HISTORY NEWS ISSUE.340 FEBRUARY 2019 Stringer’s Creek INSIDE THIS ISSUE Walhalla 1880s President’s Report The Chiko Roll What’s On The Maddest Place on Earth Walhalla ‘How an old photograph…’ Broadford HS Halls of Fame RHSV web page Carole Woods Around the Societies Alan Hall Books received Pankaj Sirwani History Victoria Bookshop RHSV Donors July- December 2018 The RHSV is deeply grateful to the following donors, listed in alphabetical order. If our records are inaccurate, and a name has been inadvertently omitted, the Society would President’s Report appreciate advice to the contrary. RHSV NEWS RHSV General Donations McLean, Helen For the RHSV the start of 2019 is a substantial sum that will enable us Adams, Kevin Moff att, Gordon symbolized by our new website – to establish long-term or permanent Arnold, Heather Mohoric, Erika sparkling, bright, working well, the result accommodation. This may be in the Drill Arnold, Jennifer Mullaly, Paul of many mon ths of development by our Hall if a satisfactory arrangement can Birtley, Margaret Nicholls, Paul staff and diverse volunteers and fi nanced be made with government (a quest for Blizzard-Moore, O’Donohue, John Marilyn by a generous bequest (the late Doug almost a decade) or it may be elsewhere O’Donoghue, V Brikic, Lydia Gunn). Please view it, as it facilitates many if government does not support us and Parle, Alyson of our functions such as membership we are able to raise sufficient funds. Broome, Richard Pascoe, Jeremy & (now on a rolling start date rather than We are developing a business case and Buntine, Robert Lyndal mid-year), event bookings and bookshop accompanying material in support of this Cameron, Alison Petkov, Benjamin orders, as well as providing efficient project. Second, the Foundation will also Chandler, Edna Phillips, W W access to our catalogue, publications and raise funds to enable us to employ an Cohn, Helen Pocilujko, Helen other functions. Outreach Offi cer who will mainly work Coker, Faye Priestly, Margery Crew, Vanessa Ralph, J T The website perhaps also symbolizes the with our 350 affi liated societies to support Croggon, Janice Rizetti, Janine RHSV’s broader transitions. In staffi ng, their needs and to advise them. This Dixon, Jim Roberts-Billett, Janet Amy Clay is on maternity leave. Her position will supplement and partly take Dodd, John Romauld, Andrew daughter, Eloise Margaret, was born over the role of the History Victoria Support Donaldson, Alan Rowan, Kay 15 January 2019. We welcome Pankaj Group which, while doing an excellent job Doncaster- Rusden, Ann Sirwani as our Administration Offi cer for within its means, is unable to achieve its full Templestowe Historical Sabbione, Anna Maria 2019. Rosemary Cameron has been busy potential without staff support. Society Sartori, Yvonne clearing and reorganising the Drill Hall to To support the Foundation, we are Dorning, Brenda Savage, Luke increase its effi ciency and attractiveness. seeking to recruit new members with Dunbar, Margaret Scopel-Reed, Emily Honour boards are imminent to recognise experience in fund-raising and with links Eccleston, Gregory Silva, Faye the generosity of donations and bequests to potential benefactors. To supplement Egan, Stephen since 2009. the Foundation’s work, we will invite Simpson, Isabel Emmerson, Tessa Stevenson, Virginia We are also continuing our reconsideration signifi cant fi gures in the community to Ferguson, Robert become independent advisors to the Stump, Esther of how the RHSV operates and its Fitz Gibbon, Thomas Sherwood, Lyn organisational needs, particularly in light RHSV, to help us to gain access to the Ford, Olwen Stoneman, Alex of ongoing uncertainty about our security networks of foundations and benefactors Friends & Relations of Struve, Walter of tenure in the Drill Hall. I am delighted that exist within Victoria, but to which we Gulf Station Sutherland, Norma to announce that Professor Bill Russell, as historians are sadly seldom connected. Garner, Beatrice Synan, Peter a former RHSV President with extensive Finally, I wish to acknowledge yet again Gengoult Smith, Jillian Taylor, Barbara experience in government and as a policy the superb generosity of Gordon Moff att Griffi ths, Nelva M Tonta, Michael advisor, has agreed to become our new who has once more given the RHSV a Groom, Douglas Torney, Kim RHSV Ambassador. We are very grateful very signifi cant donation. He is the largest Gulline, Graeme Torpey, John & Sandra and look forward to working with him. donor to the RHSV in its history. We will Haas, Carolyn Van Straten, Frank show our appreciation of his generosity Hall, David Our Planning Day in October produced Walker, Mark by naming one of our meeting rooms Hall, Margaret ideas and plans about our future. In Watson, Kathleen particular, the RHSV Foundation is being after him. Hawkins, Bob & Maureen Watt, John given a clearer defi nition of its purposes. Don Garden Wilson, Bill First, it will be mainly devoted to raising Henwood, John President Hooper, Carole White, Ethel Houghton, Murray Wright, Peter Howe, Renata Yates, Elizabeth History News