The Official Newsletter of the Warrnambool Branch of the A.I.G.S. ------ISSUE NUMBER : 25 JUNE 1992
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The Official Newsletter of The Warrnambool Branch of the A.I.G.S. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ISSUE NUMBER : 25 JUNE 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER : The Warrnambool Branch of The Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies does not accept any responsibility for the opinions or the accuracy of the information contained in this newsletter. CORRESPONDENCE : All correspondence should be directed to The Editor, The South West Genealogist, PO Box 607, Warrnambool Victoria Australia 3280 AREA ADMINISTRATOR : The Area Administrator may be contacted by writing to the address given for correspondence. MEETINGS The Warrnambool Branch of The A.I.G.S. meets on the second Thursday of the month in the library of the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, 23 Merri Street, Warrnambool. The Branch Management Committee meets at 7.30 pm, Monthly Meeting is at 8.00 pm. Visitors are most welcome. LIBRARY The Warrnambool Branch of the A.I.G.S. staffs the library at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum on a volunteer roster, please enquire if the library will be open on (055) 64 7841 between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm. OFFICEBEARERS : AREA ADMINISTRATOR Marie Boyce SECRETARY Vacant TREASURER Peter Shipp RESEARCH OFFICER Betty Beavis PUBLICATIONS/PROMOTIONS Doug Holmes RESOURCES/PROJECTS Helen Price SUBSCRIPTIONS : A yearly subscription to The South West Genealogist may be obtained by forwarding an annual subscription of $6.00/year to the above address. Subscription will be reviewed annually to take into account production costs and postage rates. PRODUCTION : Master copy prepared using facilities of Keltoi Genealogical Services, 5 Clifton Street, Warrnambool. Photocopying courtesy of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, 23 Merri Street, Warrnambool. Edited and produced by Douglas F Holmes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS Pages Editorial 2 Area Administrators Corner 2 New BDM Indexes Are Available 2 Marie's Memorabilia 3/4 Warrnambool & District Historicals - June 1917 5 Warrnambool & District Historicals - June 1992 6 Correction 6 Genealogical Gleanings 6 Library Acquisitions May 1992 7 More, Genealogical Gleanings 7/8 Irish Connection 8 Page Two EDITORIAL welcome to this fifth edition of 'The South West Genealogist' for 1992. 1 hope you enjoy it. You may have noticed that our Secretary's position is vacant again, Terri Collis has had to resign after accepting a new employment position in Melbourne, thanks very much for your contribution to the branch Terri and best wishes with your new position. Anyone who believes that they could fill the position of Secretary should contact Marie for details of what is involved, recent changes to the management of the Branch have dramatically reduced the amount of work required of the Secretary so please give it some thought. ****************************** THE AREA ADMINISTRATORS CORNER Dear Members and Friends, The cooler days are with us now and I think there is nothing better than reading an interesting book in a warm room - especially if the book relates to our common interest of family history. I hope you enjoyed viewing the video of Warrnambool in the 1920's, Les O'Callaghans discourse on early Warrnambool was also of interest and Lyn Ryan's Uncles Albie and Charlie were interesting to listen to as well. Seems to me., there must be plenty of Mums and Dads, Aunties and Uncles who have some interesting tales to tell - would this be an idea for a future evening We are sorry to lose our secretary, Terri Collis who has worked hard for our group. Thanks Terri. Warrnambool's loss is Melbourne's gain. Now to find a replacement. During the month some members were able to attend a Counter Tea at the Royal Hotel to farewell Terri. A good evening was enjoyed by all. l- was reading a Hamilton Newsletter and noted that they have a section about Schools in the area. I have since been busy with Vision and Realisation Book 2 and you will soon read the resulting information in our South West Genealogist. (Begins this issue. Ed.) Regards to all Marie Boyce Area Administrator ****************************** NEW BDM INDEXES ARE AVAILABLE The new releases of Victorian Marriage Indexes 1914 - 1930 and Death Indexes 1941 - 1960 are now available in Warrnambool for those who wish to conduct research in these time periods. Branch members Clive Edwards and Doug Holmes both have these indexes so contact either Clive or Doug if you wish to use these indexes. Whilst discussing BDM Indexes Queensland have released further sets, Births are now available to 1904 and marriages and Deaths are available to 1914. All pre 1900 certificates are now held by the Queensland Archives Office and copies must be obtained from there, not the Registrar Generals Office. Page Three MARIE'S MEMORABILIA After a rest of a couple of issues Marie