/family. Membership includes discount on our publications and the quarterly newsletter, Tram Stops. Please contact the secretary, Julie, (ahs.secretary@bigpond.com) and she will let you know the EFT details or join at a meeting. Funds raised from memberships, raffles and sale of our publications supports the research, preservation and recording of Ashgrove’s history.

http://www.westernecho.com.au

For more information on Forum Communicators public speaking association, please visit the website www. beconfident.org.au

Forum Communicators is a public speaking organisation with local, friendly groups who meet regularly to help each other become confident, effective communicators in their professional and personal lives.

You too can be a confident communicator. All you need is practice, persistence and positive people around you. Forum can help you to speak confidently in public, write and deliver a compelling speech, lead effective meetings and network with poise and confidence

The 979th General Meeting of the Ashgrove Forum Club was held at 6.30pm on Wednesday18th January at the Ashgrove Library.

To begin the year, the meeting first meeting of Ashgrove Forum took a varied format in the form of a short speaking section to the title “A Touch of Drama”, a fun segment of Theatre Sports (Forum Style) and a group discussion on the question “Has politics become unnecessarily complicated in the 21st Century”. We were pleased to welcome two prospective members who both participated in all segments. Dinner at Zegatos Restaurant at the Ashgrove Golf Club following the meeting completed a very pleasant and informative evening for all.

At the next meeting on 15th February all members will be asked to speak for 7 minutes to address the question “What is the Most Serious Issue Facing Women in 2023?”. This should provide much thought-provoking content.

Ashgrove Forum holds meetings in the Ashgrove Library Meeting Room at 6.30pm, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Visitors are always most welcome to attend without obligation.

For enquiries and more information, ring Secretary Pat on 0458 696 267.

Mitchelton News

The Mitchelton Branch of the Older Women’s Network Qld Inc (OWNQ) meets formally and informally throughout the month and you are welcome to join us for any or all of our get togethers.

We get together each week and we enjoy ourselves. February dates are:

Tues 7th February Kakawan Coffee, Cnr Bunya Road & Jinker Track, Bunya 10am

Sat 11th February Lunch Gaythorne RSL 12pm

Tues 14th February Coffee Cafe Lagarto Samford Valley 10am

Sat 18th February Coffee Birds & Bees Cafe, Everton Hills 10am

Wed 22nd February Monthly Meeting Panther’s Den Arana Leagues Club 10am Guest speaker Caxton Legal Service Helen Wallace/Sun-lyn Lee (EPOA) followed by Coffee/Lunch

Tues 28th February Techno Coffee Arana Leagues Club 10am

Tues 7th March Kakawan Coffee Cnr Bunya Road & Jinker Track, Bunya 10am

The aim of our group is to provide information to women relating to a healthy outlook on ageing and to meet in a friendly, social atmosphere. OWNQ Mitchelton is part of a state-wide organisation with groups in 3 states of Australia, as well as a National Branch. There are also Older Women’s Networks in the UK and the USA among other countries. We are a part of a great organisation.

For more information about Mitchelton OWNQ ring Judith on 0431 159 921.

Quote of the Day

To all our readers– Happy New Year. The local Amnesty International groups hope that 2023 will be a positive and healthy year for you all.

During 2022 Amnesty International has achieved, worldwide, a great deal in advocating for numerous human rights defenders who have paid a great price for speaking truth against power. As always, Amnesty has challenged injustice, ensuring the release of numerous individuals who were unfairly imprisoned. The organisation has been active in improving outcomes for large numbers of people seeking safety from such countries as Afghanistan, Myanmar and Ukraine.

Domestically Amnesty has also worked towards achieving commitments in Tasmania to raise the age of criminal responsibility in both Tasmania and Northern Territory. The appalling use of spit hoods has been banned in both Queensland and northern Territory. Amnesty was instrumental in persuading the Australian government to accept the offer to allow many refugees in offshore detention to resettle in New Zealand. The list is long and impressive – and the ongoing needs to protect human rights are constant.

If you are interested to learn more about Amnesty International, the Helen Black Amnesty International group meets between 9-11am on the second Monday morning of the month in The Gap and would be happy to hear from anyone interested in joining. Please contact Di on 3300 1861. The Ashgrove Amnesty International group meets on the first and third evenings of the month and can be contacted by calling Sally on 3366 2046.