November 2010 newsletter no. 136 What’s Happening Next for our Society:
16th November – Free Sausage sizzle at 6.30pm followed by Major Graham Docksey talking about the tours that he conducts of WW1 and WW2 sites.
10th December - 6pm onwards at The Blazing Stump in the back room for our Christmas party. Have a great break everyone and stay safe.
18th January 2011 – this may be a talk with Danny Walsh on printing family trees. We will keep you informed.
Disclaimer: The WFHS Inc. does not accept any responsibility for opinions or accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. Information is reproduced in this publication for educational purposes.
November 2010 Page 1 of 10 Newsletter of the Wodonga Family History Society Inc. PO Box 289 Wodonga Vic 3689 www.wodongafamilyhistory.org Email: [email protected]
Published in February, May, August and November ISSN 1327-3167
The Research Room is situated in the Our meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday premises of the Upper Murray Regional of each month [except December] at Library in Hovell Street, Wodonga VIC. 7.30pm at the Felltimber Community The opening hours for research are Centre, cnr Felltimber Creek Road and Tuesday & Wednesday from 10.30am to Melrose Drive, Wodonga. Entry is via 3.30pm and Thursday from 1pm to Ritter Road. 5.30pm.
Researchers please note that you cannot gain access to the Research Room until you have signed the attendance book at the Circular Desk – signature & membership number is required. If you are a visitor, your postcode and phone number will be required. Items cannot be returned through the Library after hour’s chute or to the Regional Library staff. They must be returned to the Research Rooms during the designated opening hours mentioned above.
Research enquiries: If you wish our Research Officer to do research for you, please include a business sized, stamped, self addressed envelope with your enquiry details. The initial research cost is $15.00. Please include all the details you can: names, areas, dates, any births, deaths and marriage details you may have and what you want the Research Officer to find out. There is no point in paying for what you already know.
Membership Details
Membership of the Wodonga Family History Society Inc. includes the benefits of receiving a quarterly newsletter and allows access to all the resources of the Society’s library which is growing all the time. Your attendance at our monthly meetings will ensure that you have contact with our researchers who share your interest in family history.
Subscriptions: Joining Fee $ 5.00 Single Membership $30.00 Joint Membership $40.00 (2 people at same address) Concession $18.00 (proof required)
Membership fees are due and payable in July of each year.
Committee members
President Heather Lauritzen phone: 02 6024 2493 Vice President Norma Burrows phone: 02 6024 1591 Treasurer Doreen Gibbs phone: 02 6056 0926 Secretary Wendy Cooksey phone: 02 6056 3220
Pat Hopkins Lyn Larkin Jan Larsen Dawn Newman Andy Turner Christine Young
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Overview of previous meetings UPCOMING EVENTS 20th July – this was the AGM and was well attended. Norma took over as the 18th November – The annual Street Stall Vice President and Jan Larsen joined the committee as the New Member‟s officer. 18th August - We had readings by the Bedella winners and research The annual stall is almost here. Please discussions with the members find the time to contribute something - plants, books, cakes, preserves, or come and give us a hand on the day.
As usual the stall will be in front of Coles, High Street Wodonga from 8am to 1pm.
