Spreading Branches Narre Warren & District Family History Group Inc. Specialising in the Casey Cardinia Area Incorporated 1992 – Inc. No. A0023666M – ISSN 1445 - 2162 Issue 109 – August 2016 AGM—13 August 2016 Cameron and Marianne Rocke got the afternoon meetings. And Anne Blair fulfils these criteria and underway with a fabulous presentation on the more, often behind the scenes and without fanfare. history of the Old Cheese Committee members come Factory at Berwick. We were and go every year and this really privileged to be the first year we said ‘goodbye’ and group to see this presentation ‘thank you’ to our Treasurer, which is the culmination of 20 Jenny Hayes; our Secretary, years of research. Eileen Durdin; our Publicity There’s nothing like a room Officer, Shirley Peterson and full of people spontaneously our Correspondence Secretary, erupting with applause and Brenda Wheeler. cheers like it did at our AGM We welcomed newly elected when our 2016 Member of committee members, Jane the Year was announced. Rivett-Carnac (Treasurer), Congratulations to Anne Blair, Anne Blair (Secretary), Di a worthy and popular winner Christensen (Research Room indeed. Our other nominees Manager), Steven Smith this year were Kerryn Maxwell, (Publicity Officer) and Kerryn Eileen Durdin, Steven Smith, Maxwell (Membership Officer) Marianne Rocke and Fay back to the committee. By the McCoubrie. end of the day we had one Each year every committee position left to fill, but not for member tenders an long; we will officially welcome undisclosed nomination to Lyne McGregor back at our the president. They are asked first committee meeting, as our to vote for someone who Correspondence Secretary. contributes to most of our As if having a full committee activities in a positive way, is not exciting enough, offers someone who goes out of their for vacant VIP positions rolled way to help fellow members in after the meeting and we’re and visitors, someone who really pleased to welcome assists with fund raising or John Uren (Sausage Sizzle fund raising ideas and last but Anne Blair, our Member of the Year 2016, not least, regularly attends our with president Lynne Bradley continued on page 5 What’s on: Sat 10 Sep 2016 In-house meeting: Family History Q & A Wed 12 Oct 2016 History of the RSL with Gary Elliott Sun 30 Oct 2016 Harkaway Cemetery Tour – see page 5 Sun 20 Nov 2016 Narre Warren Mechanics Institute 125th Anniversary ‘Back to day’ Narre Warren & District Family History Group Inc. P.O. Box 149, Narre Warren Vic 3805 Web: www.nwfhg.org.au Email: [email protected] Phone: (03) 8787 5558 ABN 15 397 153 919 Committee Members Opening Hours for Research President Lynne Bradley Tuesday 11 am to 3 pm, Saturday 11 am to [email protected] 3 pm, (Room closes at 1.45 pm on Saturdays of our General Meeting) Vice President Fay McCoubrie Thursday 7 pm to 9 pm (From October to April), [email protected] Sunday 2 pm to 4 pm (From May to September). Treasurer Jane Rivett-Carnac We have a large collection of books, maps, [email protected] microfiche, CDs and journals from all over the Secretary Anne Blair world available to our members and visitors. [email protected] Membership Correspondence Secretary Lyne McGregor [email protected] Single $35 + $5 joining fee, Joint $50 + $5 joining fee. Payable 1 July each year. Casual visitors $5 IT Officer John Elliott per day. [email protected] Librarian Lorraine Taylor Membership Renewal [email protected] You are welcome to renew your membership by Membership Officer Kerryn Maxwell Direct Deposit into our bank account. Details: [email protected] Bank: National Australia Bank BSB: 083 802 Newsletter Editor Marianne Rocke Branch: Fountain Gate Account No: 539450013 [email protected] Please don’t forget to use your name as a reference. Please email a copy of your renewal form to the Publicity Officer Steven Smith Membership Officer. [email protected] Research Room Manager Di Christensen Research Queries [email protected] We offer a research service for those unable to visit our Research Room personally, but please note Family History Research Room that we can only research our own holdings and Location those of the local municipal libraries. The cost for this service is $15 per hour plus photocopying Narre Warren Branch Library, Overland Drive, expenses. All research queries can be sent to the Fountain Gate Vic 3805. Research Officer at the above postal address or email: [email protected] Meetings Narre Warren Library Meeting Room. Entry Cost $3 October - April: 7.30 pm 2nd Wednesday of the month (except January). May - September: 2.00 pm 2nd Saturday of the month. NWDFHG is a member of: The Narre Warren & District Family History Casey Cardinia Local History Reference Group Group gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Genealogical Society of Victoria the Casey–Cardinia Library Corporation and City South Eastern Historical Association Inc. Royal Historical Society of Victoria of Casey in allowing us the use of facilities at the Victorian Association of Family History Organisations Narre Warren Library. Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations Inc. Disclaimer: Contributions made to this newsletter are accepted in good faith and the Committee does not accept responsibility for accuracy of information of submitted articles nor opinions expressed. 2 Spreading Branches - Issue 109 - August 2016 President’s Report stretched on more than one occasion to get the job done and I applaud them for their persistence and It’s been a challenging year for the family history dedication – I hope you will also. group and so, for me too. Trying to get the jobs done with not nearly enough hands on deck has I would also like to thank each and every one of been extremely frustrating and intensely time our Research Room volunteers for their continued consuming. However, despite the challenges, we’ve support in spite of what could be misinterpreted as made some excellent progress in some areas. our neglect. In truth, it has just not been possible to continually touch base with each and every one The new library catalogue is evolving quite nicely of you throughout the year. The Research Room and we’re even getting some new resources into volunteers perhaps play the most important part the Research Room. I would like to pay tribute to within the group, and they’ve done us proud. I was our past librarians who worked for so long with told just this morning by a researcher who has outdated technology and policies and procedures. visited us twice now how hospitable and helpful the Only now do we realise what a fabulous job they volunteers on duty were on both occasions. And we did. can’t ask for more than that! The Cemetery Tours group have shone very brightly On a personal level, I would like to acknowledge Fay for us with two unforgettable tours featuring a McCoubrie’s contribution to getting us to the AGM group of indomitable women and stories of sacrifice today. Now, when I think of indomitable women, and patriotism at Pakenham Cemetery. This small I tend to think of Fay and the many ways she has group is a great example of the things that can helped me and the family history group in the past be achieved when we work together and highlight twelve months. Fay has never said ‘that’s your job’ our strengths and commit to learning how to do or ‘that’s my job’ she only asks about what needs to it even better the next time. It is encouraging to be done and then, if she can, goes and does it. see members supporting them by researching and writing stories for the tours. Regrettably, we have no more news on our impending move for you than we did at this time Our workshops are also continuing to evolve. We last year. Some wheels turn slowly. We will keep have been very pleased to officially have Heather everyone informed of any developments and news Arnold presenting workshops with us throughout as it comes to hand. the year. It is always good to work with our Local History Librarian. Having four people responsible If we can’t fill all our committee positions this year, for the delivery of the year’s workshops certainly then something will have to give and we will have to helps ease the pressure, so thank you to Jane and look at what activities we can and can’t support. It’s Wendy E for their hard work and for coming out on up to you the members, not the committee. We can cold dark nights. only do so much. We’ve also been out and about in other areas too. Yes, there’s always jobs to be done, but that’s We’ve sizzled sausages at Bunnings, attended the because, whether you realise it or not, you belong Casey Heritage Day, VAFHO’s Expo at Seymour, to one of the most active family history groups in South Eastern Historical Association meetings, the state. And, despite the internet, we have again Local History Reference Group meetings, and the managed to retain a membership of 119 this year. GSV Groups’ Day on behalf of NW&DFHG. We Some groups have not been so lucky, their numbers also co-presented an Ask Granny workshop with are decreasing, some have less than 20 members. Heather Arnold and the library which was a lot Some groups no longer produce a newsletter or of fun. hold meetings because no one will work on their committees.