has returned with what will be an ongoing series of items on schools in Warrnambool and the surrounding district, 1 think you will discover a wealth of information in this series, well done Marie. Most of this first issue will be an introduction to the series. EDUCATION IN VICTORIA WITH EMPHASIS ON OUR PART OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT A small area of Victoria was opened up by those entering from the remote settlements centered round Portland Bay where the Henty family had settled. Other new settlers discovered the lakes and rocky outcrops (Colac and Camperdown areas) and their search for land finally led them to the ocean at Warrnambool. Here and at Port Fairy there had been early settlements by whalers and fishermen who made a precarious living from the sea. Port Fairy, formerly a whaling port, could claim to be almost as old as Portland, the oldest settlement in Victoria. Warrnambool developed as settlers moved round the coast from Port Fairy seeking land. We can now see that the. developement of Warrnambool was caused through settlers coming from both the Port Phillip Bay and Port Fairy directions. Without exception the Western District newcomers were free settlers attracted by the lure of land for settlement. Two groups predominated among these settlers - The Scots and the Irish. Both groups brought with them traditions of education closely associated with the national and religious cultures of their homelands. Me first schools in the Region were of a private nature, and often supported by specific denominational groups. At Port Fairy and Warrnambool the early private schools seemed a pale imitation of the English public schools of the time. In 1849 an earl Warrnambool school was described as a 'perfect barn of a place'. In some squatter families governesses carried the burden of education. These families were far removed from their neighbours. Some families were later to send their children 'Home' to be educated. In 1848 the National Schools Board (from New South Wales) sent Mr G W Rusden to Melbourne. He was to travel widely through the Western District and established National Schools at Warrnambool and other centers. Teachers were difficult to obtain a--' their 'qualifications' even more difficult to ascertain. It is said of one Leacher .. be is a solemn sober looking person and of precise and methodical deportment . 1 . Besides his scholastic duties, the teacher often took on the duty of Post master. Finding teachers was to remain a problem and the Gold Rush did not improve the situation. The findings of the Royal Commission of 1867 (yes we had them then) led. to the drawing up of the Education Act which would finally set up the State School System. This did not receive unanimous support and much critism came from supporters of Church Schools. After 1872 the State Schools began to absorb many of the National Schools. The first large State Schools were established in Warrnambool, Colac and Port Fairy and by the 1880's all the major, centers of the Region were served. By the end of the 19th century all save the most remote regions of the area had educational facilities. Page Four MARIE'S MEMORABILIA (cont) PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE VICINITY OF WARRNAMBOOL INCLUDING THE TERANG, MORTLAKE, CARAMUT, KOROIT AND PORT FAIRY AREAS. This information has been obtained from Book 2 of Vision and Realisation. It has a sub title - A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria, and was published by the Education Department of Victoria in 1973. The Book is in the Warrnambool Library. Volume 2 covers schools in the regions of Glenelg, Wimmera, Mallee, Loddon, Central Highlands, Corangamite and Barwon. Many of the articles have been researched and presented by school principals. This listing of schools is in numerical order. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ALLANSFORD School Number 3 see page 887 Began as National School 22/12/1856 The one roomed pise * built school is still in use as a class room, 2 large rooms added later. First Head Teacher was Williamson who also acted as Postmaster. owner of a nearby estate named Tooram provided a covered wagon to bring the employees' children to school. * description of pise - 'stiff clay or earth (and gravel) rammed between boards (removed as it hardens) as building material.' BELFAST School Number 62 see page 887 Edward Hall opened Church of England School 1/11/1856 This School supported by Denominational Board When numbering system established in 1863 this school became Common School No. 62. Closed in 1872. Replaced on 1/11/1873 with S S 1188 Port Fairy. BELFAST School Number 68 see page 887 John M Burgess 1st Head Teacher of this Presbyterian School which opened 17/10/1853. It was allocated No. 68 although it closed 30/9/1862. BELFAST School Number 83 see page 888 This Wesleyan School established as early as 1/10/1857 under Denominational Board Authority. The first recorded teacher was Joseph Bedford - 22/7/1861. School closed 31/12/1873 being incorporated with No. 62 into S S 1188 Port Fairy.