21st September – the meeting was a crowded one with 42 attending. Club Donations can be left with Heather members flocked to hear words of advice Lauritzen at 4 Woodland Street from our eminent guest speaker Shauna Wodonga or give her a call (02 6024 Hicks. Shauna didn‟t disappoint us and 2493) and offer to help on the day. You spoke for almost an hour and a half on the do not have to stay for the whole event. subject of social networking as a research tool. She took us through the intricacies of Twitter, which she recommends, Skype, If you are donating plants could you Mailing Lists such as Rootsweb, then on to please name them? Prospective buyers Facebook and Blogs, Ancestry and Unlock ask about the plants and we don’t the Past, Government Records, Lost Cousins, and Genes Re-united. necessarily know the names of the plants (some of us are not gardeners!!!). The list is endless, and her explanations and encouragement to go on-line and try many of these sites, was compelling. She has written five books recently on the How Charlie Cooksey has had success from To of genealogy, plus one on how to do it research undertaken in Berkshire and he “on the cheap”. Shauna left us with would like to share this with members. sheets of information on her recommended sites, and with stories of the Shirley Manson of the Berkshire Family personal successes she has had from History Society in England will do research thinking laterally and looking at as many in Berkshire. Her charges are very different sites as possible. reasonable. She checks the parish The websites spoken of by Shauna Hicks records and provides copies of entries if are on her own website which can be required. found at www.shaunahicks.com.au. Email her for further information and to check if what you require is able to be undertaken:
November 2010 Page 3 of 10 http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/de If would like to submit articles about the l/home people in our region, the people behind the names of our streets and parks and buildings and bridges or anything else you can think of, then send the information to the Family History postal MILITARY RESEARCH IN or email address. AUSTRALIA The articles should be no more than 300 words – less if you wish, [attached as a EMBARKATION ROLLS - The Australian word document if sent via email, please] – telling members why something has a War Memorial website has searchable particular name. Who was it named after? What is that person’s history? Biographical Databases covering the Sudan War, the Boer War, The Boxer It doesn’t have to be a family member and the article can be about anyone in Rebellion, First World War, Second World the surrounding area. War, Korean War, Vietnam War and the
Christine Young, editor. Gulf War. These may be found at www.awm.gov.au/
Military Research
The AIF (Aust Imperial Force) Project NOMINAL ROLLS - The First World War http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/index.html Nominal Roll contains details of approximately 324,000 AIF personnel, This has an index of military personnel recorded to assist with their repatriation with their details It is very straightforward to use. to Australia from overseas service. Search this – and other Nominal Rolls – at 1 One the home page click on the hyperlink under “Access to www.awm.gov.au/databases/nroll.asp the AIF Database” 2 Input the details of your ancestor. Just the surname is enough 3 Scroll through the list to your NATIONAL ARCHIVES - Click on “Record ancestor and click on the Search” the Register or Log in as a guest, hyperlinked name then enter at least the surname and the 4 You will be presented with a page of their details relevant date/s, and press “Search”. You 5 Click on the hyperlink of the will be provided with a list of results, so unit and you will be presented with the other members of that scroll through until you have identified the unit person of interest. www.naa.gov.au/ 6 Some records have „Sources‟ at the bottom. Click on the hyperlink you will be taken to Source: Australian Family Tree the National Archives Connections July 2010 7
Another resource is the Australian Newspapers site:
November 2010 Page 4 of 10 WAR MEMORIALS
WODONGA Wodonga and District men who fell in the Great War of 1914-1919 are commemorated on the monument in Woodland Grove, Wodonga. Anzac Day and other services are held at this memorial each year.
The names appearing on the monument are:- Anderson G. Pollard A. B. Ardern A. Pollard W. Boyd A. Powell F. Brown A. W. Puddephat. F. Chapman A. Puddephat T. Charlton T. G. Quick W.L. Clark T. Rapsey A. Cleland W. Richardson A. W. Evans R. Richardson E. Gordon W. J. Schwind O. Grass L. Shields J. H. Hayes A. E. Smith J. Hodgson J. Smith W. Hughes A. J. Stapleton Rev. A. G. Huon N. Stevenson A. E. Leighton A. H. Stott P. Lingford P. H. Street J. R. McGrath J. T. Swann F. M. McKoy S. Williams W. Mortimer K. Woodland C. W. Nicholls N. Woodland L. J. Parkinson N. B. Wright W. A. Phefley A.
Photo courtesy Travel Victoria
November 2010 Page 5 of 10 OTHER DISTRICT WAR MEMORIALS INCLUDE:
HONOUR ROLL AT WODONGA RSL #2 (PAST PUPILS WHO ANSWERED THEIR COUNTRY’S CALL)
28 pupils of the Old Bonegilla State School (No 1749) are listed on a Memorial Honour Roll now in the RSL Rooms at Wodonga. Eleven died in action and one died later as a result of wartime suffering. The School closed in 1948 but it took an extra 41 years before the RSL gained possession. It had been transferred to the Bonegilla Hall and when the Lions Club redecorated the Hall in 1989 it was left at the RSL clubrooms. The Names: A.BOYD* H. MITCHELL* W.R.BAKER A McCONNEL* G.C. BANON A.B. POLLARD* (Alf killed in France) E.J. CARNSEW H. POLLARD (Herb came back from the war but was killed in a motor cycle accident) E.S. CLARK V.E. POLLARD (Victor) C.F. CLARK - awarded the Military Medal W. PLUMMER* T. CLARK* A.A. RAPSEY* R. ELLIOTT C.A. RAPSEY A.J. FULFORD L. SMITH* J.W. FULFORD H.T. SMITH W. HODDINOTT A. SMITH* R.HODDINOTT T.S. SNOWDON A. LEES T.R. STAPLETON F. MITCHELL* W.A. WRIGHT* - awarded the Military Medal *Killed in action
Newspaper article by Howard Jones Border Mail 11 Nov 1989
Points of interest: Title of the Board: HONOUR ROLL PAST PUPILS WHO ANSWERED THEIR COUNTRY CALL Timber board with gold lettering carried a carved map of Australia with Tasmania missing. This board was made of oak and Queensland maple, by Logans of Albury. The board has the Union Jack on the left hand side and the Australian flag on the right with a six-point big star.