Hughes, Barbara Weston Bate History News is the bi-monthly newsletter of the RHSV Hughes, David Hyslop, Anthea Osborne Park Association ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Jones, Mary OF VICTORIA INC. OF VICTORIA INC. Karapetric, Diane VHJ – new PRESIDENT Don Garden 239 A’BECKETT STREET MELBOURNE 3000 Kirsop, Wallace benefactors EXECUTIVE OFFICER Rosemary Cameron Offi ce Hours: Monday to Friday Laird, Robert ADMINISTRATION OFFICER Pankaj Sirwani 9am to 5pm Dixon, Jim COLLECTIONS MANAGER & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Jillian Hiscock Library Hours: Monday to Friday Lancaster, J. M. Gregory, Alan EDITORS Sharon Betridge [email protected] 9am to 5pm Lawford Soltys, Janni Howe, Renate Richard Broome [email protected] Phone: 9326 9288 Macgeorge, Michael DESIGN & ARTWORK Centreforce Pty Ltd 5975 8600 Fax: 9326 9477 Macintyre, Stuart PRINTED BY First Class Mailing 9555 9997 Website: www.historyvictoria.org.au MacWhirter, Ian Myers, Maria Items for publication should be sent to the Editor Email: offi [email protected] Maddigan, Judy EMAIL [email protected] ABN 36 520 675 471 Poynter, John Copy closes 10th ‘January, March, May, July, September, November Registration No. A2529 Marshall, James Presland, Gary PRINT POST APPROVED PP336663/00011 ISSN 1326-269 McDonald, Janet Shelmerdine, Stephen COVER McIlvena, Malcolm Stringer’s Creek, Walhalla 1880s. Albumen silver, photographer unknown, gift of J. Boddington (1997.228), courtesy of National Gallery of Victoria. 2 RHSV NEWS FEBRUARY 2019 What’s on NEWS RHSV for February and March Note, for all event bookings: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/whats-on/rhsv-events/ EXHIBITION: CELEBRATING 35 YEARS The Hon. Simon Richard Molesworth AO QC EXHIBITION LAUNCH OF OPERATIONAL WOMEN AT THE BA, LL.B, FAICD, LFEIANZ, FAIML, FVPELA, Thursday 7 March 5pm – 7pm METROPOLITAN FIRE BRIGADE PIA(HonF), C.Env.P, M.ICOMOS, MRSV Exhibition: Cold War Games: Espionage chills Runs until Friday 22 February 2019 is Simon Molesworth’s forty-first Melbourne’s 1956 ‘Friendly’ Olympics anniversary of his first elected position Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm Research by Dr Harry Blutstein within the Australian heritage conservation RHSV Gallery Downstairs movement. Those 41 years have seen Simon Bookings: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/ The 1980s was a decade of great change in hold the most senior executive roles in the whats-on/rhsv-events/ Australia as people actively fought for a fairer National Trust movement in Victoria, nationally Join us in launching this intriguing exhibition. society for women. It was during this period that and globally, including having been Chairman In 1956 the world was beset with Cold War Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) then President in Victoria for nearly 20 years anxieties. Tensions between East and West fi rst opened its doors to women. and the Inaugural Executive Chairman and had been heightened less than a month before This exhibition explores and celebrates some President of INTO, the International National the Games when the USSR invaded Hungary of the stories of the pioneering women who Trusts Organisation during its fi rst 10 years. to crush an uprising. Then Israeli, French and became the fi rst women to take on operational Simon has held numerous heritage advisory British armies invaded and occupied the Suez roles in the MFB as well as those who followed. roles with government at both state and federal Canal. Would the Melbourne Olympic Games Very few of the women who joined MFB grew level, including being a Commissioner of the be remembered as the “friendly” Games, a sea up picturing themselves as Communications Australian Heritage Commission for 5 years of tranquillity in a stormy world, or would they Operators or Firefi ghters. and a member of the Commonwealth’s National become a victim of the Cold War? Keeping Cultural Heritage Committee for 14 years. Australia safe from the frigid winds of the Cold War was ASIO which was busy conducting CURATOR’S TALK Founding the fi rst environmental law association surveillance of possible Soviet agents, dealing in Australia in his fi rst year of legal practice, his Wed 13 February, 12:30pm – 1:30pm with defectors and trying to control agent entire legal career has been focussed on provocateurs in the refugee community who RHSV Gallery Downstairs environmental, planning, heritage and natural wished to damage the Soviet and its satellites. Bookings: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/ resource law during which time he has held whats-on/rhsv-events/ numerous legal advisory roles at both state Another threat, surprisingly came from the CIA. ASIO worried that the US spy agency would Join us for a lunch-time curator talk and and federal level infl uencing the formulation of stir up trouble by urging athletes to defect, conversation with the team from Way Back When environmental and heritage laws and policies which could result in a walkout by Eastern consulting historians and the MFB Director of across Australia.