Lane Cove Historical1 Society Inc. NOTICEBOARD MAY 2017 MONTHLY MEETING TUESDAY 23 MAY Stephen Dando-Collins SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER AAwwaarrrdd wwiiinnnniiinngg aauuttthhoorrr The Hero maker Stephen Stephen Our May 23 Speaker will be Stephen Dando-Collins, an Dando-Colllliins award winning author, biographer, novelist and Dando-Collins children's author who has written on a wide variety of The story of topics from history as well as biographies and research Paul Brickhill, the on WWI and WWII. His latest book, The Hero Maker, is a Greenwich boy whose life biography of Greenwich local, Paul Jerome Chester was as legendary as the Brickhill. legendary stories he created In The Hero Maker, Dando-Collins exposes the contradictions of one of Australia’s most successful, but Tuesday troubled, writers. Brickhill’s extraordinary story—from 23 May the youth with a debilitating stutter to newspaper journalist, to Spitfire pilot and POW, to feted author— 7pm Lane Cove Library!Supper afterwards explodes vividly to life on the centenary of Brickhill's birth. Paul Brickhill and his family lived in Greenwich at 8 Mitchell, then Greendale Street and then at 44 George All visitors welcome; join us and bring your friends to Street. He attended North Sydney Boys High and hear this popular author in Sydney Sydney University. Dropping out of university, Paul's speaking at the Writers' Festival. friend and neighbour, Peter Finch, got him his first job as a copy boy for The Sun newspaper. CCHHEEEESSEE,, WWII NNEE AANNDD JJAAZZZZ SSuunnddaayy 2255 JJuunnee 33--55ppmm $$2255 inclusive inclusive Carisbrook Historic House 334 Burns Bay Road Book now: trybookings https://www.trybooking.com/276387 Enquiries phone 0418 276 365 2 His address, after World War II, was ‘Blytheswood’, government-owned bank. Now that it is a multinational 1 Serpentine St, Greenwich. From there, he forged a new private enterprise, the spirit of the original Constitution career, writing of his extraordinary wartime experiences. is no longer relevant. The technology and methods of internet banking, as well An "exceptional journalist", he became a Spitfire pilot in as consideration that some of our standing Term the RAF. He flew thirty-four sorties, flying sixty-five Deposits might benefit from competitive interest rates hours, before being shot down. Brickhill's experiences in between banks, makes this change desirable. German POW camps became the basis for his books, which have sold more than five million copies in _________________________________________________ seventeen different languages. By 1954, Brickhill, "the most successful author in Britain", had earned ₤115,000 SCHEDULE OF SPEAKERS 2017 from his books. And that was before the movies were made!: Tue Jun. 27: Rob Shipton, The History of Clocks and Time 1946 Escape to Danger (with fellow prisoner Conrad Tue Jul. 25: Janette Pelois, Popular Entertainment in the Norton) Colonies 1840s-1850s 1950 The Great Escape 1951 The Dam Busters Tue Aug. 22: Brian Wilcox, The Struggle for Unity: a story 1952 Escape - or Die (written to support an RAF charity) of the Federation of Australia 1954 Reach for the Sky (the story of Douglas Bader) 1962 The Deadline Tue Sep. 26 Jill Curtin, Rose Venn-Brown, Lane Cove's Unrecognised WWI hero The Great Escape, The Dam Busters and Oct. 24: Presentation of the 2017 Lane Cove History Prize Reach for the Sky, were _________________________________________________ all made into block- buster movies. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Mark and Julie Waters Margaret Edwards Join us for the pre- Pamela Johnson sentation and some friendly conversation _________________________________________________ at the supper after- wards. A gold coin would be appreciated. Parking under Woolworths after 6pm is free. _________________________________________________ MAY MEETING WILL VOTE ON A CHANGE IN THE The Lane Cove Historical Society LCHS CONSTITUTION LANE COVE HISTORY PRIZE Supported by HYECORP Property Group Current wording of our Constitution: Enquiries Point 9 (d) Honorary Treasurer www.carisbrookhouse.com — click on 'Society' (2nd sentence) [email protected] “To ensure that all money received by the Society is paid +61 2 9420 4010 into an account in the Society’s name lodged in the _________________________________________________ Commonwealth Bank at a branch convenient to the Honorary Treasurer.” WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN OLD VIOLIN FOR Proposed change to our Constitution: CARISBROOK Point 9 (d) Honorary Treasurer (2nd sentence) Do you have a full sized violin you would be willing to “To ensure that all money received by the Society is paid sell or donate to the Collection at Carisbrook House? into an account in the Society’s name lodged at any bank of the Committee’s choosing at a branch convenient to We need it as a prop for our Drawing Room to go with the Honorary the piano. The Brooks family were quite musical, with Thomas Brooks Snr. playing violin for the King The reason for the change: (obviously before he settled in Australia). His son, The current wording of the Constitution was devised at Charles Phillips, we are told by his orphaned nephew, a time when the Commonwealth Bank was a was rather crotchety when teaching him the violin. We 3 also know the other family members sang at country closely with the current president of the LCHS—not events. We have some beautiful hand-copied music only in strategic planning and marketing, but also in books from the 1870s and a zither, so a violin would be a tasks that involve paintbrush, tool kit and elbow grease. very welcome addition for display. As LCHS president, Bill also worked on the Please contact Pat Madson or Kay Leiper at strengthening of club membership, encouraging more [email protected] or phone 0418 276 365. participation of current members into general historical _________________________________________________ research and the signing up of others. He feels the Society has, in his own words, "an important role to play in our community as guardians of our past, and also our future." You're invited With this historical perspective in view, Bill McLaughlin is continuing to amass a photographic record of the Terry Eakin is coming of age! heritage of Lane Cove which he has given to the LCHS and Carisbrook Collection. He is a highly ac- To celebrate this event accomplished and exhibited art photographer and this photographic record of our community has already been you and a friend are invited digitally presented at a monthly LCHS meeting and at to join him Probus meetings. It will continue to be exhibited, on occasions, at Carisbrook Historic House. Saturday 10th June, 3pm - 5pm Bill has encouraged and supported anyone in the area who has salt water in their blood. He has been an active at member of Greenwich Flying Squadron Sailing Club since 1976. He spent eight years on the management Carisbrook Historic House committee of the club and edited the Club 334 Burns Bay Road Lane Cove magazine Humbug for five years. Also he acted as Safety Auditor for ten years. RSVP: 3rd June, Kay: 0418 276 365 He has been an active member of the North-wood Pat: [email protected] Please, no gifts Action Group since its inception and has a keen appreciation of the history of Northwood and its heritage. Bill and Elaine McLaughlin built their house in Northwood forty years ago. There, they raised their family and continue to live and participate in the community. _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ A 2017 CITIZENSHIP AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP went to Bill McLaughlin, LCHS Bill McLaughlin was President of the Lane Cove Historical Society Inc. from 2013 until 2015. He performed this voluntary post with enthusiasm, SSpprriinnggttiimmee dedication and intelligence. His leadership of the LCHS provides a role model for others who follow him in the GGaarrddeenn SSeemmiinnaarr position of president. CCaarriissbbrrooookk HHiissttoorriicc HHoouussee He brought renewed interest into the original charter of Carisbrook Historic House as a focus for evocative SSuunnddaayy SSeepptt 1177 visitor experience. He championed innovative presentation concepts to the "look" of Carisbrook which 1111aamm--44ppmm work to evoke the visitor's feeling of literally being taken into a past era. Bill successfully gained funds and grant money to launch the substantial restoration of Carisbrook's conservatory, an exacting building job that took much time and attention to detail. Bill continues to work .