One of our members is researching the history behind the names of these service men.
November 2010 Page 6 of 10 MEMORIAL TABLETS ON GATEPOSTS AT
St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Smollett Street, ALBURY
Of your charity pray for the souls of the following members of this parish who gave their lives in the Great War 1914 – 1918.
ANDERSON A.G MORTON G. BENNETT C. PHIBBS C.P. BUTT A.T. PODGER C. CONNORS J. RIES C. CLARKSON W. RIES R. DALY W. RYAN S.W. DELANEY J. SCANLAN J. DEVINE D. SIGG J.H. FRAUENFELDER E.F. SMILES L.K FREEMAN A.A. SMILES F.S. GORDON W.J. SMILES E.P. JOHNSTON J. VOSS J. JONES W.A. WARTZELHAN A. KENNEDY J.P. WEBBER J.J. KING C. WILSON C.A. LARKINS M. WILSON H. MATHEWS O. WORNES R. McDERMOTT H. EDWARDS P.C. McDONNELL J.A. LEVIN H.C. McINTOSH W.J. WALSH J. MEADE J. MURPHY A.
Requiescant in Pace
Location: KERGUNYAH MEMORIAL HALL
GREAT EUROPEAN WAR 1914 ROLL OF HONOR 1918 KERGUNYAH DISTRICT
BESLEY E. NISBET F. *CROUCHER H. BESLEY C. WALLACE D. *CROUCHER N. MARUM F. CONIBEAR W. *WENTWORTH C. *MARUM G. REID W. ABBOT L. MARUM W. REID R. MORRISON J. MARUM I. Sister ROXBY M. McWATERS S. MURUM E. Sister SEYMOUR J. LEFEVRE R. GILLIES L. *Killed in Action
November 2010 Page 7 of 10 UPPER GUNDOWRING ROLL OF HONOR located at the Upper Gundowring Primary School
UPPER GUNDOWRING STATE SCHOOL No 2733 ROLL OF HONOR
Harold CROUCHER Neil CROUCHER Percy KEAT Alick KEAT Robert CURRIE
FOR KING AND COUNTRY THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 18
Researched: Pat Hopkins, Lyn Larkin Collated: Norma Burrows
COMMEMORATING OUR SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN Men and women who served in the various Wars in which Australians have been involved are remembered in different ways, including Avenues of Honour, Memorials, Plaques, Memorial Parks, Bridges and Street names. The practice of planting trees for commemorative purposes dates back to antiquity, the Romans pioneering this concept by planting along roads when burying their dead outside the city in tombs by the roadside. Planting of commemorative trees began in Australia in the late nineteenth century. This practice was used for important occasions as when a visiting dignitary opened a new building, railway, etc.. This tradition continued in 1901 as trees were often planted, following the end of the Boer War, for each soldier of a particular district who was killed in action. In some districts Avenues of Honour were planted while soldiers were overseas. Because of the numbers involved this was an expensive task but was usually a cheaper option to erecting stone obelisks or statues. It has been suggested that this is why many smaller towns opted to plant avenues over other types of memorials. Avenues of Honour appear to be a uniquely Australian phenomenon, especially in Victoria. This idea was embraced by Australians – particularly Victorians. Research by Dickens 1985 and Haddow 1987 indicate there are no known Avenues of Honour in the United States, United Kingdom or New Zealand. Locally there are Avenues of Honour at Bandiana and Staghorn Flat. Street naming is another way of honouring our war heroes. In Wodonga’s new White Box Estate streets are being named for Australian Victoria Cross recipients. The main street running through this estate is Victoria Cross Parade. The streets which have now been made and in which building is taking place are: Axford Murray Buckley O’Meara Burton Payne Cartwright Peeler Jacka Pope Kelliher Sadlier Kenna Sexton Mackey Shout Mactier Starcevich Maygar Sullivan McCarthy Tubb McGee Wark Whittle There will be one named for Trooper Donaldson – our most recent Victoria Cross winner from the Afghanistan campaign. Researched: Pat Hopkins Collated: Norma Burrows
November 2010 Page 8 of 10 Our web site Records for sale www.wodongafamilyhistory.org Available as microfiche [please add $5.00 each part p&p] Records for sale Available in paper format Yackandandah Rates (covers Wodonga and [please add $2.50 p&p] surrounding districts: Part 1: 1884 – 1888 and 1920 – 1948 Barnawartha Cemetery Headstones [63 fiche] $40.00 1861 -2003 $12.00 Part 2: 1949 – 1971 [54 fiche] Bethanga Cemetery Headstones $40.00 $9.00 Bungowannah Cemetery Headstones Records for sale 1876 – 2002 Available on CD $6.00 [please add $5.00 p&p] Burrumbuttock Cemetery Headstones:
- Public headstones 1893 – 1999 The Yackandandah Shire Rates 1875- - Trinity Bethal Lutheran Church 1878 & 1884-1891 Cost $20 Headstones 1885 – 1999
$6.00 Yackandandah Cemetery Headstone Gerogery Cemetery Headstones Transcriptions up to 2008 - Public headstones 1859 – 2002 Cost $35 - St Peters Lutheran Church Headstones
1869 – 2002 The Wodonga Burial Registers 1st June 1861 $6.00 Glen Wills – Dec 1937 and 1938 – 2004 Cost $35 Cemetery Register 1894 – 1920 and The Wodonga Monumental Inscriptions up to Granite Flat and including 2007 Cost $35 Cemetery Headstones 1863 – 1993 [these records are also available as a 2 CD $5.00 set - the p&p is the same whether you order Goombargana Cemetery Headstones one or both] $5.00 Jindera Cemeteries Wodonga Rates 1900 – 1948 Cost $35 - Public register 1875 – 1977 [1938 – 1941 not available]
- Headstones 1876 - 2001 Look up service available for your research - Bethlehem Lutheran Headstones for $6.00 plus SAE 1875 - 2001 - Lutheran Headstones 1863 – 2001 $6.00
Kiewa Cemetery Headstones Please be aware that the RESEARCH $12.00 ROOM will close for the Christmas
Break. The last research day in 2010 Moorwatha Cemetery Headstones will be THURSDAY 16 DECEMBER $5.00 and will reopen on TUESDAY 18
January 2011. Sandy Creek
Cemetery Headstones & Register $9.00
Talgarno Cemetery Headstones $6.00
November 2010 Page 9 of 10 ORGANISATIONS WITH WHICH OUR SOCIETY IS AFFILIATED : GSV
By Wendy Cooksey
The GSV (Genealogical Society of Victoria) began on 17th March 1941 and now has over 6000 members, many of them overseas. GSV is situated at Level B1, 257 Collins St Melbourne and has a vast array of records, including 56,000 microfiche and 1,350 microfilms. CDs, books and journals from numerous societies are also housed in their rooms. There are around 30 microfiche readers, 8 microfilm readers and 30 computers.
The Wodonga society is a Member Society of GSV. As a member society., we receive the quarterly journal, the Ancestor; we are listed in GSV‟s website and are a member of a group public liability insurance scheme. We have a representative, currently our Vice-President, Norma Burrows, who attends an annual Member Society meeting where we find out what other societies are doing and keep up-to-date with the fast evolving genealogical world.
Should you decide to join GSV yourself, you will receive the Ancestor, have full access to the website that contains a wide range of material including digitised records. You will also receive two hours research per year should you live more that 100km from GSV. You will be able to access their collection in Melbourne free of charge. Find out more about GSV and what it offers on their website:
http://www.gsv.org.au/home
Wodonga Family History Society Inc., PO Box 289, Wodonga, VIC, 3689
November 2010 Page 10 of 10